History for Solomons, New Zealand continue run (FIFA.com) 19 Sep 2018

History for Solomons, New Zealand continue run

(FIFA.com) 19 Sep 2018

• Solomon Islands into first World Cup with Peru 2019 qualification
• New Zealand set for seventh straight FIFA U-17 World Cup appearance
• Oceania pair are first to join the hosts at the 24-nation tournament

Solomon Islands created history by qualifying for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Peru 2019 with a deserved 3-1 win over Fiji in the first semi-final of the OFC U-16 Championship on Wednesday.

A large crowd was on hand at the Lawson Tama Stadium in Honiara to roar on the local heroes as the football-mad nation finally reached its first 11-a-side FIFA tournament.

The Solomons began as favourites after defeating New Zealand in the group stage and they duly took a handy lead thanks to a first-half double from Charles Mani.

Fiji struck back through Nikhi Pillay on the stroke of half-time but Raphael Le’ai, who hit the post earlier in the match, wrapped up the contest with a late strike to spark wild celebrations in the capital.

Solomon Islands have previously competed with distinction at Futsal and Beach Soccer World Cups.

In the latter match, New Zealand turned around their indifferent form to earn an impressive 4-1 win over Tahiti and secure a berth at their seventh consecutive U-17 World Cup.

The Kiwis raced to a three-goal lead by midway through the opening half with Henry Hamilton collecting a double.

Tahiti had been seeking first-ever qualification at U-17 level after recently reaching the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland.

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SOLOMON FOOTBALL > NEWS > 2018 OFC U-16 CHAMPIONSHIP > SOLOMON ISLANDS EAGER TO CLINCH TITLE

Solomon Islands eager to clinch title

Simon Abana

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 Sep 21, 2018, 4:12 PM

in2018 OFC U-16 Championship

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Solomon Islands have set their sights on clinching the OFC U-16 Championship title on home soil when they take on defending champions New Zealand in the final at Lawson Tama Stadium tomorrow afternoon.

The all concurring national U-16 side heading into the final with four wins from four games played in the tournament.

Stanley Waita and Co created history in the semi-finals with a 3-1 win over Fiji to booked Solomon Islands first ever football World Cup berth.

Waita said his young lads are excited ahead of the final against the junior All Whites.

“I am feeling excited today because it’s a great day for Solomon Islands ahead of the grand final and I think my players are feeling great this morning”, the former Solomon Islands international said.

“We want to go for the ultimate prize, we are looking forward to it and we will be giving our very best tomorrow.”

The hosts defeated New Zealand 5-0 in the group phase thus making the final an interesting encounter.

“We had the upper hand in our group encounter but I know they will come back strong in the final and we are prepared for the challenge”, Waita added.

The defending champions are fresh from their 4-1 win over Tahiti in the semi-finals and head coach Jose Figueira said the boys can’t wait for a rematch.

“I think we have learned a lot from that game, that game you know the experience, the crowd and the talented team they are probably might just come too early for us in terms of settling in and getting used to things here”, Figueira said.

“We’ve learned a lot, I think we’ve improved in those areas in the game since and you know off the back of the semis the feeling straight after the game we’ve got more in the tank.

“So that’s great I am sure there will be a huge crowd, huge occasion and just a great day for football and we’ll be going out there trying to express ourselves.”

Boths have already secured their place in the FIFA U-17 World Cup but Oceania bragging rights is on the cards.

The final is expected to be a classic match which will kick-off at 3pm in Honiara tomorrow.

Parangiju Inland Mountain Lodge

Breath taking views from the lodge inland Tenaru river.

SOUTH PACIFIC ARTS FESTIVALS - YOUR IMMAGINATION TO YOUR PAST

Welcome back to the mid of the Year in the Solomon Islands, when the rains is due to come and the activities are gearing up...the Talk of town now is the up coming South Pacific Arts Festival which would be hosted here in Honiara and neighbouring islands. 


