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Marist to release final 18 this week

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Solomon Warriors Judd Molea goes in for the challenge as Marist’s Atkin Kaua attempts a shot during Sunday’s friendly at Lawson Tama.

BY ROMULUS HUTA

MARIST will release its final 18-man team this week for the upcoming Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Champions League group stage competition this month.

Marist FC coach Jerry Allan confirmed to SunSPORTS yesterday the list had already been finalised and will be published soon.

“Currently we have 23 players in training at the moment.

“The final 18 has already been named and would be soon made known to the media anytime in the coming days.

“We are yet to sort out few issues regarding the list and that’s the reason why it’s being held up,” the O-league winning coach with Hekari United FC of PNG said.

Marist was drawn in Pool D of the OFC Champions League group stage competition alongside Team Wellington (New Zealand), AS Magenta (New Caledonia) and Lupe Ole Soaga (Samoa).

Group D matches will be staged at the Lawson Tama Stadium in Honiara from February 24 to March 2.

Marist will get their campaign underway against Team Wellington for their first match in the 4pm fixture on February 24 and followed by AS Magenta on February 27.

Their final match is against Samoan champions and Michael Fifii-captained Lupe Ole Soaga on March 2.

As part of their preparation for the regional club meeting, they played two friendly matches against Solomon Warriors and lost 2-1 and 2-0 respectively.

The friendlies were played on Thursday and Sunday at Lawson Tama Stadium.

Speaking to SunSPORTS in the post-match interview of the final match, Allan said: “Of course it’s important for us to play friendly games. We need to have game time, we need to play tough opponents to get back to our speed and rhythm and the organization especially on defense and attack we were known for.

“We are only weeks away and without any friendlies or game time, we will find it difficult in the OFC Champions league.

“Our first friendly games on Thursday really helped us identify weak areas that need more attention before the OFC Champions league.

“This is a new stage of preparation. Performance at this stage of our preparation is critical because a performance of excellence is what I want to see from my players,” he adds.

West’s gov’t urged to leave Gizo shoreline for public

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Inter Island travelling still suspended in Western Province

WESTERN Provincial capital town will soon be without a proper boat landing area within the town boundary as most shorelines have already been earmarked for private business developers.

A concerned Mr Andrew Koke told Island Sun Gizo yesterday said that Western provincial government should preserve shorelines for people living around Vella, Ranonga, Kolombangara, Shortland Islands, Vonavona, Roviana and Marovo Lagoon and even Choiseul Province.

He said that no proper jetty or shoreline for people has become a public concern, adding this must be addressed quickly so that people can access a proper shoreline.

“Seeing that there is no proper planning and improvement openly discuss in our provincial level to addressing those issues.

“We call on the authorities to think very serious on these issues affecting the life of people in Western Province.

“Western Provincial Capital Town Gizo is squeezed and messy as it looked like a town developing without any proper planning.”

This paper understands that KHY, Gizo Hotel private jetty, MSG and main Market area is the only main shoreline used by people from Shortland, Choiseul, Vella La Vella, Kolombangara, Ranonga and other

Gizo roads impacted by rains

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
View from the main Gizo market fill with water affecting by heavy rain fall.

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

GIZO

THE continuous heavy rainfall in the western province is spoiling the roads in Gizo.

Drivers and pedestrians alike, complain at the deteriorated states of the roads around the provincial capital.

A taxi driver Mr Junior said, “We are calling on road workers or whoever responsible to quickly patching of the roads.

“Taxi drivers, private vehicle owners, school children, passengers and workers have all been affected by the poor road condition affecting Gizo Township with many phot holes.

“Due to lack of proper drainage systems along the road, drivers experience bad conditions of road within Gizo.”

He calls on the responsible ministry within the Western provincial government to quickly upgrade roads and develop the road condition affecting the business people and general public as a whole.

Foreign loggers must consider development aspirations of landowners

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

A logging licence holder in Malaita province has called on all foreign logging companies operating in the province to work amicably with its licensees toward development aspirations of landowners.

In an interview yesterday, Peter Waikiri made the call following a missing link between contractors and licensees on addressing areas of interest for landowners in the province.

He said as experienced, landowners always become victims of any logging operation in the province as all benefits taken by the government and contractors.

Waikiri said apart from benefit distributions, cooperation between responsible partners in the business towards development for landowners is also missing.

“The point I want to stress is how contractors and licensees should work together to save the interest of the landowners.

“My experience proved to me that contractors only interest in areas of their benefits, and never at all consider interest of any party in the business.

