We want a clean Honiara for 2023 Pacific Games: Lakhan
Pacific Games Council President Mr Vidhya Lakhan has raised the need for a clean Honiara for the 2023 Pacific Games.
Mr Lakhan made a 5 day visit to the country last week to meet with the local sport federations and assess the country’s preparations for the 2023 games.
“We want to see a clean and modern Honiara,” he said.
“In 2023 we want to present to other pacific countries a different Honiara to what we are seeing today.”
Lakhan said they will be meeting with the Honiara City Council Mayor, Andrew Mua to discuss plans in upgrading and beautifying the city for the games.
He said they want other Pacific Islands athletes who will be coming to Honiara to see a different Honiara and to return with a positive impression on the city.
“Its still early days but we are impressed by the enthusiasm shown by your government to start things early, which is what we want,” he said.
“We want ground work to begin by 2020, but your government has indicated they want to start a bit early.”
Meanwhile Pacific Games 2023 preparations task forceĀ team leader Gabriel Suri said they want to recommend to the government to market the Games as ‘Green Games’.
Mr Suri said the public should work together with the government to ensure cleanliness is maintained during the games.
“If it is possible, we must use renewable energy, and also means we have to recycle our wastes, ” he said.
“What is necessary is that we must keep Honiara, which is the host city, clean, and even if we need to ban plastics, the government and Honiara City Council must make laws to ban plastics.”
Mr Suri said not only wastes but also infrastructure must be managed and maintained to ensure the games proceed with ease.
He said the Pacific Games in 2023 is not just about the games, but is also about organising the country and city.
By: Lowen Sei.