Solomon Islands promises to host a show that will never be forgotten, and I am sure from the outset of the preparations, it would seem that this is going to happen...I am  planning to put up pictures of the preparations but, would like to do so when all the prep work is done and complete...just to arouse our regions expectations and imaginations of what is to come...So wantoks in the Pacific Region, come  to Solomon Islands and see for yourself what is in store for the festivals and the modelling of the islands' forgotten past.  See you in the Festival...


For information on this check our these Websites:

11th South Pacific Arts Festival 2012

Pacific Arts Festival – Honiara Ready And Waiting

Angry crowds Wants New PM Lilo To Step Down

Angry youths took to the streets in Honiara demanding the Newly Elected PM Gordon Darcy Lilo to Step by 4 pm today.  The youths waving banners and shouting the PM to step down.  The situation is still unpredicatible.
the youths are at the residence of the Governor General demanding the PM to resign.

WikiLeaks cables reveal US role in Australia’s “regime change” in Solomon Islands

WikiLeaks cables reveal US role in Australia’s “regime change” in Solomon Islands

By Patrick O’Connor
14 September 2011

US diplomatic cables from 2006, recently published by WikiLeaks, have pointed to Washington’s involvement in the Australian government’s campaign to oust Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare. The episode sheds light on the crucial role played by US imperialism in backing Canberra’s aggressive operations across the South Pacific.

The 2006 cables begin with the Solomon Islands’ elections in April, the first national vote that was held under the watch of the Australian-led intervention force, the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI).

In July 2003, the Australian government dispatched soldiers, federal police and officials to take over the Solomons’ state apparatus, including the police, courts, prisons, central bank and finance department. The US-backed RAMSI operation was part of Canberra’s drive to defend its economic interests and geo-strategic dominance in the South Pacific amid heightened concerns about the influence of rival powers, including China.

The Australian government anticipated the April 2006 elections with some trepidation. Opposition to RAMSI among ordinary people was increasing—poverty and social inequality had worsened under the intervention, exposing its “humanitarian” pretext—and the pro-Australian government of Prime Minister Alan Kemakeza was widely despised.

A large number of government ministers lost their seats in the elections, but subsequent coalition negotiations saw the remaining “old guard” form a government headed by Snyder Rini, previously Kemakeza’s deputy prime minister. This announcement was met with angry opposition. Riots erupted outside the parliament, with RAMSI police targeted. For two days, April 18 and 19, unarmed youths were able to loot and arson throughout much of Honiara, despite the presence of heavily-armed Australian soldiers and police.

The World Socialist Web Site has previously raised the question as to whether Australian forces were deliberately stood down in order to create the conditions for an expanded RAMSI presence in the Solomons (“The Howard government, RAMSI, and the April 2006 Solomon Islands’ riots”).

The US cables refer to the rioting as a “surprise” but one dispatch also noted that on April 19, after additional Australian troops landed in Honiara: “Resident Americans tell us that troops did not deploy to the areas affected by rioting until the late hour and general exhaustion had quieted the havoc.” Another cable added: “One foreigner, with no brief for the [anti-Rini] opposition, contacted us to express outrage that, to her observations, RAMSI officers were protecting the hotel of Tommy Chan [a businessman linked to Kemakeza and Rini] while allowing the rioters [a] free hand among the smaller establishments in Chinatown.”

Robert Fitts, the US ambassador to the Solomons who is based in Papua New Guinea, concluded that the riots demonstrated that: “A strong outside hand will be needed for a long, long time.”

Snyder Rini was forced to resign, and parliamentarians elected Manasseh Sogavare prime minister. This was met with alarm in Canberra. Sogavare represented a layer of the Solomons’ elite that resented RAMSI’s determination of all important economic and political policies in the country. He called for a RAMSI “exit strategy,” suggested that RAMSI personnel be stripped of their immunity from Solomons’ law, wanted to put an end to the intervention force’s control over the finance department and government spending initiatives, and also proposed an official inquiry into the April riots. Each of these proposals was bitterly denounced by the Australian government. Almost immediately, a provocative campaign was initiated to destabilise and remove the Sogavare government.

