Latest news with #Honiara
RNZ News
14 hours ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
Security support for Mini Games as Team Palau confirmed
Team Palau welcomed at the opening ceremony of the 2023 Pacific Games in Honiara. 19 November 2023 Photo: RNZ Pacific/Junior Maealasia A team of regional police officers will assist Palau police during the Pacific Mini Games, which the country will host from 29 June. The country's president, Surangel Whipps Jr, told RNZ Pacific he and his countrymen and women are excited about hosting the Pacific's athletes and officials . The Island Times has reported Palau's Minister of Justice Jennifer Olegeriil announced they are getting around 16 regional police officers from across the Pacific to support Palau law enforcement during the Games. The report stated Palau is set to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) this week with a regional policing deployment agency composed of more than 10 Pacific Island member countries. The Island Times reported the agreement includes collaboration with the Australian Federal Police. Under the agreement, officers from member nations will be deployed to assist with security operations throughout the Games. Olegeriil has also urged the public to help ensure a safe environment during the Games. President Whipps said Qantas is adding extra flights to Palau for the Game, which is a big boost as well. "We did hear from Qantas that they added on another flight on June 28 to make sure that we get more athletes coming up here on that day," he said. Surangel Whipps Jr in Rarotonga. Photo: RNZ Pacific / Lydia Lewis "So, two flights from Brisbane that day, and we're excited about that. "We hear so far 1,700 athletes are coming. I think that's pretty good for a Mini Games. "There's nothing like sports to bring us together." He added one of the exciting programs they have put in place is training young journalists who can help in the Games' coverage. "There's a training program to get 20 youths to be part of the media team, and so they're training them so they can go around and do a 30-minute coverage after every day," he said. "So, training young Palauans, hopefully more people into the media and communication space, which is so much needed." Meanwhile, the Palau National Olympic Committee has confirmed 225 athletes for the Mini Games. Secretary General Baklai Temengil-Chilton confirmed that is the maximum number of athletes any country can field. Palau's confirmed numbers mean they will have the largest team among the 22 participating Pacific nations. The Solomon Islands have confirmed 201 athletes, which would be the second largest at the Games. Fiji will have 187. The Island Times report stated nearly half of Palau's athletes are under the age of 19. Team Palau swimmers are in Australia for pre-Games conditioning, while the baseball team recently returned from two months of training in Taiwan. Frank Kyota, president of the Palau National Olympic Committee, told local media earlier that investments made to upgrade and expand Palau's sports infrastructure - including national gyms, fields, and facilities - will serve the broader community for years to come. He said the event give Palauan athletes the opportunity to compete at a high level at home. "Look at what sports can do," Kyota said. "It brings (nations) together … and helps us focus on projects that may not have been done otherwise." The Games officially open on 29 June 29 and close on 9 July.
RNZ News
a day ago
- RNZ News
Investigation after alleged rape of detained woman in PNG
A group of New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel, with two Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) NH90 helicopters, arrived in Honiara on November 14. Military police personnel from Fiji and Papua New Guinea are also present to assist the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force in maintaining security. Photo: RNZ Pacific / Koroi Hawkins Investigation is underway within Papua New Guinea police to determine how a former policeman who served time for rape was allowed to rejoin the police force, only to then allegedly commit another rape at a police station. The officer was convicted in 2012 and served 14 years. From initial indications, he may not have been formally dismissed from the force when he was convicted. He and two other officers are now in custody for the alleged rape of a woman who was detained. This incident has raised significant concerns about the the constabulary's recruitment and vetting processes, especially given previous calls for greater accountability and professionalism within the force. Police Commissioner David Manning has indicated that the focus is now on ensuring the individual is returned to prison.
