KWASO KILLS 4

TOP medical surgeons at the National Referral Hospital (NRH) have warned of a real danger posed by consuming kwaso (home-brew) following four deaths over the past one and half month of this year . Speaking to the Solomon Star in an exclusive interview last night Dr Rooney Jagilly, NRH’s Medical Superintendent and Head of the…

BEST ASSET HOTEL

SINPF defends investment in Heritage Park By CHARLES KADAMANA HERITAGE Park Hotel in Honiara is one of Solomon Islands’ National Provident Fund’s (SINPF) best performing assets. That’s according to SINPF general manager Mike Wate. “Heritage Park Hotel Limited had returned more than 60% of SINPF’s original capital of $28 million for its 10% equity in…

GOVT BOWS TO PRESSURE

No reduction on PA salaries and benefits MORE than 20 political appointees (PAs) under the new Solomon Islands Democratic Coalition for Change (SIDCC) Government are yet to formalise their employment contracts as negotiations over their salaries and benefits have become a sticking point for the Rick Hou-led Government. Sources at the Office of the Prime…

PNG pledges to support Pacific Games here

PRIME Minister Rick Houenipwela has initiated a new proposal with his PNG counterpart Peter O’Neil, which will see PNG providing financial support towards the Pacific Games. Both Prime Ministers met Tuesday for bilateral talks and agreed for PNG to redirect a portion of its grant assistance of K40 Million to help build infrastructures and provide…

Vanuatu seeks to recruit nurses again

VANUATU is again seeking to recruit our local nurses to work at its hospitals and health centres. Two officials from the Vanuatu government were reportedly here in Honiara last week to pursue their recruitment drive. Up to 100 local nurses were reportedly interviewed by the two Ni-Vanuatu consultants. Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health…

SINU boss dismisses alleged malpractice

MEMBERS of the public are urged to report names of students and staff who may be suspected of collaboration to secure space at the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) through nepotism or bribery. SINU’s Acting Vice Chancellor Professor Basil Marasinghe stated this in reply to complaints that alleged SINU’s intake this year was unfair for…

Murray’s trial starts next week

TRIAL on the alleged million dollar fraud case against the former permanent secretary for the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) Henry Murray and his wife Rose will commence next week in the Honiara Magistrates’ Court. The matter was brought to the court on Wednesday for the last interim mention and was then adjourned for the…

$2m raked by beche-de-mer export

AN estimated $2million was earned from beche-de-mer exports during the open season that closed at the end of January this year. Under Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Ferral Lasi revealed this to the Solomon Star in an exclusive interview on Wednesday. He said, the beche-de-mer harvest season was open September last…

Top tuna meeting underway in Honiara

A UNIQUE South-South exchange meeting between regional, international fisheries and ocean management agencies is currently underway in Honiara at the Forum Fishery Agency (FFA) headquarters. The meeting was held to help explain how the region has been meeting its challenges of managing tuna resources over the past decades and to share knowledge on what lessons…