The US actively backed Canberra from the outset.

On April 26, eight days before Sogavare was elected prime minister, a cable titled “Solomons gets dicey—time for a US statement,” warned that following the riots, “the worrisome outcome could be a government incorporating figures tempted to undercut RAMSI.” Leading figures in the next government, the cable elaborated, could “have a real agenda of trimming RAMSI’s authority.” Under the subheading, “USG [US government] can make a difference,” Ambassador Fitts urged that “a senior US official make a statement designed to reinforce the population’s support for RAMSI assistance,” adding that “a statement would be most effective if it became public before new nominations for prime minister.”

Like their Australian counterparts, US embassy officials responded to Sogavare’s election with hostility. The day after the new prime minister was installed, a cable was dispatched with the title, “New Solomon Islands PM walks on the wild side.” It warned that “RAMSI, and Australia, may well find its role in Solomon Islands more complicated in the months to come.”

Three days later, another cable, titled “Tougher times for Australia and RAMSI,” declared that Sogavare’s “actions and newly-announced cabinet all auger for tougher times for Australia.” A cable sent on June 9 reported that “in private, Australia does feel a bit beleaguered.” The US ambassador said: “Both RAMSI officials and the Australian High Commissioner have since explained to me how useful US gestures of support might be.”

The 2006 cables include several expressions of concern about mounting public opposition toward RAMSI. One dispatch acknowledged that “some of the bloom has worn off the rose [i.e., the intervention] as the public has not seen a quick pick up in the economy (beyond the bubble in the capital due to the large number of RAMSI expats).” Another cable noted that “there is sentiment that some RAMSI officials/contractors have been heavy handed, not sensitive to cultural issues and at times patronising in their treatment of Solomon Islanders.” The cable reported on a comment privately made by one unnamed RAMSI official—reflecting the colonial and racist mindset of those enforcing the intervention: “I’ve worked in the Northern Territory [which has a large Aboriginal population] and I know how to deal with these people.”

A lengthy cable dispatched on August 22, 2006, “RAMSI faces a bleak time,” pointed to Washington’s and Canberra’s contempt for the nominal sovereignty of the Solomons’ government. The US ambassador outlined proposals advanced by ministers in the Sogavare cabinet—including a constitutional change, legislative reforms to have “traditional communal concepts reinforced over private property” and a “rural development plan which would identify crops and industries appropriate to each micro-community rather than a national strategy”. Each was summarily dismissed as either too expensive or incompatible with “a key RAMSI concern, effectiveness of government.”

The colonial character of US-Australian activities in the South Pacific emerges clearly in a cable sent on September 13, titled “Solomon Islands: PM kicks Australia in the shin.” The dispatch reported on Sogavare’s expulsion of Australian High Commissioner Patrick Cole for his active collaboration with the parliamentary opposition as it worked to bring down the government. For Ambassador Fitts, there was no “rational political motivation for Sogavare’s action” and the expulsion was “a reflection of his personal (and rather adolescent) frustration over the large RAMSI role in Solomon decision making.”

The cable concluded with the following assessment of the prime minister: “The main impression we gained from his demeanour is that of a frustrated adolescent, dependent and resenting that dependence; wanting to go on an all night binge without anyone telling him he shouldn’t.”

Following Cole’s expulsion, the Australian government became openly menacing. One US cable notes that Prime Minister John Howard telephoned Sogavare and told him, “I will make things very difficult for you and your government.”

A US cable sent on September 14, “Solomon Islands: Expressing USG concerns,” demonstrates that Washington, like Canberra, was working to ensure that Sogavare was removed via a parliamentary no-confidence motion being prepared by the cravenly pro-RAMSI opposition. After warning of “many bumps in the road ahead for RAMSI and for good governance,” the cable concluded: “The no-confidence vote now scheduled for October 2 could provide a turning point.”

A follow-up cable sent eight days later, “Time to speak on Solomon Islands,” urged that a US statement “be issued prior to October 2 so as to register with parliamentarians as they weigh the worrisome performance of the current government.”

