AUSTRALIA’S Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles highlighted Australia’s extensive support to Solomon Islands for the Pacific Games today while visiting King George VI (KGVI) school with Solomon Islands Minister for Education Lanelle Olandrea Tanangada.
KGVI school is one of seven schools whose dormitories and classrooms are being refurbished as part of Australia’s partnership with Solomon Islands Pacific Games National Hosting Authority (NHA). These dormitories will be used as accommodation for visiting Pacific Games athletes and then be returned to the schools for use by students, providing a lasting legacy.
Australia’s Pacific Games partnership has also funded the development of Solomon Islands first water sports park for open water events including sailing, and outrigger and va’ha canoeing. The fields in the park will also host archery and touch rugby competitions. After the Pacific Games the park will be used for both community sports and tournaments.
Deputy Prime Minister Marles was pleased that all Australia’s funding for Pacific Games infrastructure was delivered through local Solomon Islands firms. “Our partnerships are always about leaving a legacy through building skills and creating jobs. I am pleased that over 50 Solomon Islander contractors employing over 1,000 local Solomon Islanders have been directly engaged to deliver the Australian-funded school dormitories and the water sports park projects”, said Mr Marles.
Australia’s other Pacific Games initiatives have included: the provision of elite sporting equipment in Solomon Islands National Institute of Sports (SINIS), volunteers for SINIS and the National Sports Council to develop Solomon Islander athletes, equipment and training in sports media to Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC); and funding to the Community Access and Urban Enhancement Project (CAUSE) to support Solomon Islands safe and green games initiative.
“Australia’s Pacific Games support is comprehensive and illustrates the breadth of our partnership with Solomon Islands. As a member of the Pacific Family, we want to support Solomon Islands to host a successful Pacific Games for all our region to enjoy”.
At the KGVI visit Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles was joined by Australian wheelchair basketballer Clarence McCarthy-Grogan (CJ), who was there under Australia’s Sports Diplomacy Program inspiring Solomon Islander students through a tok stori on his experiences as an indigenous para-athlete.
At a visit to the National Referral Hospital on Wednesday Deputy Prime Minister Marles also announced Australia support to Solomon Islands public health preparedness ahead of the Pacific Games, through funding for the national measles and rubella immunisation campaign which aims to vaccinate up to 75,000 children.
AHC PRESS
