Sogavare hands over 17th Pacific Games sports facilities handed over to NSC, NSC thanks gov’t for the much-needed facilities
IN a timely ceremony before the Prime Minister’s Election proceed today, the Caretaker Prime Minister and Minister for the 2023 Pacific Games Manasseh Damukana Sogavare and National Hosting Authority Chair Jimmie Rodgers handed over the sporting facilities used for the Pacific Games to the National Sports Council (NSC).
The official handing over ceremony held at the National Stadium in East Honiara yesterday was the first phase of the handing over of sporting facilities from the NHA to the NSC.
The first phase handing over covers the National Stadium, the Tennis Centre, Friendship Hall, Aquatic Centre, Eastern End Running Track, Hockey Pitch, DC Park and the Iumi Water Sports Park.
The second phase is scheduled to be held on a later date and it will cover four sporting facilities – Eastern End Sports Precinct Running Track, Eastern End Sports Precinct Multipurpose Hall, SINIS and the Sports Legacy House and the Administration Centre at the Sports City.
Caretaker Prime Minister Sogavare said the transfer of property from the NHA to NSC after the successful hosting of the Pacific Games is accordance with Section 35 of the Pacific Games 2017 Act.
He said the sporting facilities and school classrooms and dormitory refurbishments and building project and the new SIFF Academy is worth more than SBD1 billion.
The caretaker Prime Minister said the total value of the 11 sporting facilities alone in Phases 1 and 2 on non-financial assets is worth SBD 850-million.
“Never before have we transferred the ownership of multi-million dollars worth of property to the NSC and NOCSI and this goes with a huge responsibility,” Caretaker Prime Minister Sogavare said.
Caretaker Prime Minister Sogavare therefore thanked Australia, China, Japan, Saudi Arabia, India, Korea, PNG and New Zealand for funding the sporting facilities.
He also acknowledged King George Sixth School and SINU for giving up most of their land for the development of the sporting facilities.
He said for KGVI school, NSC will ensure the benefits of the facilities in their land will be shared equally to them by 50 percent.
For SINU, he said NSC will also sort out the land title issue so that they will have a win-win benefit.
NSC Chair Joe Sika Manuopangai, in turn, thanked the Caretaker Prime Minister for handing over the sporting facilities to NSC.
“As per Section 35 of the Pacific Games 2017 Act, I receive the sporting facilities on behalf of the NSC and the Government and People of Solomon Islands. I also join the Honourable Caretaker Minister of Sports to thank the Caretaker Prime Minister and Minister for the 17th Pacific Games Manasseh Sogavare and Mr Cai Weiming of the People’s Republic of China and the governments of Australia, Indonesia, Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia Papua New Guinea, India and New Zealand for the wonderful modern sporting facilities.
Mr Manuopangai said the NSC and sports in general for a long time did not have sporting facilities.
“Sports did not feature in government planning, policies and budget,” he added.
As such, Mr Manuopangai said he was humbled to receive the sports facilities on behalf of the NSC and the Government and People of Solomon Islands.
“Thank you, Caretaker Prime Minister Sogavare. Your support to sports means the world to us. Without your determination, we would not have achieved these. Today it is no longer a dream and I thank you Honourable Sogavare,” he added.
By IAN LADDS OSO
Solomon Star, Honiara