Despite the US-Australian campaign, the no-confidence motion failed. It was only more than a year later, in December 2007 that the “regime change” operation finally succeeded in removing Sogavare. For reasons that are not clear, the WikiLeaks cables release does not include any diplomatic documents relating to the Solomons throughout 2007.

From a review of the 2006 cables, however, there is no question that Washington would have been closely monitoring and backing the Australian government’s provocations against Sogavare and his colleagues.

As part of this operation, the Solomons’ then attorney general, Julian Moti, was extracted from the Solomons in late 2007 and arrested in Australia on child sex charges that he maintains are false and politically motivated. The Australian High Court is soon due to issue a ruling on Moti’s appeal to have the attempted prosecution struck down on the grounds that it is an abuse of judicial process. In the US cables, embassy officials privately echoed Canberra’s defamatory statements against the international and constitutional lawyer, falsely representing his legal record in the Pacific and describing him as “particularly odious.”

In a cable sent ahead of the unsuccessful no-confidence motion in October 2006, the US ambassador warned that Moti had “declared his readiness to give his all to combat what he terms as Australia’s racist and colonialist policies in the Pacific.” The cable said Sogavare’s appointment of Moti as attorney general had “shown that his recent expulsion of the Australian High Commissioner was not a one off event.”

 

Another Day in the Happy Isles

Trading at the Point Cruz Wharf

PM Official Residence - Vavaya Ridge

Mother Ships Loading Tuna Catches

Children Kayaking - Kakabona

Popular Beaches- Kakabona

Hyundai Mall, next to Central Market

Busy Point Cruz Harbour

Diplomatic cables claim Australia has failed to stabilise 'fragile' Solomons

Philip Dorling August 30, 2011

MORE than a billion dollars and eight years of effort by Australia has failed to build political and economic stability in the Solomon Islands, according to secret United States diplomatic assessments.

Read More

US report: RAMSI fails

By DOUGLAS MARAU


THE Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) has remained tight-lipped over a secret United States (US) assessment report stating that RAMSI has failed to build political and economic stability in the Solomon Islands. The report which was highlighted in the Sydney Morning Herald said RAMSI wasted billions of dollars but failed miserably since they were deployed to the Solomon Islands in 2003. “We have no response at this stage,” a statement from RAMSI communications said. The report highlighted that Australia's intensive policing and aid effort has not succeeded in stabilising what they described as a ‘fragile’ Solomon Islands. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, despite large-scale Australian assistance and intensive institution building, Solomon Island democratic institutions could not cope with the deep fractures and frustrations that divide the many communities in its society. A strong outside hand will be needed for a long, long time, the report highlighted. The Sydney Morning Herald reported the confidential US diplomatic report was leaked to WikiLeaks and provided exclusively to Fairfax. The report also highlighted that ''if RAMSI officers should leave tomorrow, the situation in the country could quickly revert to the dark days during the ethnic crisis.’ ''There are still people out in communities who have not been brought to justice for atrocities committed during the ethnic conflict. These incidents and the economic tensions ... continue to fester. ''As is clear to every observer, over the 28 years since independence, modern government has failed to take firm root in Solomon Islands soil,” it was reported. RAMSI was deployed to the country in July 2003 at the request of the former Solomon Islands government led by Sir Allan Kemakeza. This followed the five years of ethnic crisis which led to a widespread breakdown of law and order. Australian taxpayers over the years have complained that the peace-keeping force has wasted billions of taxpayer’s money. In 2011-12 Australia will provide the Solomon Islands, which has a population of only 500,000 people, with more than $260 million in overseas development assistance. It was believed the US assessment report was drawn down by the visiting US delegation who visited the country earlier this year.

 

Solomon Islands Going Back in Time...1963 to 1967...

