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Oravae resort: An Island to yourself

Written by
Ben Bilua
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Owners of Oravae Cottage, Patterson Baea with his wife Naomi Baea

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

Forgot your mirror? don’t worry, we have a natural mirror; the glassy sea in the lagoon can help you fix your hair.

Want to spend a romantic time on a hideaway in total privacy, not a problem, you can have the whole island to your own.

Or, if you are recently engaged and want to strengthen your friendship, visit Oravae and its magic will do the trick.

Oravae Cottage is the taste of the island way of life in the Western Province.

Oravae interior

Oravae Cottage is less than 15 minutes’ boat drive west of Gizo, the capital of Western Province and for first timers, 15 minutes will be like 300 seconds, your mind will play you up seeing the beautiful shorelines while cruising to Oravae.

The homestay is equipped with two bungalows suitable for both couples and single travelers; a bar to cool off in the evenings and a beautiful view.

Guests can sit on the balconies and wave to boats cruising past the lagoon or sit on the jetties enjoying their cool beer while watching different colored fish dancing below.

Guests cannot miss boats filled with passengers every morning and evening as market vendors so as people from Vella normally cruise pass the lagoon.

Bar on the Island

Delicious prepared local seafood for lunch, while enjoying a slide in to the sea on an outdoor slide, water-skiing and swimming are the best giveaway guests will never regret.

Glamorous as you can imagine, but what has been happening to Oravae Cottage in the past years are heart breaking.

I met the owners of Oravae Cottage, Patteson Baea and his wife Naomi Baea during the closing of the Western Solomons Surfing Competition.

They are lovely, polite and generous at all levels. They are resilient and hardworking.

I sat down with Mr Baea and half way through our conversation, I know Baea and his wife are hardworking. They put meaning to the word “resilience”.

Baea recalled that he started the business in 1997.

Cottage owners

Three years into the operation the tensions broke out and the family was forced to go and live in Australia.

“When tension broke out in late 1999 to 2000, we decided to leave the country. We went to Australia, which is my wife’s country of origin and stayed there.

“We told our relatives to look after the island for us.

“It was heartbreaking to leave Oravae behind. It’s like leaving a child behind with the care of a nun,” Baea said.

He said his family returned in 2005 and rebuilt what were left after the tension.

WPG Minister of Tourism Hon Ronnie Gemu pose for a photo with participants of the Swimming Competition

This time the homestay is fully furnished with brand new buildings and the setting is beautiful.

As Baea and his wife predict life will return to normal, then the 2007 Tsunami brought the resort to chaos with severe damage to its properties.

“This was another blow to our business. We lost everything, like everything was gone in a matter of minute.

One of the surfers, Simae puts on a spectacular performance

“It was another heart-breaking situation for me and my wife but we stay put and focused on the best response plan,” he said.

Two years later, in 2009 Baea and his hardworking wife picked up the pieces and rebuild from the damages caused by the Tsunami but this time the homestay was nowhere near to where it was after the refurbishment in 2005.

“We built this bungalow first, then we built another one over there, he points to the other bungalow sitting above the sea.

“Before that building, we built the bar and here we are,” he said.

The view from Oravae resort

Like every tourism operators, Baea said COVID-19 is another major blow to Oravae.

“Most of our guests came from outside of the country and the travel restrictions as borders close has been a difficult challenge.

“I think the “Umi tugeda Holiday” initiative had given us a little breathing space to do what we loved to do,” he said.

Baea said the local travel bubble gave local tourism operators, especially Oravae a leverage to continue with operation though the devastating impact of COVID-19 to the economy.

As resilient as they are, Baea and his wife are slowly walking hand in hand together to stay afloat.

“Oravae Cottage welcomes local guests to enjoy their time here. “We sell the Island to our guests not rooms.  Our markets strategy is; Island of your own. We want our guest to feel free while spending their holidays here,” Baea said.

Reach out to Oravae management for more information.

Community transmission here

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Ontong Java island of Luaniua from above. Photo: Beni Knight.

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

THE country has recorded its first community transmission cases of Covid-19 after six people tested positive at Pelau Island in the Ontong Java atolls.

The Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare confirmed this in his nation wide address over the last hour.

The six were part of 10 people who illegally crossed the border from Tasman Island in Papua New Guinea on the 10th of January 2022.

The Prime Minister revealed that one of those who made the crossing was a medical doctor.

“The number of positive cases is expected to grow rapidly in the coming weeks, and people will get ill as well as loss of life is expected,” Mr Sogavare said.

He said the government is now focusing on managing transmission on Pelau, and will investigate those that cross the border.

Meanwhile, a lockdown of Ongtong Java is immediate as of today.

