Schools receive $10K vouchers
PRIME MINISTER Manasseh Sogavare has acted on the $10K pledge for sports equipment for schools he made during last year’s National Secondary School Games.
Prime Minister Sogavare handed the vouchers to the 43 schools that participated in last year’s school Games on Friday after his brief visit to the Pacific Games facilities.
These schools will use the $10K vouchers for sports equipments that will enable them to organize their respective school sports competitions and more importantly to help build potential sports athletes.
Sogavare said his government is happy that he can finally fulfil his pledge, despite not being able to host the School Games this year.
“It gives me immense pleasure to fulfill the pledge I made a year ago to assist our participating schools with sports equipment.
“Sport is an important part of any society.
“It values and nurture principles such as Respect, Honesty, Integrity, Sportsmanship and Fairness.
“It is these very principles that help advance solidarity and promote social cohesion in a society.
“We will be hosting the 17th Pacific Games in November 2023 and it is my hope that some of our students will be representing our country in the games.
“I trust that some of the medals we seek will be won by some of the students who participated during the NSSG last year and I hope that the sporting equipment will assist you in training for the games.
“Please use the equipment well and enhance your sporting abilities. You are all future medal winners for our country,” PM Sogavare said.
The Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare also revealed that this year’s NSSG will not be possible.
He said the impact of COVID-19 and last year’s riot is to blame for the cancellation of the School Games.
The PM explained that last November’s riot, which had cost the government SBD$800 million, has limited the governments’ financial capacity to host the games this year.
By CARLOS ARUAFU
Newsroom, Honiara