Remebrance Day 1962

Sentry At Government Haus 1963

Police Band-1962

RAMSI Shot Boy Dead

Members of the RAMSI Contigent has Shot Dead a Guadalcanal Boy and injured one other after some stone throwing with Police at Titinge Ridge. The incident took place early in the morning when a group of boys from Titinge Ridge had a drinking party that resulted with a brawl with boys from lower Mbokona, which involves stone throwing. Police intervened but could not contain the situation and ended up with the RAMSI Military personnel called upon to handle the situation and opened fire upon the unarmed boys.

The boy's body is currently in the morgue with the other boy sustaining gun shot wounds and is in serious condition.

2010 ELECTION RESULTS

UNOFFICIAL ELECTION RESULTS...

These are the current "LIVE Updates" for the Election Results here in the Solomon Islands:

1. North New Georgia - Job Duddley Tausinga (Returning)
2. Rennel/Bellona - Seth Gukuna (Returning)
3. Aoke/Langalanga - Mathew Wale (Returning)
4. East Malaita - Manasseh Maelanga (Returning)
5. Baegu/Asifoloa - Toswell Kaua (Returning)
6. West Kwaio - Peter Tom (Returning)
7. South Vella La vella - Lionel Alex (New - Takes Over from Trevor Olovae)
8. North Vella La Vella - Milner Tozaka (Returning)
9. North/Kolombangara - Gordon Darcy Lilo (Returning)
10. North East Choiseul - Manasseh Sogavare (Returning)
11. North West Choiseul - Cornelley Sandakabatu (New - Takes Over Clement Kengava)
12. South Choiseul - Elijah Doromoala (Takes Over from Retired MP Rev. Leslie Boseto)
13. Marovo - Snyder Rini (Returning)
14. Gao/Bugotu - Samuel Manetoali (Returning)
15. Ranonga/Simbo - Charles Sigoto (New - Takes Over from Francis Billy Hilly)
16. Maringe/Kokota - Varian Nongamei (Returning)
17. East Are'are - Andrew Hanaria (New - Takes Over from Late Edward Huniehu)
18. West Are'are - John Maneniaru (New - Takes Over from Severino Nuaiasi)
19. Temotu Nende - Commins Hudson Memua(New - Takes over from Patteson Oti)
20. Central Kwara'ae - Jackson Fuilaua (New - Takes Over from Fred Fono)
21. North West Guadalcanal - Bobo Detke (New - Takes Over from Siriako Usa)
22. West Kwara'ae - Sam Iduri (Returning)
23. South New Georgia Rendova/Tetepari - Danny Philip (New - Takes Over from Francis Zama)
24. North Malaita - Jimmy Rasta Lusibaea (New - Takes Over from Daniel Kwanairara)
25. East Honiara - Douglas Ete (New - Takes Over from Silas Milikada)
26. Ngella - Mark Kemakeza (Returning)
27. Hograno/Kia/Havulei - Selwyn Riumana (Returning)
28. Central Honiara - John Moffat Fugui (New - Taking Over from Nelson Ne'e)
29. West Honiara - Namson Tran (New - Takes Over from Isaac Inoke)
30. North Guadalcanal - Martin Sopaghe (Returning)
31. Savo/Russel - Dickson Mua Panakitasi (New - Takes Over from Sir Allan Kemakeza)
32. Central Makira - Hypolite Tarimae (New - Takes Over from Bernard Ghiro)
33. East Kwaio - Stanley Sofu (Returning)
34.Small Malaita - Rick Hounipwela (New - Takes Over from William Haomae)
35. Shortlands - Steve Laore (New - Takes Over from Augustine Taneko)
36. West New Georgia-Vonavona - Silas Tausinga (New - Takes Over from Peter Boyers)
37. West Guadalcanal - Moses Garu (New - Takes Over from Laurie Chan)
38. Ulawa/Ugi - James Taro (Returning)
39. North East Guadalcanal - Derek Sikua (Returning)
40. West Makira - Dick Ha'amori (New - Taking Over from Japhet Waipora)
41. South Guadalcanal - David Pacha (Returning)
42. Central Guadalcanal - Peter Channel (Returning)
43. Temotu Vatu - Clay Forau (Returning)
44. Temotu Pele - Martin Maga (Returning)
45. East Central Guadalcanal - Joseph Onika (New - Takes Over from Nollen Leni)
46. East Guadalcanal - Bradley Tovosia (New - Takes Over from Johnson Koli)
47. Lau/Mbaelelea - Walter Folotalu (Returning)
48.Russells and Savo - Dickson Mua (New - Takes Over from Allan Kemakeza)
49.
50.