ABC News
4 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Visa refusal sparks fresh concerns Solomon Islands may block Taipei from Pacific forum
The Solomon Islands government blocked a group of Taiwanese officials from entering the Pacific country earlier this year, stirring fresh concerns in Taipei that it might be locked out of a key regional meeting in Honiara later this year. Solomon Islands will host the Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting in September, and signalled last year that it might break with a long running precedent and refuse visas to Taiwanese officials who want to meet with their three remaining Pacific diplomatic allies on the sidelines. Both Australian and Pacific officials insist that the Solomon Islands government has given them private assurances this year that it will not take that step. But the ABC has been told that when a small group of officials from Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs applied to enter Solomon Islands in March — largely to begin planning the logistics for its PIF delegation — their visa applications were rejected. Australian government sources have said Solomon Islands has since reassured them again that Taiwan's representatives will not be blocked in September, but that this directive was still "working its way through the system", suggesting the decision was an error. A spokesperson from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) told the ABC it was "working closely" with Solomon Islands on preparations for the leaders meeting, "as we do with every host". "There has been no change to arrangements regarding Taiwan's engagement with the Pacific Islands Forum, which have been in place since agreed by leaders in 1992," they said. "The (meeting) is an opportunity for all Forum members to come together to ensure our region is well placed to pursue our shared interests, deepen regional cooperation and strengthen PIF unity." One Pacific island government source also told the ABC that the Forum Secretariat and Pacific leaders were confident Taiwan would be able to participate in the Honiara meeting without any issues. But the March incident has still stirred anxiety in Taipei, which has been fighting a losing battle with Beijing to maintain diplomatic allies in the Pacific, and which fears China is succeeding in its efforts to marginalise it in the region. Solomon Islands has cut off all official contact with Taiwan in the wake of its decision to switch diplomatic ties to Beijing in 2019, and last year threw its weight behind China's declaration that it will "reunify" the self-ruled island with the mainland. Solomon Islands last year also backed Beijing's push to strip Taiwan of its status as a development partner for the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). That frustrated leaders from the three Pacific nations which retain diplomatic ties with Taiwan, with Palau's President Surangel Whipps even warning that if Taiwan is locked out it could ignite a dispute like the "PIF split" which plunged the organisation into chaos in 2021. Mr Whipps said earlier this week that he had heard Taiwan was having "some difficulty gaining access" to the meeting, and stressed that it was critical Palau be able to hold meetings with its diplomatic partner in Honiara. Solomon Islands has not yet explained why the Taiwanese officials were refused visas in March. The Director of Immigration in Solomon Islands, Chris Akosawa, pointed out that Solomon Islands has recently tightened entry restrictions on Taiwan passport holders, but referred the ABC to the Solomon Islands Foreign Ministry for comment. The ABC sent questions to the Foreign Ministry, but didn't receive a response. So far, Solomon Islands has not given any public assurances that Taiwan will be able to attend the leaders meeting. In May, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele issued a forceful statement reaffirming his government's commitment to the One China Policy and ordering officials "not to engage in any official capacity with representatives or entities associated with 'Taiwan', China". "This includes official visits, communications, commitments, or participation in events involving 'Taiwan', China," he said. On Monday Mr Manele also declined to say whether his government had made a final decision on Taiwan's participation, although he said he was "working very closely with the Forum Secretariat in terms of these arrangements". "We are fully aware of that situation. So we are looking into that, it's a regional meeting and of course countries also have their national interest as well," he said. A second Pacific island government source said Mr Manele's acknowledgement that the PIF leaders meeting is a "regional" gathering was a good sign that "commonsense would prevail" and that Solomon Islands wouldn't upset the status quo. Invitations to PIF leaders and dialogue partners are expected to be issued shortly. Analysts warn that if Taiwan is excluded it would undermine the authority of the PIF Secretariat and set a dangerous precedent which could undermine Pacific unity and see further splintering — particularly with Palau due to host the leaders meeting next year. A third Pacific government source said it also was not clear if the United States would attend the meeting as a dialogue partner if Taiwan was excluded. A spokesperson for Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined to comment on its officials being denied entry but pointed to a 1992 communique endorsed by all PIF leaders which specifically says Taiwan should be able to hold a meeting with Pacific nations "at the same venue as the Forum". "Taiwan will continue to broaden collaboration with the PIF, diplomatic allies in the Pacific, and other like-minded countries, especially in such areas as climate change, food security, clean energy, and talent cultivation, jointly making contributions to the peace, stability, development, and prosperity of the Pacific region." Blake Johnson from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute said while it wasn't yet clear what Solomon Islands would do, it "may be more willing to upset the status quo than people expect". He also said excluding Taiwan from the meeting "certainly could cause fractures within the PIF". "Without the PIF and other regional institutions functioning properly, some Pacific nations will find it more difficult to access support from and participate in valuable initiatives from policing to climate change adaptation funding."
