Gizo in water rationing mode

RESIDENTS of Gizo town, the provincial capital  of Western Province are once again reported enduing water shortage problems at the start of drought season . The water shortage problem is said to be affecting residential homes, work  and industrial premises in and around Gizo township. Gizo water authority had resorted to  rationing of supply of…

Gov’t urged to boost eco-tourism

THE Government is urged to financially support eco-tourism operators in the country. Aola ward member in the Guadalcanal Provincial Assembly, Gordon Tapalia, made the call at the end of an eco-tourism training in Honiara, yesterday. “Some eco-tourism operators are doing fine, but they need financial support from the government,” Mr Tapalia said. “We’ve gone through…

Ramohia told to step down if he cannot lead

A NORTH Malaita public transport operator has called on premier Peter Ramohia to step down if he cannot lead the province. Elton Osiagalo made the call after Mr Ramohia announced last week during the province’s second appointed day celebration, their intention to pursue a sovereign state. “The announcement is nothing short of breaking this nation…

Officers end naval training

TWO police officers successfully completed an exercise program on board a New Zealand warship recently. They are Constable Georgina Taupongi from the Transcrime Unit and Constable Edward Sugagari from the Maritime Unit. The joint program was conducted by the HMS Wellington and funded by the Australian Defence Program. Acting Police Commissioner Juanita Matanga disclosed this…

Sore, Kuper reject accusations

SPECIAL Secretary to Prime Minister Rence Sore and the Chief of Staff George Kuper have strongly rejected claims they were garaging government vehicles they were not entitled to. The pair were accused in the Island Sun newspaper of garaging government funded vehicles while at the same time enjoying a $12,000 per month transport allowance. Mr…

Makili calls for fewer loggers

REGIONAL Director Pacific Islands for US-based Earth Island Institute, Lawrence Makili, claims there is a bigger and hidden issue behind the government’s ministerial reshuffling this week. And he urged the government to quickly reduce the number of logging companies currently operating in the country and stop further applications. He also claimed the reshuffling exercise was…

Makili queries timber consultation process

THE Solomon Islands Sawn Timber Industry’s recent consultation with New Zealand Timber Industry has come under question from former Greenpeace forest campaigner Lawrence Makili. Mr Makili queried the process to establish a third party for certification of sawn timbers by farmers to overseas buyers, this must be done transparently.  “The way I see it, the…

Premier defends wealth

What I owned are from my sweat, says Renbel’s Singamoana RENBEL premier Collin Singamoana has defended his level of wealth, saying he was a businessman before going into politics. This followed accusations from west Rennell landowners that Mr Singamoana had accumulated so much wealth since he became the premier of the nation’s smallest province. The…