...Most Polling Stations in the Provinces are still counting, there are clashes between rival supporters and some looting taking place at Temotu, Lata from angry supporters, Police are now mobilised to Lata. Honiara is calm and counting still takes place for Guadalcanal province.

...As of 2pm today, 16 Constituency results were officially released. Out of these, 4 new faces had claimed 4 respective seats. Meanwhile, veteran politician and former Prime Minister Francis Billy Hilly had lost his seat to Charles Sigoto. Billy had first entered into the Solomon Islands parliament in 1976.

...Across to the far east, police deployment had reached the capital of Temotu province, Lata.This was confirmed by the Deputy Police Commissioner. This was in response to troubles after election results were announced.Last night was hell on the streets of Lata. Rival supporters clashed on the streets with missiles of rocks and other objects being rocketed at properties belonging to the winning candidate and those of his relatives.

2.45 PM. ...Results from Makira Province will be available today evening. Guadalcanal Province Results still progressing counting taking place at the National Archives. North Guadalcanal Constituency, have 5 polling stations completed 5 polling stations more to be counted. Northwest Guadalcanal have 2 Ballot Boxes to be counted and results will be available by evening today.

3.00 PM. Ndai Island will start casting their votes as ballot boxes and officials arrived at 12.00pm today flown in by helicopter following the incident with missing officials.

4.00 PM. Confirmed reports that Commins Hudson Memua has won the Election unseating Patteson Oti, and Jackson Fuilaua has Unseated Fred Fono of Central Kwara'ae.

4.10 PM. Reports from some inner source that Bobo Detke has won the seat for North West Guadalcanal, useating Siriako Usa.

4.42 PM. North Guadalcanal, still has 10 polling Stations to go and 3 more still to be counted before closing at 6pm today.

4.50 PM.Ndai Island Voting is complete and ballot boxes is coming back for counting today. Lau and Mbaelelea counting is still continuing.

5.00 PM. West Honiara already counted 19th polling stations, still have 11 more polling stations to go.

9.00 PM. Douglas Ete winner for the East Honiara Constituency with a landslide victory. Ngella Constituency, Mark Kemakeza retains his seat, Savo and Russels with some irregularities has to stop and resume tomorrow.

9.30 PM.Some voters from Lau and Mbaelelea are demanding Returning Officers in Auki to return ballot boxes and restart the voting as they complain that there are some discrepancies with ballot boxes of one candidate. Supporters stormed the Office in Auki and broke part of the fence and stoned the building. The returning officers hand over some ballot boxes to the angry supporters who broke and burn all the ballot papers. Local police officers where outnumbered and the situations as of now calmed down after they got what they want. Counting for Lau and Mbaelelea Constituency has stopped and the result is uncertain.

ALL Counting of Ballot Boxes will close at 6 PM each day in Honiara.

More "LIVE" Results and Updates still to Come...

Welkam to 2010 From the Solomon Islands

Some Images from Kauvuare, one of those popular night Spots in town located outside of Honiara Town on the Beach front...

SEASONS GREETINGS

SEASONS GREETINGS TO ALL FROM BIUKILI TEAM.
WISHING YOU ALL A VERY MERRY XMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD FOR A BETTER AND MUCH MORE EXCITING SOLOMON ISLANDS IN 2010.
KEEP BLOGGING...

Coastal Scenes of Guadalcanal

These are some coastal views of Guadalcanal; the beauty of this country is best seen from a distance to get the glimpse of the beauty within...



Photos by Gurisolo'09