Land reform Bill to Parliament

THE GOVERNMENT’s Land Reform Bill will be tabled in the next parliament sitting on November. Special Secretary to the Prime Minister (SSPM) Rence Sore confirmed this. This is for its approval so that work on land reform for customary land could be implemented soon. Mr Sore stated, land reform is a fundamental reform of the…

SFA supports hospital

The Solomon Forest Association (SFA) has come to the aid of the National Referral Hospital (NRH, paying the full cost of freight charges and associated costs for a shipment of much-need hospital supplies and equipment from New Zealand. In a statement issued in Honiara, the SFA said it had remitted NZ$8,000 (about SBD37, 000) to…

Report: acquisition is right

Report on the land acquisition and registration to the commissioner of lands for approval of APID’s legal lease to do bauxite mining on lands in West Rennell have revealed opposite to claims made against. It showed appointed land acquisition officer; Laury Penrose Palmer had followed procedures. This process however has come under heavy criticisms from…

Murder accused faces judgement

The fate of the man accused of murdering a man in Makira in 2012 will be known today. Chief Justice Sir Albert Palmer will hand down the judgment for Patrick Sovesuia at 1.30pm this afternoon in the High Court. The 24 year-old man stood trial for one count of murder. However, during the trial, evidences…

MP supports schools

Member of Parliament (MP) for East Kwara’ae constituency has supported two primary schools with roofing irons. The assistance followed requests from the schools early this year. Recipients Atori and Kwai primary school were smiles over the weekend when the materials were delivered. The schools are located in ward 15 and 16 within the constituency. Constituency…

Pastor committed to stand trial

A LOCAL pastor in East Are ‘are, Malaita Province has been committed to stand trial in the High Court. This was after a short form preliminary inquiry was conducted on the pastor’s case yesterday. The pastor who could not be named to protect the identity of the alleged victim is accused of raping a young…

APID in the limelight

“Claims it extends claws into illegal logging business” THE controversy surrounding Asia Pacific Investment Development’s (APID) land acquisition process still hangs in the balance, but there are already new claims the mining company had felled and export round logs ‘illegally’. Rennell landowners who obtained documents confirming the ‘illegal export’ of round logs are demanding answers…

‘Teachers shapers of the future

Teachers are more than custodians of the future they are shapers of the future says the Minister of the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development Dr Derek Sikua. Speaking as the key note speaker to open the national teachers education conference on Tuesday Dr Sikua said, teachers have one of the most important jobs…