Malaita premier asked to review appointments

MALAITA Province premier Peter Chanel Ramohia has been asked to review and relieve some of the political appointees engaged by the past executive. A concern Malaitan Robert Unu said those appointed politically by the past government were an added cost to the province. “It was obvious these people did nothing tangible really in supporting the…

Reasons for optimism in 2015

EARLY January in Honiara is a good time to reflect on the previous year and think about the year ahead. With many Solomon Islanders and Australians still enjoying their Christmas holidays, things are relatively quiet and there’s a little more time for contemplation. Last year, of course, saw Solomon Islands face some significant challenges. The…

SPTO hails end to aviation impasse between Fiji and Solomon Islands

THE region’s tourism organisation has hailed the milestone agreement by two friendly neighbouring Pacific nations to resume air services, a positive development in the tourism industry of both nations. South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) Chief Executive Officer Ilisoni Vuidreketi said the agreement reached this week between the Governments of Fiji and the Solomon Islands could…

Fiji Airways withdraws ASPA membership

FIJI Airways yesterday announced it has withdrawn its membership with the Association of South Pacific Airlines (ASPA) with immediate effect. The airline made the decision in light of recent strongly “biased public announcements” made by ASPA which it opposes. These comments relate to the recent issues of air travel services between Fiji and the Solomon…

World Bank assures PM of continuous assistance

The World Bank Group (WBG) has assured Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare of its commitment to continue its support programme to various national projects in Solomon Islands. WB Country Representative Anne Tully made the assurance when a team of WBG and Asian Development Bank (ADB) officials paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister Sogavare on…

Students to fly on chartered flight

GOVERNMENT sponsored students studying at the University of South Pacific and other institutions in Fiji will still travel on charter flights, despite the lifting of the flight suspension between the two countries, Monday. National Training Unit (NTU) director Clement Tito said the charter arrangement is necessary to allow students to arrive on time for their…

Form 7 placements expected this week

FORM seven results are expected to be released before this weekend, says permanent secretary of Ministry of Education and Human Resources, Dr Franco Rodie. Dr Rodie made the assurance after students and parents continued to enquire about the results. Results for forms 1, 4 and 6 were already published. Dr Rodie said the delay was…