THE huge amounts of money paid to Members of Parliament this month are for constituencies. According to a Ministry of Finance and Treasury source, this is the final quarterly payment from the Ministry of Rural Development (MRD) to MPs for their constituencies under the Rural Constituency Development Fund (RCDF). Reports reaching Solomon Star stated that…
FIRST-Past-the Post (FPP) voting system which Solomon Islands has been practicing during elections since Independence is likely to be changed in the 2018 elections. An electoral reform team has been assigned to do consultation nationwide on election system and the electoral legislative reform. The new system being introduced by the electoral reform team as part…
MALAITA Province has expressed overwhelming support for the new Limited Preferable Voting (LPV) system following a two day consultation programme on election system and electoral legislation reform in Auki this week. Speaking at the closing of the programme on Tuesday, Malaita Premier Chanel Ramohia confirmed Malaita’s support for the LPV system. Mr Ramohia said Malaita…
THE OPPOSITION Leader Jeremiah Manele says the description by the government that the 2017 Budget is sustainable and credible is questionable. Speaking in parliament on Wednesday, Mr Manele said the $4.1billion budget’s credibility and sustainability depends on various economic variables that often are not realistic. “A balance budget does not necessarily mean that it is…
THE political impasse that shook the nation few weeks ago has calmed down following calls from political leaders to have the matter settle. A source within the government confirmed that “the impasse is over”. Therefore, he said there will be no disturbance to parliament proceedings, currently underway. The source thanked the Opposition group and other…
Australia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon Julie Bishop joined women in Honiara in marking the first ever networking association for women of Solomon Islands on Tuesday. Pioneering members of the Solomon Islands Professional Women’s Network (SIPNET) –a platform for women to network, establish relationship, support each other and work towards common goals – were honoured…
Eleven (11) students from Solomon Islands have graduated at Pacific Adventist University (PAU) on Sunday 4th December 2016. Those who successfully graduated with their respective degrees were; – Alex Mamaka from Choiseul Province (Bachelor in Business- Accounting & Computing),; – Leecrish Joseph from Western Province (Bachelor in Secondary Education); – Rosemary Tobani from Guadalcanal Province(Bachelor…
THE country’s tourism industry has closed off Q3 in positive mode with international visitor arrival figures for the nine-month period January – September showing a solid 4.5 per cent increase over the corresponding period in 2015. Official figures released by the Solomon Islands National Statistics Office this week show a total of 16,381 visitors arrived…
THE Honiara City Council is calling for cooperation from all market vendors as it moves to clean up our city in preparation for the 2023 South Pacific Games. Honiara City clerk Charles Kelly said the work under taken by the city council is in line with the council’s ordinance as well as the Prime Minister’s…
THE Honiara City Council has issued a stop notice to Fangs Company’s development off Mataniko Bridge. Honiara City Town and Country Planning Board chairperson and City Mayor Andrew Mua said the board issued the stop notice to make way for the Kukum Highway Project. “We want the Kukum Highway Project to proceed without disturbance because…