RNZ News
5 days ago
- RNZ News
Pacific news in brief for 5 June
A group of New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel, with two Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) NH90 helicopters, arrived in Honiara on November 14. Military police personnel from Fiji and Papua New Guinea are also present to assist the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force in maintaining security. Photo: RNZ Pacific / Koroi Hawkins A Papua New Guinea Court has fined 116 secondary students just under US$500 each for posession of offensive weapons at an inter-school fight. The National reports the students don't pay up they face one year in prison. On Thursday last week more than 200 students in East New Britain were arrested by police. The acting provincial magistrate told the students he is giving them a harsh penalty to send a message to all school students not to use public places as a "war ground". A teenage boy died in a shark attack at Wailapa, South Santo last week. A relative of the boy told VBTC News that they were swimming two metres from the shore when the attack happened. He said he saw his younger cousin go underwater, and at first, he thought he was okay but he then saw blood in the water, and started crying out. The family member described the terrifying moment when the shark circled back and pulled the boy underwater again, even as he tried to rescue him. VBTC understands that this is not the first shark-related incident in Santo. In Papua New Guinea, the Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) is pushing for the resettlement of Porgera mine landowners in light of recent crimes allegedly caused by so-called pit trespassers. According to the authority, trespassers or illegal miners were now attacking the mine's employees. Managing director Jerry Garry said the Porgera gold mine recently shut down for five days because of the influx of trespassers. Garry said trespassers or illegal miners are not only causing threats to the (mine) operations but are also threats to employees working within the environment. He said the company was ordered to withdraw its staff from the pit. Jerry Garry told The National newspaper that resettling of landowners was considered one of solutions towards dealing with illegal miners. Morobe, in Papua New Guinea is the first province to export premium green bean coffee to the United Arab Emirates by air. More than seven tonnes - 121 bags - were loaded onto the flight. Morobe govenor Luther Wenge said Dubai is the largest growing coffee market in the world. He said coffee is usually exported by ship so it's great to see air travel being used. Six Pacific central banks governors are meeting in Tonga this week to explore how financial inclusion can strengthen economic resilience and social equity across the region. The high-level gathering will focus on accelerating the Pacific's financial inclusion agenda, with an emphasis on digital innovation, resilience, and access to financial services. Central bank governors are expected to endorse on Friday the Nuku'alofa Pledge, a shared commitment to achieving financial systems that are inclusive, climate-resilient, and economically empowering.
RNZ News
25-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Team Vanuatu waits for state funding ahead of Palau Mini Games
Vanuatu women's beach volleyball team against Fiji at the 2023 Pacific Games in Honiara, Solomon Islands. Photo: Facebook / VASANOC Team Vanuatu's preparations for the Palau Mini Games is yet to receive their government's support, the Vanuatu Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (VASANOC) has confirmed. VASANOC chief Executive David Lolo told RNZ Pacific last week that they are still waiting for confirmation of government funding. However, he said preparation work is on target, with 130 athletes and officials currently training for the Mini Games, which is scheduled to kick off on 29 June in Palau's capital, Koror. "We have not received any confirmation of financial support from our government at this stage," Lolo said. "We have just recently submitted [our] full long list and we will finalise our team by the end of the month." He said in an earlier interview that VASANOC had "also leaned on the Australian government through DFAT (Australia High Commission in Vanuatu) for assistance". Lolo said Team Vanuatu had "no issues" with the player registration fee that all regional athletes pay for participation at the Games. "Our long list has been registered on time," he added. In an earlier interview, Lolo said they planned to take 99 athletes from nine different sports. The country's capital city, Port Vila, was struck by an earthquake in December last year, which damaged sports facilities as well and affected Team Vanuatu's preparations. "It affects us massively," Lolo said. "You cannot discount what a training facility or environment does for an athletes' preparation. Among all things, if the athletes mindset is lowered due to this, their support team already feel one step behind. "We do not know what can be done because we are in recovery mode but certainly there are ways to support our federations." Lolo said VASANOC is working with chef de mission Aileen Huri, and the individual sports federations, to ensure all preparation plans cover the "must do" issues, ensuring that the athletes are well prepared for the event. Medals and improved performances will be the driving factor for the contingent, with medal hopes in athletics, table tennis, beach volleyball, judo, archery and weightlifting based on the 2023 Pacific Games results. Meanwhile, Weightlifting Fiji head coach Henry Elder has told local media that the Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (FASANOC) should drop the FJ$3000 levy athletes have to pay. The requirement has sparked debate locally, as it is not the first time athletes have been expected to cover significant costs to represent the country. "This in my view is really unfair," Elder told state broadcaster FBC . "These athletes they struggle for so long, some of them even take loans to make this payment. "I think it is high time that something is done to take the burden off these athletes." He said many athletes fork out money to pay for their training, travels and other needs, without any assistance from FASANOC or government, to pay for those. "Many of these athletes already face challenges attending regular training sessions due to financial constraints, and the additional levy only intensifies these difficulties," Elder stated. However, FASANOC said on Thursday that the $3000 levy for participation in the Pacific Mini Games is imposed on sporting federations, not directly on athletes. FASANOC chief executive Vanessa Kilner told FBC Sports that it is each federation's responsibility to manage how the levy is paid. Kilner stressed that the decision on whether athletes pay out of pocket lies with the individual federations, adding the arrangement is not new. "The national federations are levied $3000 per person on their team, not just the athletes," Kilner said. "Our total cost of sending someone to the Pacific Mini Games is $15,500 for one person. "So $3000 is what you contribute. Some national federations do it very well while some actually pay for their athletes." Some sports federations have done their own fundraising to help them get their share of the levy.
