Games delegation queried, Rara defends claims
By RONALD TOITO’ONA
THE Solomon Islands delegation for the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia is being probed by certain National Federation members, it was revealed.
This came after a leaked list of the confirmed athletes and officials has in it, names of close family members of the National Olympic Committee Solomon Islands (NOCSI) executive.
They are travelling with the delegation under ‘Team Guests’, the list which was sighted by Star Sports has confirmed.
Star Sports was being informed early this week that, the final list of the delegation consisting 14 athletes and 11 officials published last Saturday was just a cover up.
“The number of officials should be totalled up to 15. There are four more people being included, and they are close family members of the President, Secretary General, Chef De Mission, and General Team Manager (GTM),” the National Federation members said.
They said the inclusion of the four people included as ‘Team Guests’ needs to be explained.
“NOCSI needs to clarify who is footing the bill for the four people, namely Keinaho Chan, Naomi Fujiyama, Joseph Avosa, and Linda Rara.
“Such action taken by the NOCSI executive in allowing family members to travel on an international assignment needs to be investigated or explained.
“It does not portray NOCSI, as a body that is fighting against corruption in Sports in the Solomon Islands, through good governance,” they added.
It was understood that, NOCSI has just been through a ‘Good Governance’ workshop in Honiara, facilitated by the President of the Pacific Games council, Mr. Vidhya Lakhan.
The objectives of the meeting are for openness, fairness, accountability, transparency, methodology (process), procedures stand for decision made.
Meanwhile, when contacted for comment this week, NOCSI President Martin Rara has defended the claims made by the National Federation (NF) members.
“The four guests as you listed in your email are going to the games on the entitlement of the President, Secretary General, Chef de Mission and the General team manager.
“And, the cost of these guests going is met by ourselves,” Mr Rara explained.
However, he did not clearly specify the Charter that allows the President, Secretary General, Chef De Mission, and General Team Manager to bring their family members to any Commonwealth Games as entitlements.
But, a NOCSI official said this is normal as part of entitlements that applies to all Commonwealth Games Associations (CGA).
