The lsabel Frigate U14 could not snatch a spot in the semi-finals after a penalty shootout this morning against the Henderson Eels.
The game kicked off at the DC park regardless of the drizzle and wet ground. That does not hinder the game as both teams equally contested the spot in the semis.
Isabel Frigate with the usual orange coloured uniform dominated the first half of the game. A chance for goal should have sent the frigate to the semi final, as they missed two great opportunities.
Isabel no 9 jessy missed the first opportunity on the first half. He would have slotted the ball in as he had the goal keeper to beat unfortunately the ball tangled on his foot.
The boys in yellow had their share in the second half as they pressured lsabel frigate at their goalmouth.
It was a tough and equally contested match that could have ended either way.
Both sides created a series of scoring chances but were denied by their respective custodians, defenders or wasted as a result of the wet turf and of careless finishing.
After the full time, the two teams had goal less draw.
This was again another penalty shotout game decider for the frigate.
A successful spot kick from no.2 jessy of Eels punished lsabel captain Tony for missing the penalty shot for his team. Keeping the Eels dream of winning the spot for the semi final alive.
“We knew we had this in us, this team (Eels) had a lot of good confidence players and we done a really good job of blocking out this very determined side”, Isabel frigate coach Steve Kole said after the game.
Henderson Eels coach said he was happy with the result adding his boys played well.”I thanked the boys for their hardworking and for winning the game.”
Isabel Frigate hopes of progressing on for the semi final spot was now dismantled after a horrendous penalty decider.
The game ended with 3 goals to 2 in favor of Henderson Eels.
Young Frigates recieved shoes donated by Mr. Glen. (📸 : Lyndon Elobi Bako)
The Isabel Football Federation U-14 and U-16 squad is now at Honiara awaiting the tournerments opening.
This National U-14 and U-16 Championship is organised by SIFF for its affiliated member associates through out the country. However, since its inception, the championship went on and off due to contraints faced by the governerning body.
Prior to their arrivals, the IFA squads was critically debated. Mr. Knnet Oleeva, in one of his posts sighted in the IPYF facebook group page, pointed out that the current U-14 and U-16 selection squad lacks transparency and is biased. “From the list, the IFA president posted today, we could only see that only Bugotu Football League players are selected, but in Isabel, we have about a total of 16 wards.”
Frustrated Mr. Oleeva also argued that, ” a team that is not represented by the majority is not always got the moral support by the majority and it will always impact on the teams progress. We definitely lose our solidarity and support for our provincial football team.”
Fobo news media understand why the selection has to be based on the current squad, could possibly the dormant leagues in other wards, and the financial status of IFA to organize leagues and tournerments in the province. These could make it difficult for the selection to be fair and representative.
However, since the arrival of the squads last night. Few Isabel members in Honiara welcomed the young frigates and step up helping the team as they await for the tournerment to start.
43 Solomon Islanders Data ‘Harvested,’ Linked to Chinese Tech Firm
The Solomon Islands, like its Pacific neighbors, do not have the means nor the technical know-how to limit, let alone block, such cyber intrusion.Source: Sergio Azenha/Alamy Stock PhotoFriday, 18 September 2020 10:44 AMShare
A special report from New Zealand’s 1 NEWS has revealed that people across the Pacific Islands, including some who do not even have a presence on the internet, are among those whose personal information has been targeted and linked to China’s military and intelligence networks.
Of the 804 individuals on the Pacific Island list, 43 are from the Solomon Islands. It consists of nieces, nephews, and relatives of senior political figures.
1 NEWS says personal details were harvested from each Pacific nation by Chinese tech firm Zhenhua Data.
“The networks and intelligence on the ground, even in various small islands, is very sophisticated,” she says.
“You don’t spend the time and energy to put people on the list. There is a purpose and a reason for it,” says Colin Tukuitonga, associate Pacific dean at the University of Auckland.
University of Canterbury Pacific studies director Steven Ratuva says it’s going to change the political dynamics in a significant way.
“As leaders begin to realise that family members and close friends are being watched as part of the list as well,” he says.
“So, the way they will approach China will be quite different now, and China too will quickly have to respond to that.”
China’s influence has been growing in the Pacific, but clear questions now emerging as to what their interests are.
Such reports are concerning, governments that have the means can boost their own cybersecurity to limit cyber intrusion.
The Solomon Islands, like its Pacific neighbors, do not have the means nor the technical know-how to limit, let alone block, such cyber intrusion.
THE first batch of students passing their first COVID-19 test in the Philippines is moving into their designated hotels to wait for their final two tests and first repatriation flights.
Report reaching Solomon Star from the Philippines confirmed late on Friday.
It was reported from a reliable source on the ground that those who have been tested negative in the first round are already transported to their designated hotels.
‘They will be isolated in their rooms waiting to undergo the second and third tests before they can board the first repatriation flight to Solomon Island,” the source said.
The first repatriation flight will be on the 27th of this month.
It was understood that Philippines is categorised as a high risk COVID-19 country.