Policing awareness continues in Auki

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Police Commander for Malaita province, Lesley Kili

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

COMMANDING officer of the current police operation in Auki, Mr Lesley Kili says they will continue to provide policing awareness to people in and around Auki town.

He said in an interview yesterday that they received requests from eight communities for the awareness program and number of have already completed.

Kili said so far they visited Auki Central Market, Kilusakwalo and Ambu communities on the policing awareness program.

He said today they will be visiting, Lilisiana, Gwounaru and Kwa communities on the program. Adding that the team will go as far as Bina in west Kwaio that scheduled for Saturday 15th.

Kili said the awareness program is part of the current operation in Auki, so that people will interact with police and learn how they should work together.

He said another important area is for communities to clear on the current police operation in Auki.

Kili said so far communities that visited with the policing awareness had appreciated the program and police thanked them for positive feedbacks from received from them.

He said the awareness program is important as people will learn on the work of police and support everyone needed to uphold law and order in the province.

Kili thanked leaders from communities they had already visited and look forwards for partnership with the communities they are yet to visit on the program.

Demand for police to leave Auki withdrawn

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Patrol boat 06 berthing at Auki wharf.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

DEMAND made by the public of Malaita in Auki on Wednesday this week for the immediate departure of Patrol boat 06 Taro from Auki has been resolved.

The issue was addressed upon a consultation made by police with the public of Malaita in Auki yesterday.

Commanding the current police operation in Auki, Lesley Kili confirmed that in an interview yesterday, thanking the public of Auki for their understanding on the matter.

“Since our arrival we continue to dialogue with communities and the public of Auki on the purpose of the arrival of the patrol boat and the operation in Auki,” Kilia said.

“Until Wednesday when the demand for the immediate departure of the boat was made and today (yesterday) we met again with the public and ironed things out,” he added.

“During our dialogue the public’s doubts on the boat and operation were cleared and we solved the matter (demand).”

Kili said during all these dialogues and awareness programs in and around Auki the boat was there as part of the team to provide law and order support and nothing else as people might speculate.

Kili says the misunderstandings have been cleared and sorted.

He says the patrol boat will continue to stay at Auki wharf until such time the operation is called off.

Acting PPC Malaita, Eddie Koto also told Island Sun that the police have taken time to discuss the matter with a number of ethnic groups in the province.

He says a built-up to a protest to pursue the demand for the departure of the patrol boat was peacefully calmed down by police.

Koto thanked the public in Auki for their understanding and for allowing the current police operation to continue.

He says the demand for the patrol boat to leave has been withdrawan.

Schools to benefit from new Israeli biogas system

Written by
Press Release
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James Kana, left, receiving the biogas sets from Israeli consul Leliana Firisua, yesterday at Betikama Adventist College, where the project will be first implemented.

MAIN national secondary schools across the country will benefit from an Israeli-designed Home BioGas System.

This new system is expected to significantly reduced their costs in purchasing gas for their cooking.

Israeli consul in Solomon Islands Leliana Firisua yesterday handed over the home gas system to James Kana, managing director of Ueniusuunu Agribusiness Group, who will be implementing the project with the schools.

Schools to benefit under the project operate under the Solomon Islands Christian Association (SICA).

According to Firisua, the initial 4.0 system are the chain of newly designed Home Biogas, which are now available in three categories – 2.0, 4.0. and 7.0.


An example of the Israeli designed Biogas system being implemented in Fiji.

“The first system of Home Biogas 4.0 will be implemented at the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) operated Betikama Adventist College,” Firisua said.

He said from Betikama, the implementation team will move to Selwyn College (Anglican Church of Melanesia), St Joseph’s Tenaru (Catholic), Su’u National Secondary School (South Seas Evangelical Church) and then onto to Goldie College in Western Province, run by the Wesley United Church in Solomon Islands.

Firisua said Israeli designed this Biogas System to help Pacific Islands countries, including Solomon Islands, to fight the impacts of climate change.

Meanwhile, Kana said his Ueniusuúnu Agribusiness Group (UAG) is a rural based initiative that operates agribusiness from rural village communities to local and overseas market through a farmer membership group in Small Malaita.

He said the goal of the business is to commercially market local resources where innovative sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to generating income leads to quality standards of living and prosperity for rural farmers, their families and communities.


Implementing the biogas system in Fiji.

Kana said all identified Israeli technologies potential for Solomon Islands is planned for with his company, who will be heading the implementation of the clean green technology of the HomeBiogas Systems from this year.

“This includes other innovative technologies to be introduced to Pacific Island countries from Israel focusing mainly on Climate Change,” he explained.

DEADLINE LOOMS

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Top public servants face job loss over vaccination

By EDDIE OSIFELO

SOME high-profile public servants in the government are expected to lose their jobs if they do not get their vaccinations by the end of this month.

