Honiara

Games Council expects Pacific Games venues to be ready on time

President Vidya Lakhan and Chief executive Officer Andrew Minogue visited Honiara last week to assess preparations for the 17th Pacific Games.

RNZ Pacific reports the delegation visited several of the Games venues, including the main Sports City precinct and the accommodation construction site at the Solomon Islands National University.

They were briefed on the status of works on the main road into the city, the near completion of the new international airport terminal, and the recent "Safe and Green Games" launch.

Honiara goes into further 4-day lockdown as Covid cases soar

More than 200 new cases were recorded over the weekend with the Prime Minister warning that case numbers would climb as testing continues.

Health Minister Culwick Togamana told the ABC that authorities were facing a major challenge to contain the outbreak.

“The COVID-19 community transmission occurred before we detected the first case, it has already spread,” said Dr Culwick.

He said the country could only do 180 tests every 12 hours and modelling showed that cases could be in the thousands.

Solomons report first Covid-19 community case in Honiara

Solomons Business Magazine reports after two years of keeping the virus from entering the community, Sogavare pronounced in his much awaited special address after 10am today that the virus has finally entered the community.

Yesterday Sogavare announced that there was a community transmission in Pelau in Malaita Outer Island after a PNG medical illegally crossed the border from Mortlock Island to attend a wedding on “our side of border.”

Six people in the remote atoll of Malaita Outer Island were tested positive for the virus according to the report by SBM.

Over 100 arrested for riot and looting in Honiara

“I must make it very clear here that no one is above the law,” Commissioner Mostyn Mangau said.

Mr Mangau added “We are expected to live and make decisions within the principles of the rule of law regardless of our positions in our society. I therefore forewarned that if anybody is found in breach of such illegal activities, Police will not hesitate to arrest and deal with him/her.”

Bodies discovered in burnt out building in Honiara

A protest on Wednesday calling for the Solomons Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare to step down lapsed into major unrest and three days of rioting.

A police forensic team are on the ground and investigations are underway.

A spokesperson said they are yet to confirm the identities of the bodies.

Local reports say the remains are of some of the looters trapped inside the building.

Most of the rioting and looting took place in Chinatown, and RNZ Pacific correspondent there said only six buildings are left standing.

 

Photo RNZ Pacific 

Solomons govt to conduct test lockdown of national capital

In a statement on Friday the government said the lockdown was necessary given the surge of the deadly COVID-19 delta variant globally.

It said this was especially important as the country prepares for a limited re-opening of incoming flights which have been suspended for weeks because of worsening delta outbreaks in neighbouring countries.

It said Cabinet has approved the trial of the revised Lock-down plan for the Honiara Emergency Zone through a 36-hour lockdown from 6pm on Sunday 29th August to 6am Tuesday 31 August 2021.

SI’s buai market

Whilst it has its disadvantages, it has the undeniable effect of bridging people together despite language barriers.

The PNG contingent who are currently in Honiara, Solomon Islands, for the 6th Melanesian Arts and Culture Festival, are experiencing this concept firsthand.

While some participants have taken to chewing with gusto the buai on offer here at the festival, it is most evident as the buses seem to frequent the local designated buai market at Kukum.

Solomons police on alert ahead of All Whites game

The deputy police commissioner Gabriel Manelusi also called on the public to accept the result of today's game in the spirit of good sportsmanship.

The police operation which includes high visibility patrols in and around the capital as well traffic escorts for the All Whites, began yesterday and will continue up until their departure on Wednesday.

A 6-1 one thrashing at the hands of New Zealand during the first leg last week in Auckland means the Solomon Bonitos need to beat the Oceania champions 5-0 to move onto the next stage.

Heat the main issue for All Whites

The New Zealanders have a 6-1 advantage over the Solomon Islands following their impressive first up display.

Sigmund expects a number of changes to the All Whites side to avoid any unnecessary yellow cards.

The former defender says the heat will be the visitors biggest challenge today.

"I played there two or three times and almost died two of three times because the heat was just unbearable."

"I remember playing and just thinking at half time how am I going to get through the next 45 minutes... it is torturous."

Flooding hits Solomon Islands capital

The National Referral Hospital and many communities living near rivers and streams were flooded early this morning.

RNZ reports water filled up wards and corridors at the hospital leaving patients unable to move and causing concern about dangers with the electrical wiring.

People living near streams and rivers evacuated to higher ground fearing another flood situation like April 2014.

Those floods killed 16 people, left some 10,000 homeless and caused widespread damage.