Maelanga hails Australia as SI’s key partner

DEPUTY Prime Minister Manasseh Maelanga has acknowledged Australia as Solomon Islands’ key strategic development partner. He stated Australia’s support focuses on key priority areas in the country’s nation building, and work in partnership with Solomon Islands to enhance development, sustain peace, security and stability.  Speaking during his remarks to celebrate Australia Day last night,  Maelanga…

Gender equality explained

THE concept of gender equality has been misinterpreted by many Solomon Islanders. That’s according to the Ministry of Women’s Youth, Churches and Family Affairs (MWYCFA) Senior Officer Vaela Ngai. “Many rural people and even some of the educated people think gender equality is about putting women equal with men folks,” Ngai said. “But such misunderstanding…

I’m glad to be here

From the High Commissioner’s Desk Dr Lachlan Strahan  AS Australia’s new High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, I’m delighted to continue the tradition of fortnightly conversations with Solomon Star readers through this column.  It’s an honour to serve here in Solomon Islands, a neighbour with warm and enduring ties to Australia. I take this opportunity to acknowledge…

Local students survive blaze

TWO local students studying at the University of South Pacific (USP) Campus at Laucala, Suva, have survived a blaze on Tuesday night which killed an elderly couple. Dead are Kuar Singh, 79, a retired director of Niranjans Autoport and his wife Ambalika Singh, 74. The Solomon Islands students were tenants Margaret Konata and Sharon Horioa,…

Mangau: Janus still exists 

ACTING Police Commissioner Mostyn Mangau says anti-corruption taskforce Janus still exists and continuing with investigations into corruption cases. He stated this on Thursday when asked whether Janus is still active in 2020.  “Janus is one normal unit under the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF),” Mr Mangau told reporters at his weekly press conference yesterday.…

CALL TO ACT

Province urged to control foreign businesses in Auki By SOLOMON LOFANAin Auki  LOCAL business owners in Malaita want their provincial government to control the influx of Chinese business operators into the province. The call came from a business summit held in Auki, Wednesday. Civil society group Malaita for Democracy (M4D) organised the one-day summit. Up…