This is part of the ‘No Jab, No Policy’ announced by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare since 31st August 2021.

The policy covers any employee of the national or provincial governments as well as state owned enterprises.

Since late last year, most public servants who refused to get their jabs have received half pay and are expected to be terminated from their jobs if they do not get their vaccination by the end of January.

Reports reaching Island Sun say the Ministry of Culture and Tourism permanent secretary, Andrew Nihopara, Chairman of Leadership Code Commission, Solomon Kalu, Director of National Training Unit Curtis Kalu are among the officials.

Kalu, who held the position for two terms from 2016-2019 and 2020 to 2022, said he cannot comment at this stage as the Nominating Committee is still to make their decision.

He said his contract should be completed by the end of this year.

However, Island Sun understands LCC has already advertised the post in the media.

Furthermore, PS Nihopora said he still has time to get his vaccination.

He will make his decision before the deadline this month whether to take the vaccination or not.

In the meantime, Mrs Kalu reportedly tendered her resignation because she refused to be vaccinated.

Despite her resignation, the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development (MEHRD) still gave her time to reconsider her decision.

PM Sogavare said after eight months of vaccination, the health ministry has administered a total of 267, 338 doses of COVID-19 vaccines both for Astra Zaneca and Sinopharm vaccines and includes first and second doses.

This represents only 32 percent of the total doses they must give to fully vaccinate the 414,327 eligible adults in Solomon Islands which is 828,654 doses.

Currently, about 73,540 people are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

This is 17.7 percent of the total eligible population.

About 120,258 people, or 29 percent, have had their first doses and are encourage to come get their 2nd doses.

The no jab, no job rules are now applicable in many parts of the world as countries continue to fight against COVID-19.

These measures extend to ‘vaccine passports’ for international travel, aged-care homes, hospitals, and large events.

While these measures received some resistance, compliance is generally high.

SIVF AND SINIS SIGN MOU

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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SIVF President Morris Maitaki (Far left), SINIS High - Performance Executive Director Aaron Alsop (center) signing the MOU witnessed by Portfolio 2 (Team Sports) Performance Manager Amanda Korinihona.

BY ELTON LONARATHA JNR

THE Solomon Islands Volleyball Federation has become the first sporting federation to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the newly established Solomon Islands National Institute of Sports (SINIS)- High Performance.

The MOU is to outline all of the support services and programs, along with assistance in areas of training facility and equipment access, coach and athlete scholarships and a range of capacity building programs of which have not been offered in Solomon Islands before SINIS was established.

“SINIS High – Performance congratulated the SIVF President Morris Maitaki and his executive for taking the lead, and looking forward to supporting their athletes,” a SINIS statement reads

SIVF president Morris Maitaki expressed his acknowledgement following the signing of the MOU with the SINIS-HP yesterday.

Maitaki said he would like to thank the SINIS Director for the support after a long wait for such to happen.

“Not forgetting everyone who are involved in this partnership as we understand this is a long process and finally, we have made it successfully today and I’m glad we could sign,” the President said.

He said the next focus is to carry on further with the definition of the agreement contained in this MOU.

“After this signing our eyes is on watch for the next year’s games, whilst the bottom line is the national federation’s preparation towards the event.

“This has been the missing part in team Solomon in any games and we look forward for the support of the High-Performance centre as we work towards achieving the medal prospect in 2023.

“I’m confident enough that with this agreement, our federation including the other NFs will be well prepared before the PG2023 comes,” Maitaki said.

Kanzi wins WSSA 2022 surfing competition

Written by
Ben Bilua
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One of the surfers in action during this week surfing competition organized by WSSA in Gizo this week. PHOTO BEN BILUA

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

PAELOGE Surfer, Sammy Kanzi is the winner of Western Solomons Surfing Association (WSSA) 2022 senior category surfing competition on Wednesday.

The finals were tense as participants dug deep to pull off a perfect barrel to get good points.

Kanzi came top in a split decision from second runner-up, one of the aspiring surfers, Tautau from Team Titiana. 

Kanzi managed to execute perfect barrels, clean riding on waves as well as displaying eye-catching flips earning him top points and the title.

Sammy Kanzi in one of his attempt

Second runner-up, Tautau also pulled off few barrels and clean wave riding but his performance proved insufficient for the top spot.

Junior White from Team Titiana also scoped the third prize walking away with a brand-new surfing board.

Ju White receives a brand new surfing board for scoping third position

Both Kanzi and Tautau received cash prize. The trio will be part of a surfing team who will travel to Papatura Resort in Isabel province on a special surfing experience sponsored by Solomon Airlines.