The source also added that the 2nd batch will also be transported today to their designated hotels.
However, it is understood that only those with negative results will be allowed to go.
This paper also understands that the COVID-19 Oversight Committee has been doing all the arrangement in Honiara for the repatriation to be successful.
At the moment 12 students have been tested positive but are yet to show the signs of COVID-19.
THREE females accused of assaulting a 14-year-old girl on July 24 this year have pleaded guilty to the charge yesterday.
They appeared before Deputy Chief Magistrate Ricky Iomea.
Lisa Tolo, Florence Kini and Rose Sango from Kwaio, Malaita province, are each charged with grievous harm.
They are currently remanded in custody and yesterday when Iomea asked them about the incident that occurred on July 24, they all admitted they are aware of it, and entered guilty pleas.
The case is then adjourned for September 21 for sentencing and mitigation submission.
Prosecution and defence lawyers are directed to sort out agreed facts before that appearance.
The trio assaulted a 14-year-old girl at the Vara creek area on July 24 this year.
They aggressively approached the victim at the SIWA area at Vara Creek and assaulted her with their hands and legs until the victim was helpless.
They then dragged the victim to a house and bashed her up with a piece of timber and tied her hands with a rope against a post under the victim’s house.
Police said the victim’s brother found her sister and reported the matter to officers at the Central Police Station.
The officers attended and assisted the victim to the National Referral Hospital for medical treatment.
The Permanent Secretary of the MEHRD Dr. Franco Rodie has issued a circular to all Education Authorities, Principals/ Head Teachers and all school leaders, “Not to send students out due to non payment of 2020 school fees.“
According to the memo sighted, there are three (3) options given, should any Education Authorities, Principals/Head Teachers and school leaders wish to take into consideration.
1. “To exempt all students from paying fees for the remaining months until the end of the accademic year.”
2. “Parent to pay only certain % that will be determined by school administration and agreed by parents.”
3. “Extend period of paying school fees to end of year.”
These options are made due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which is far from over that had laid off most employees from work. However, most social media commentators are of the view that, option one (1) should be taken. Interestingly, the repercussion this would take, could definitely hit hard on all boarding schools in the country.
“Betikama College will stop its accademic year by October end, if we take the first option according to the circular,” strongly emphasize the College Principal during the ISOP meeting which was held at the MEHRD confrence room on Tuesday.
It is imperative at this time, all school principals/head masters to spend wisely on resourcefull teaching and learning aid to cater for the accademic year to progress well untill November.
A group of agriculture team led by Mr. James Poghula, a former student of Selwyn College, arrived at Selwyn College this afternoon, to undergo a surgery to remove Selwyner’s extensive growth on her right leg.
Selwyner was purchased by SOSA, in 2018 from Tenaru school. Solely to help graze the grasses in the campus. Since then, she was not put into a padock. She roamed the campus in search for green pastures and even grazed on staff gardens.
However, before the christmas of 2019, she got injured by villagers located at the eastern outskirt of the school campus, and it caused a swollen growth on her right leg.
The extensive growth was removed by the team, but excessive bleeding is not a positive sign. “Selwyner’s bleeding if it contunues would result on her fate,” stated Mr. Patrick, an Agriculture teacher that keep an eye on her after Mrs. Dalcy left in 2019.
Selwyner’s condition over the period was discussed repeatedly. However, not untill this afternoon, she undergo surgery to remove it from her leg.
TRANSPARENCY Solomon Islands (TSI) demands that the Executive Government instructs the Commissioner of Police to hold those Solomon Islanders responsible for felling of prohibited Tubi species, and their Asian cronies (Chinese, Malaysian, etc.) to be charged accordingly for breaching our relevant laws. The Laws of Solomon Islands applies to all residing and doing business here in Solomon Islands regardless of place of origin, race or ethnicity.
Following the halting of a big consignment of tubi round logs ready for shipment by the former Minister of Environment Dr. Culwick Togamana Transparency Solomon Islands see the issue as an urgent matter that needs attending to by police.
It is extremely unacceptable to know that reported Tubi log consignment that came under much scrutiny with regard to stoppage of export was felled under a false gazette notice. This is a shocking revelation to citizens of Solomon Islands.
Whilst some have said how unbelievable this is, of the many reports, shared with Transparency Solomon Islands this instance is confirms the suspicious held by many ordinary people and echoed by some national leaders that the leadership of this country is in the pockets of the loggers and miners.
For them to get as far as falsifying gazette notice must send a very grave message to all of us that some of our leadership have sold the country out and that these Asian operators are also corrupting our Judiciary.
Citizens could not believe that the level of corruption could go as far as altering important legal documents or our laws in their favour government office.
TSI whilst acknowledging that there are a handful of good national leaders and public officers, it has become a huge concern that some public officers are aiding the company to acquire the false gazette to fell Tubi.
Those authorities or government offices responsible for making the false gazette which has been circulated in social media must expose the officer who made the false gazette and handed him over to the police.
