GOOD TURN-OUT: 287,438 registered to vote

A TOTAL of 287,438 people have registered to vote across the country, the Electoral Commission revealed yesterday. Chief Electoral Officer Polycarp Haununu said the list includes the 6000 voters who were found to have registered multiple times, but which will be subjected to revision during the next phase of the registration. “We are happy to…

Housanau says CBSI should let the nation know early

MALAITA Ma’asina Forum technical team has criticised the Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI)for its late announcement on the poor performance of the country’s economy it its annual report last month. Head of technical team Martin Housanau said whilst they congratulated CBSI governor for the report and announcement he made about the poor performance of…

MSG leaders likely to knock back West Papuan bid

MELANESIAN Spearhead Group leaders meeting this week in the Papua New Guinea capital are expected to formulate a decision on a West Papuan bid to join the grouping. The leaders have been briefed on the outcomes of the MSG Foreign Ministers delegation to Indonesia’s Papua region in January.  The trip, which was boycotted by Vanuatu,…

PNG welcomes MSG cultural leaders

PAPUA New Guinea Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture Boka Kondra Wednesday welcomed Melanesian cultural leaders at a cocktail reception in Port Moresby. “We are pleased to have friends and wantoks from our Melanesian neighbors to arrive in PNG,” the PNG Minister said.  “On behalf of the government and the people of PNG, we welcome…

West Papua’s plea to MSG

THE Free West Papua Campaign PNG chapter is appealing to the members of Parliament for the West Papua’s membership in the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG). In a letter to the Papua New Guinea Minister for Culture and Tourism Boka Kondra, the group has targetted the Melanesian Spearhead Group Meeting which started yesterday to appeal for…

Drifting Malaita fishermen landed at Buala

THREE fishermen from Langalanga in Malaita landed at Buala, Isabel, Tuesday night after their outboard motor engine ran out of fuel. Isabel provincial police commander Douglas Kafa confirmed this to the Solomon Star. The trio were out on a fishing trip when they met strong wind and current, which took them to Isabel. It was…

PNG covers PM’s travel cost

THE Papua New Guinea High Commission in Honiara says its government paid for Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo’s trip to Port Moresby to attend the special Melanesia Spearhead Group meeting. Mr Lilo and his delegation left Wednesday for the summit, which was held yesterday. A spokesman for the High Commission clarified this after a member…

US concern about human trafficking law here

THE United States Government says Solomon Islands’ efforts to combat human trafficking is disappointing. In 2012, the United States welcomed the passage of the 2012 Immigration Bill which would help combat human trafficking here. The legislation, which is scheduled to finally go into force on 16 July 2014, gives necessary tools to government officials to…

Betel nut vendors back on the streets

BETEL nut vendors are back in numbers on the street after the Honiara City Council law enforcement officers stopped enforcing the betel nut ban. The situation is returning Honiara to its past when the streets were taken over by vendors. Honiara resident Zebilon Kali said it is a concern that betel nut vendors are taking…