A PAPUA New Guinea Touch Rugby Coach who helped prepare the Solomon Islands Touch Rugby Women’s Team for the 17th Pacific Games in Honiara last year is still awaiting the payment of his dues.
Jerry Borg told Solomon Star that he was brought over last year by SI Touch Rugby Federation to coach the SI Touch Rugby Women’s Team for the Pacific Games but sadly, he was not paid ever since his engagement started on 15October 2023.
He said he was engaged by the Solomon Islands Touch Rugby Association under the Pilai Sports program to lead the Women’s Team.
Mr Borg explained that though he did not sign any contract with the Pilai Sports Program for his work, the fact that he was brought over by the SI Touch Rugby Federation obliges it to sort him out financially.
He said he has been sending emails to the SI Touch Rugby Federation for his payments but no one seemed to make it a priority.
Mr Borg said being from another country, the federation should make it its priority to sort him out.
Mr Borg, who is now back in PNG, said he had completed all the tasks he was assigned by the SI Touch rugby Federation and Pilai Sports Program during his time here in Honiara and what is left is payment for his work.
“I gave my time to come to Solomon Islands to help out the Women’s Touch Rugby Team because of my passion for the sport. It is not professional to hire someone from outside the country and not compensate him,” he told Solomon Star.
When contacted for comments, the SI Touch Rugby Team Management said a total of K4,000.00 was already paid to Mr Borg and another PNG Coach who coached the SI Touch Ruby Men’s Team for the 17th Pacific Games.
When asked to disclose the total amount of payment due to Mr Borg and his fellow PNG Touch Rugby Coach, the SI Touch Rugby Team Management said President Don Angiki’amo would be in the position to confirm such information and the nature of agreement reached with the two Papua New Guineans prior to their engagement.
Solomon Star attempted to contact Mr Angiki’amo by his mobile but it was powered off.
When Solomon Star contacted the SI Touch Rugby Team Management that it could get through to Mr Angiki’amo by his mobile, it was told that Mr Angiki’amo travels abroad frequently and that could be the reason why his phone was powered off.
The PNG National Newspaper in October 2023 reported that the two PNG Touch Rugby Coaches were recruited through an arrangement between the Solomon Islands Touch Rugby Association and the Solomon Islands National Institute of Sport.
By IAN LADDS
Solomon Star, Honiara