This is a serious corruption allegation that should not be taken lightly by the Executive Government for it does nothing to the image of Executive Government nor to our Legislature and Judiciary.
This is the kind of corrupt conduct and practice in office that continue to deny the country to progress in development. It is the white-collar crime of criminals committing offense and were never arrested and prosecuted.
This practice continues. Impunity has become a norm and increasing under the DCGA led government.
Transparency Solomon Islands demands Executive Government direct the Corruption and Fraud Unit of Police, JANUS to investigate the false gazette, arrest, and charge those suspected of creating the false gazette.
The investigation should also cover the Attorney General’s Chamber, Ministry of Forest Research and the logging company concerned.
TSI believe that those responsible for the fake document would have been paid huge amounts of cash money for their own benefit and using their position of power to produce the false gazette.
This is a very serious offence needing addressing urgently to send a clear message to officers and loggers alike not to abuse and misuse their position of power for personal gain and to the detriment of tubi species.
It will go a long way to rolling back corruption and corrupt conduct in public office. The government after this revelation has no more excuse for not acting.
If this very serious matter is not dealt with, some public officers will continue to enjoy the benefits of corruption denying our country the development aspirations it deserves.
As long as the public officers continue this practice of producing false documents in exchange for cash from Asian companies, the laws of this country will be breached time and again for the benefit of a few.
Government should also discuss with its new found friend China where most of the logs end up to put in place policies that help Solomon Islands prevent for logs exported to China.
TSI also called on the Attorney General Chamber to clarify legal notice No.35 of Wildlife Protection and Management Act, which the former Minister of Environment denied having any knowledge of it. This is a serious concern.
The company reported to have illegally harvesting Tubi using the false gazette is Samlimsan Ltd, owned by a Malaysian family who had been doing business in logging operation in Solomon Islands for more than a decade now. This company should be declared non-grata in Solomon Islands and be deported from the country for abusing our laws, our Judiciary.
It is very unlikely that the company is not aware of the gazette being fake, nor is it unaware of those responsible for creating the false document, forging the signature of the former Minister for Environment.
They should be investigated, arrested, placed in custody and charged immediately for they are likely to interfere with the investigation with money power. The other alternative is to terminate their license and deport them immediately.
It is a daylight robbery of resource owners and the government of this country for someone to collude with a logging company to harvest the unique prohibited species through fraud and false pretense. The officer responsible for committing the offense should not only be terminated but charged, prosecuted and sent to jail. This is the only way we can deal toughly with corruption that will minimize the high prevalence of corruption in Solomon Islands.
Transparency Solomon Islands calls on the Solomon Islands Independent Commission Against Corruption to do its part and investigate this.
It is now almost more than two years since the laws were passed and nothing much coming from this Commission.
The company was reported to have harvest the tubi logs and kept them at the company’s area in Noro ready for export overseas.
However, former Minister for Environment Dr. Togamana ordered the halting of the tubi round logs as it breaches the Environment Act and regulations.
The admission by the former Minister of Environment that he had no knowledge of the gazette notice bearing his name is a serious crime that should not be downplayed by the government and police.
The crime committed here by the government officer and the logging company has a disastrous consequence on the lives of people through damage of the environment and the abuse of office for personal gain.
Police must intervene now and arrest the person responsible the false gazette and hold the logging company responsible for not complying with the laws of this country. It would be a shameful thing for the government if the Asian company walk away freely without being held accountable for their involvement in bribing public servants to do the wrong thing in office in order to serve the company’s interest.
TSI insists that the matter be dealt with by police and those involve must be arrested and prosecuted as well as terminating or suspending the public officer responsible.
Transparency Solomon Islands will continue to ring the bell on allegations of corruptions that is happening in the country without being attended to by integrity institutions within the government.
TSI believes that with the very high prevalence of corruption in the public sector and now unashamedly reaching our legal documents, it is high time the country must work together in fighting corruption given its negative impact on our society.
Government and other donors must relook at funding given to UNDP for Solomon Islands and the Pacific in the fight against corruption and ensure it has impact on the ground than in their reports only. It is time UNDP stops being a donor once given the funds. It is given the funds because it puts itself out as the expert in anti-corruption advocacy.
To date it has hired stakeholders who have no depth of understanding to tick off their deliverables than actually delivering the program itself. It is not good enough in the fight against corruption.
Solomon Islanders expert the best to be delivering the program to them. It is time UNDP do something concrete than the piece meal approach and programs that boasts so huge success in reports. It is time government revisits how UNDP gets others to tick of its deliverable in the fight against corruption whilst not achieving much.
It is time the government and police must stand firm to say no to what is wrong and support TSI in their watch dog role to speak against corruption and mal administration.
Transparency Solomon Islands has no problem with foreign investors operating in the country but strongly advocate against bad investors who did not respect the laws of Solomon Islands, use bribery to make their way through to acquire permission and approval to do certain business activities.
TSI will not tolerate bad investors and urged government to keep an eye on issues of concern that may raise the question on the integrity of investors and public authorities.
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