Conflicting parties reach agreement

The Honiara city police have mediated a reconciliation ceremony yesterday between the two conflicting parties that were involved in the dispute at independence valley in White River, West Honiara over the weekend. Gabriel Manelusi assistant police commissioner for national capital said representatives from both parties got together to talk and came up with an agreement…

Intense lobbying for Forum SG underway in Koror

Intense lobbying is underway on the margins of the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting in Koror for the five candidates vying for the position of the Secretary General of the Suva-based Secretariat. PACNEWS has been reliably informed that Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands are going out of their way to campaign for their candidates,…

PNG govt looses K100m in illicit trade

The British American Tobacco in Papua New Guinea (BATPNG) says illicit tobacco trade in Papua New Guinea will cost the PNG Government almost K100 million (US$40 million) in 2014. It said last year the total revenue loss was K96.1 million (US$39.4 million)  The tobacco company in a forum presentation stated that the recent rise in…

Mr. Apple wants more Samoan apple pickers

Zealand farms are clamouring for more Samoans to come pick fruits in their orchards. And farms which do not have Samoans working in their orchards are quietly relaying to Samoan officials their wish to employ Samoans under the soon-to-be-9000 seasonal worker (RSE) numbers cap.  “Our Samoan workers have been a boon for our business,” says…

Partnerships to boost productive capacity

With the kick-off of the United Nations post-2015 sustainable development agenda fast approaching, ministers and senior Government officials from across the globe have gathered in Cotonou, Benin, today to discuss how to strengthen the world’s 48 least developed countries to produce more goods and trade in international markets more efficiently. “The conference is an invaluable…

Japan sets the example for distant water fishing nations

Partnership, consultation and support between the Japan Fisheries agency and the FFA continue to set a positive example to other distant water fishing nations that have vessels licensed to fish in Pacific waters. A just-ended Japan Fisheries-FFA consultation at the FFA’s Honiara-based headquarters provided room for open sharing on key issues and helped clarify new…

GROUP RETALIATES, HOMES BURNT

SEVERAL families residing at Independence valley in White River, West Honiara were forced to evacuate after their homes were burnt down in retaliation to a swearing incident over the weekend. Reports reaching the Solomon Star said the incident occurred on Sunday after a drunken man allegedly swore at a group residing around the area. In…

New union for workers

Hope for workers’ representation of their rights can now be heard as newly registered Workers Union of Solomon Islands (WUSI) formally announces its registration and establishment. Announcing this yesterday, the Workers Union of Solomon Islands also indicated amongst its new approaches it will cover both private and public workers. And that 50 percent of its…

Helena Goldie hospital gets its $2m share

The Government has handed over $2 million to Helena Goldie Hospital in Munda, Western province over the weekend. Acting Prime Minister Hon Manasseh Maelanga delivered the cheque to Helena Goldie Hospital authorities at handover ceremony on Saturday. The donation came from the Government through the support of the Republic of China, Taiwan, towards Solomon Islands…