PM meets LTB, Russell leaders

IN a move to kick off talks and negotiations to reopen Russell Islands Plantation Estate Limited (RIPEL), the Lavukal Trust Board (LTB) and the Lavukal House of Chiefs and Elders met with the Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare. The meeting was to enable the parties to provide updates to the Prime Minister on the developments and…

Australia assists with aerial assessment

The Australian Defence Force has provided support to Solomon Islands with an aerial assessment of Temotu and parts of Malaita following Tropical Cyclone Pam. The aerial assessment was conducted by a Royal Australian Air Force AP-3C Orion, following a request from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade.   The aerial assessment took place on…

NDMO Response plan underway

The National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) and its disaster management stakeholders and partners have been tirelessly working together in finalising an early response plans for the current disaster. This came after completing the Disaster Risk Analysis (DRA) generated from the Initial Situational Overview (Aerial Assessment), and a rapid community assessment done over phone and the…

Training for Police & Immigration

Solomon Island Visitors Bureau (SIVB) will organise a half day Service Excellent Training for Immigrations and Police Officers, Wednesday. The training will be held at SIVB conference room starting 10am. SIVB funded the training as part of improving service delivery to people visiting the country. The training aims to give immigration and police officers better…

Security compromised

Former Ports security chief: Security at the nation’s international seaport compromised Security at the Point Cruz wharf – the nation’s main international seaport – has been compromised to the extent that it is vulnerable to terrorist infiltration, a former chief security of the Solomon Islands Ports Authority (SIPA) has warned. Patterson Ashley Hangaio, who spent…

Catastrophe greets aid workers in Vanuatu

REUTERS – The first aid teams to reach Vanuatu reported widespread devastation on Sunday as authorities declared a state of emergency after a “monster” cyclone tore through the Pacific island nation. With winds of more than 300kmh, Cyclone Pam razed homes, smashed boats and washed away roads and bridges as it struck late on Friday…