TOUGH RIDE AHEAD 

THE country’s economy has been hit hard by the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic since the outbreak past seven months ago. This will result in a negative (-) 4.1 percent economic growth by the end of this year. This was highlighted by the Minister of Finance and Treasury Harry Kuma during the second recording…

$7M FOR CHARTERS 

  Fund used to meet cost of COVID-19 mass repatriation By ANDREW FANASIA   A total of $7,256,711 was spent to meet the cost of ship charters during the COVID-19 repatriation exercise carried out between March and April 2020. That’s according to the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) Under Secretary Jimmy Nuake when his team…

China plans to develop all provinces

THE Chinese government plans to develop all the provinces by establishing a sister relationship with each province with a number of provinces in China. This was highlighted by Counselor Ming Yao from the Chinese Embassy in Solomon Islands during an interview with the paper early this week. He said this is similar to what Guadalcanal…

Cabinet approves repatriation of students  

MINISTRY of Education and Human Resources Development’s (MEHRD) Deputy Permanent Secretary James Bosamata has confirmed that Cabinet had approved the repatriation of students studying in the Philippines. Mr Bosamata said that both Solomon Island Government and private sponsored students would be repatriated. Bosamata explained that after Cabinet approved the repatriation of students from the Philippines,…

SINU warns against protest

THE Solomon Islands National University (SINU) management has warned that any protest or withdrawal of services by staff would be illegal. In a memorandum issued over the weekend on the rumoured protest that was expected to be undertaken on Monday, SINU management clarified that the issue of the Vice-Chancellor is still with the Trade Dispute…

CHINA-WEST DEAL INTACT

THE PEOPLE’s Republic of China (PRC) Embassy has assured the Western Provincial Government (WPG) that the deal to establish a sister relationship with the Fujian Province of China is intact. Chinese Counselor of the People’s Republic of Chinese (PRC) Embassy in Solomon Islands Yao Ming made the assurance on Monday in response to concern raised…

PM pleads

‘Our lives rest on Western border good people’ By ANDREW FANASIA THE ability of our country to keep COVID-19 out from our shore rests in the hands of the good people along the Western border as well as families and friends in Bougainville. Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare made this profound appeal to the good people…