“To be honest, I as a Solomon Islanders with the licence I have, I want to help develop my people with what I can in logging sector.

“I at all time during the business, I fight for landowners so that I (licensee) and contractor to address some areas of interest for landowners.

“These may include, at least good road for landowners to use after the logging may leave, help for communal areas like, schools, clinics and churches,” he said.

Waikiri said all those things never work due to non-consideration by contractors to privileges for landowners.

He said he tried his best to work with contractors on those areas, but he found it hard. Because only what benefits the contractors is what at their interest.

Waikiri said they always don’t want to listen to licensees on areas of development under the business in the province.

He added that they also don’t mind about the privileges of licensees that on his/her behalf they have opportunity to work.

Waikiri said this is an area of concern for people in Malaita province and responsible government agencies must do something about it.

He raised that if government wants to allow foreign logging contractors to invest in the country, what development they expects them to do for the people in the country?

Dausabea’s call to remove tax on retirement benefits garners support

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

in Auki

A former SINPF financial member Henry B Kahui has supported the call by Mr Charles Dausabea to consider withdrawal of the tax policy on retirement benefits for public servants.

Former MP Dausabea made the call last week in an appeal for SINPF to deliberate on reforming the policy for the interest of its members.

Mr Kahui also suggests amendment be made to the policy.

He said the tax policy, which has been going on for decades, has only disadvantaged NPF members.

Kahui said the policy hinges on unfairness for the hardworking public servant who has saved up after being initially taxed.

He said it also shows government’s little appreciation for the service rendered by the retiring public servant.

“The government should feel that after its servants had saved the country for that long, the benefit should be given to them in full and not for government to claim share in it.

“Another area to consider is if the government finds it hard to withdraw the tax, they should only impose minimal tax rate on the retirement benefits.

“Like when I retired some 10 years back, the government taxed me up to 45 percent.

“This is a real scenario happened to me and at the end the government just took back what she supposed to reward me for the service I did,” Kahui said.

He stressed that there is a need for an amendment on the policy and government should do something about it.

Kahui also said that government should focus on more development for the country to collect taxes from rather than heavily relying on taxing its people.

MFR must be screened for association with foreign loggers

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

in Auki

A concerned citizen has called for an internal investigation on what he describes as a well-established network between foreign loggers and some staff within the Ministry of Forest and Research (MFR).

The person, who wishes anonymity, said this ‘arrangement between the loggers and officials has been going on for a long time.

The informant said the two groups serve only their interests.

“Unlike other government ministries, the MFR has large influence by foreign loggers mostly Asians on areas of their work in the country.

“And many especially locals has become victim of the network when they don’t perform to the involvement of foreign loggers in the network.

“It is believed a substantial amount of money is behind the network that manipulates the activity involved.

“As a result any can tell that privileges for foreign loggers is always rated priority for MFR officers rather than dealing with any related logging issue raised by locals,” the source said.

The source said there have been incidents in which landowners brought their grievances on logging issues to MFR, but were either turned down or stalled for years.

The source said this shows how effective the network between the two groups is.

“So with that network any grievances raised by landowners to MFR that tends to directed on the foreign loggers, the officers will deal with it in the interest of their network.

“That left the poor landowner’s victim of his own resources and again the staff within the MFR that supposed to protect the landowners.”

Canadian envoy calls in on PM Hou

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
PM Hou recieves a gift from the Canadian Ambassador.

CANADIAN Ambassador to Solomon Islands His Excellency Paul Maddison has paid a courtesy visit to Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela.

During the short meeting, Mr Maddison briefed the Prime Minister on Canada’s Labour Mobility Programme which Guadalcanal province is currently enjoying.

Maddison also informed the Prime Minister that apart from Guadalcanal province, Canada is also offering to extend the partnership through the CITREC programme to other provinces as well.

“Canada embraces the people to people relationship and we would like to enhance this further through this partnership also with other provinces,” he said.

The Canadian Ambassador also informed the Prime Minister of the Canadian government’s development strategy in the Pacific; one of which is empowering women in the rural areas through different sectors as well as through funding.

And one of which is in the agriculture sector through the export of local ginger to Canada.

Prime Minister Hou in response, welcomed and acknowledged the friendship shared between the two countries.

The Prime Minister also acknowledged the Canadian Government’s CITREC programme as well as their initiative to help empower women in the Solomon Islands.

“Empowering women and girls for equal participation in our society is an important aspect in the development of our human resources and equality,” he said.

Therefore, the Prime Minister has welcomed and given his full support for this initiative.

