TWO YEARS FOR PLAQUE THIEF

Man who damaged Bloody Ridge monument jailed A YOUNG man who damaged and stole the engraved plaque on a monument at the newly declared Bloody Ridge National Park, east of Honiara, was jailed for two years, Friday. Peter Tagana, 19, pleaded guilty to the charges of wilful & unlawful damage and simple larceny following his…

No more logging on Renbel

IN a government bid to remove the ‘in-danger status’ of the country’s only World Heritage Site at East Rennell, the government through a cabinet decision will revoke and refuse granting of felling licence on Rennell Island. This was revealed by Minister of Environment and Conservation Samuel Manetoali during the three-day round table meeting with East…

Deal to destroy blue boats sealed

THE Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources and a local company on Friday has paved the way for the Vietnamese Blue Boats destruction. Fisheries Director Edward Honiwala signed on behalf of the ministry while Wale Tobata for Iona Firi Properties Limited – the company. Under the terms and conditions…

Challenges to opening Lomlom

MINISTER of Aviation and Communication Peter Shanel Agovaka is faced with the challenge of clearing ministerial issues shelved by past political governments. Mr Agovaka said this when contacted by the Solomon Star regarding the Lomlom airstrip development in the Reef Islands of Temotu Province after a landowner raised concerns about the issue of incomplete payments…

TSI praises work of JANUS

TRANSPARENCY Solomon Islands (TSI) has congratulated JANUS following its arrest of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Infrastructure Development Henry Murray and his wife this week. Murray has been charged with 19 counts of official corruption. His wife faces 19 counts of false pretence. These were in relation to a company they set up…

Good work JANUS

Dear Editor – With the recent arrest of the PS and his wife for allegedly stealing public funds, the public is more than assured that RSIPF are doing its work and that justice is being served. We look forward to quick trials and if convicted thieves must be sent to places they rightly belong. Our…

New SPM

Dear Editor – I wish to join others in congratulating Dr Fred Isom on his appointment as the new Secretary to the PM and Cabinet. According to the news item, prior to his appointment, Dr Isom was policy secretary, social sector in the PM0. I am just curious what social things has the “social sector”…

International freight charges

Dear Editor – The price of electricity and bus fares are regulated. The fees land surveyors can charge for their professional services are prescribed under law. The agents of shipping companies who transport cargo from Solomon Islands to other parts of the world however are free to put whatever charge they can dream up. Don’t…

Huge boost to fishing industry

Dear Editor – Radio New Zealand International (RNZI) on 16 August 2017, reported that the Solomon Islands’ tuna fishing industry is to get a boost with a $US10 million dollar loan from the International Finance Corporation, IFC. Quoting from the RNZI news bulletin it said: “The loan will go towards a new fishing vessel for…