China has assured Solomon Islands that all funded Games Infrastructure will be completed and ready in time for the Sol2023 Pacific Games this year.
The Chinese Ambassador to Solomon Islands Li Ming, reassured Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare of this during a brief meeting last week in Honiara.
“All the Games infrastructure facilities that China is financing will be completed and handed over to NHA (National Hosting Authority) in August 2023, in time for inspection and testing.
“This gives sufficient time for the Games Organising Committee (GOC) to take exclusive possession of the venues around October 2023 to prepare the venues to run the 24 sports programs at Games time.”
Ambassador Li said, “The Chinese contractors CCECC construction, the PG2023 Stadium projects and JPC constructing the PG2023 Games Village, SINU Dormitory project have reaffirmed their commitment to complete the two projects by August this year.”
He added that the projects are the perfect gift from the Chinese Government to the Government and People of Solomon Islands.
“This is the perfect gift from China to Solomon Islands, as a symbol of our friendship and support towards Solomon Islands’ hosting the Sol2023 Pacific Games.”
Prime Minister Sogavare in his response said that he is satisfied with the progress made, stressing on the importance of the project to the government and its significance to the people of Solomon Islands.
“It is important to note the benefit local Solomon Islanders get from the projects from local international events using the facilities after the 2023 Pacific Games.”
President of the Pacific Games Council Vidhya Lakhan said he was satisfied with the progress of the projects, thanking the Government and people of China for the generous support on behalf of the 22 members of the Games Council.
“I am pleasantly surprised and amazed by the amount of work the contractors have done over the last four months. We are quite happy and confident Solomon Islands will be ready for Sol2023,” he said.
Meanwhile, the National Hosting Authority (NHA) has applauded Honiara residents for the support shown and rendered towards the Government in the drive to clean-up and beautify Honiara City for this year’s Sol2023 Pacific Games.
Since the launch of the ‘Safe & Green Games’ Strategy on Friday March 3rd, residents representing different sectors of and within the City have actively taken part in the Keep Honiara Clean Campaign.
The Safe and Green Games Strategy is ‘a whole of society,’ plan that provides a platform for the National Government, the Honiara City Council, the Guadalcanal Provincial Government, the Private Sector, Churches, Schools, Civil Society Organizations, Community Groups and Individual households to unite as one team for one common purpose – to clean, beautify and keep Honiara City Safe and Clean for the Games.
NHA Board Chair, Dr Jimmie Rodgers thanked the nation, particularly Honiara residents for supporting and getting on board with the Games through this campaign.
“I would like to convey our thanks to the nation, to the government, to the public – particularly the public here in Honiara – they have come on board with the ‘Keep Honiara Clean’ campaign.
“To all those public servants and private sectors – we would like to thank you all.
“Thank you, Honiara City Council, for ensuring and making sure that our drive to make and keep our City clean is achieved.”
Dr Rodgers said that it is encouraging to see Solomon Islanders take pride and ownership of the City by helping keep it clean in the lead up to the Games.
He added that it is equally important to maintain this during and after the Games.
“When people come to this country, they will not only be focusing on the Games, they will not just be focusing on medals – they’ll be reporting either how dirty or how clean this City is. This will also determine how we promote our tourism industry.
“Therefore it is very important that we the public of Honiara, the public of Solomon Islands continue to take pride and have ownership over our City, because the only way we can have others enjoy and be proud of it as we do is to make sure that it is clean, beautiful and safe for when our Pacific Islands athletes come in,” Dr Rodgers said.
The Keep Honiara Clean campaign continues in Honiara, with all sectors assigned various clean up zones that they tend to every Friday. This will continue until Games time.
SOURCE: SOL2023/PACNEWS