–OPMC PRESS

Students lose belongings in boat ordeal

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

GIZO

Noro Police towing a sunken boat that sank at Kuri point passage on Sunday. All passengers mostly students rescued. Sad scenario. PHOTO Supplied

A boat carrying 12 passengers sank off the coast of Kuri point passage, Goldie Collage in the Western Province.

Noro Police confirmed to Island Sun Gizo yesterday, 12 passengers were on the boat from Ghatere village, Kolombangara Island to Beulah Provincial Secondary School.

The trip was to drop off two students at Beulah and one student at Dunde Community High School when it began taking in water between12 midday and 1pm on Sunday.

The officer in charge confirmed that the travelling passengers were three women, five men including the driver, two female students, one male student and a three-year old female.

Noro Police said two students lost their bucket clothing and personal properties plus $ 1,704 pocket money.

The officer said the other student lost a basket of clothes, one case containing books and $1,300 and the mother who went with the students to pay for her son’s fee lost $2,100.

Meanwhile, Western Province, Police Provincial Commander (PPC), Chief Superintendent Mathias Lenialu said that all passengers were rescued about 20 minutes after the incident by Seghe Police boat with the help from a private canoe from Noro and Noro Police boat.

“All their belongings including school fees were lost in the sea and the passengers are being kept at Kokegolo, Helena Goldie Hospital and Lodumaho community.

“Noro police transport them back to their respective village at Ghatere yesterday.

“Munda Police will notify their respective principles about the incident.”

Lenialu thanked officers at Seghe and Noro for the prompt response and the support of the community in the rescue of the passengers and boat.

He adds this shows cooperation between the police and communities to save lives.

SINU welcomes new students

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Acting Vice Chancellor Prof Basil Marasinghe in his address told the new students that they have taken a wise decision by opting to join SINU

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

Acting Vice Chancellor Prof Basil Marasinghe in his address told the new students that they have taken a wise decision by opting to join SINU

SOLOMON Islands National University (SINU) held an assembly for new students at the Panatina Pavilion yesterday.

The event was organised purposely to introduce senior managers to students and inform new students about regulations, facilities and requirements of the university.

Acting Vice Chancellor Prof Basil Marasinghe in his address told new students they have taken a wise decision by opting to join SINU.

Mr Marasinghe said, “Now SINU is a fully fledged university with large number of very good academic programs and over twenty infrastructure projects nearing completion.”

He also adds, SINU now has over 10 bachelor degree programmes and a large number of diploma programmes.

With the support of Solomon Islands Government, friendly foreign countries and donor agencies, SINU is in the process of rapidly improving academic programmes and infrastructure developments.

SINU administration is trying hard to give students facilities similar to student amenities in developed countries.

Fisheries complex, Panatina education complex and science, research and teaching complex are some of the examples.

Marasinghe, who started his address in pidgin but switched over to English, stressed that the students need to improve their English language skills.

He also explained unlike in primary and secondary schools where teaching is mainly carried out by the teacher centred method, at universities education is carried out by the student centred method and therefore students have to play a major role in their studies.

He mentioned to students about academic termination, and that is termination of students who do not perform well after every year including termination of students on disciplinary grounds.

Marasinghe said every year significant number of students are terminated on academic or disciplinary grounds and expressed the hope that this year SINU will not have any termination.

SIMA happy with SIG’s response

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

SOLOMON Islands Medical Association (SIMA) is grateful to the Solomon Island Government for signing the memorandum of understanding (MOU) of the doctors scheme of service.

The SIMA in a signing ceremony yesterday commended the government through Ministry of Public Service and Ministry of Health and Medical Services for their response which has resulted in a MOU.

SIMA President Dr Claude Posala said SIMA is grateful that they have come to an agreement to resolve the issue of doctors’ scheme of service, which paves a new direction for them.

He appreciated and is happy with the government that their dialogue recently has come to fruition.

“That kind of dialogue with the Solomon Islands Government is one good direction, and we want that good direction to be continue for any time such issues arises it can be done by dialogue, not in industrial action,” Mr Posala said.

With the successful event, SIMA requesting government to keep the environment open so that any other issues they have it quickly solve.

Ministry of Health and Medical Service Permanent Secretary Dr Tenneth Dalipanda is also happy they have come to sign an MOU with SIMA.

Mr Dalipanda acknowledged SIMA for their patients and effort that they have come into comprises and agreed to sign an MOU with government responsible Ministries.

Yesterday’s event was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Public Service, Ministry of Health and Medical Services and executives of the SIMA which take place at Regional Eye centre.

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