In an interview with SunSPORTS, one of the judges, Jocul Ravia said the competition had been tough and gave the judges a hard time in making the decisions.

Semi-finalist and finalist before their heats

He said the standard of performances have improved compared to previous surfing competitions staged in the province.

“I commend all the surfers for the spectacular performances throughout the last two days. They have displayed great skills that I as an old surfer surprised myself,” Ravia said.

Finalists waiting for their turn to hit the waves. Sammy Kanzi (arrow) is the winner of the competition

He said surfing is a difficult sport as it depends on waves and skills within the time limit of 15 minutes to register good points.

Ravia adds that the sports is anybody’s game.

A surfer in action

“Even junior surfer can beat senior surfers if he or she catches a good wave,” he explained.

Ravia meanwhile said he had enjoyed watching young surfers improving and building up their skills in the sport.

20 SURFERS HIT THE WAVES

Written by
Ben Bilua
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Youths who participated in the surfing competition in the Western Province

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

A total of 20 surfers signed up for the Western Solomon’s Surfing competition which was held at Paeloge community in the Western Province.

The competition kicked off on Tuesday after a short opening ceremony in the presence of Minister of Tourism for Western Provincial Government, Ronnie Gemu, Tourism officer for Western Province, Fabina Lilo, Western province’s Sports Officer Betty Senipitu, officials from Tourism Solomons, participants and Paeloge community.

Participants were divided into two groups, four in each group, where two from each group, Paeloge and Titiana hitting the waves.

The competition is competed in round-robin where surfers from Paeloge went head-to-head with surfers from Titiana.

Two winners of each group qualify for the next round.  Surfers are graded with two judging criteria; one is perfect riding on waves and barrel.

In junior category, Paeloge surfers lead the pool game with three surfers qualifies for the next round.

Hon Gemu middle, President of WSSA Jeremy Baea and Officer from Tourism Solomons relax while waiting for the games to start

President of Western Solomons Surfing Association (WSSA), Jeremy Baea said WSSA is excited and proud to host the event again this year.

“We host the event every year and this is the 6th surfing competition we organized so far. Normally, we the competition took place around December,” Baea said.

“Last year the competition was delayed until this month and we are happy to see teams coming forward to be part of this event.

He stressed that the aim of the event is to promote surfing and at the same time promoting tourism in Western province.

Baea adds that part of the event’s mission is to also raise awareness to younger generation to keep the ocean clean.

He said the biggest vision of WSSA is to make sure surfing is recognized as one of the sports that can be competed not only at the national but also regional and international level.

Baea said discussions to promote surfing in the country is going well between WSSA and National Olympic Committee Solomon Islands with much anticipation on lifting the sport to all corners of Solomon Islands.

One of the surfers showing his surfing skills

He said WSSA provides basic surfing training saying any organization who wants to venture into establishing surfing competition can reach out to their association.

Baea meanwhile acknowledged major sponsors; Solbrew, Solomon Airlines, Papatura Resort, Tourism Solomons and Oravae Cottage for supporting the competition.

Fabina Lilo – Tourism Officer for Western province acknowledged WSSA for organizing the competition.

“It encouraging to see youths participating in this sport and I commend WSSA for making this event possible,” she said.

Lilo said Western Provincial Government has been very supportive towards the competition over the years and will continue to do so in the future.

Auki police mediate between parties

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Auki provincial town of Malaita.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

POLICE in Auki are working with parties involved in the recent alleged abduction.

Acting PPC Malaita Eddie Koto told the Island Sun his office is mediating between the parties in an effort to resolve the matter.

He adds that the deployment of Honiara police to Auki early this week was in response to this alleged abduction.

“At the moment we are working to maintain law and order and to gain public’s trust and confidence on police following the incident.

“Also with the presence of police in as witness is to scale-up security to curb any potential unlawful activities that might arise as a result of the incident,” Koto says.

“I’m liaising with them and soon we will come together and solve the matter as they already agreed.

“We all know what had happened and we don’t want it to happen again within our society.

“And as a result of the incident a joined force of RSIPF and PNGPF police in Honiara are currently assisting Auki police to maintain law and order in Auki and the province.

“This shows how government cares about its people to ensure people live in peace and enjoy normalcy to continue on with their normal businesses,” Koto says.

He meanwhile calls on anyone who may have plans could lead to escalating the issue to refrain.

Koto says “discussion is now on the matter and soon it will solve it”.

The incident happened last Thursday when a mob in Auki allegedly kidnapped three ex-militants accused of backing the non-executive of MPG in the failed no confidence motion against Suidani in September 2021.

They were reportedly kidnapped upon their arrival onboard MV Pelican at Auki wharf and taken to Kwaibala for questioning when intercepted by Auki police.

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