A number of shops in Auki lost significant amount of goods after their premises were flooded on Friday. A blocked drainage was blamed for the flooding following a heavy downpour overnight. Shop owners spoken too were furious at their loss. “This is unacceptable,” one shop owner said. “Look at how much we lost here,” he…
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism is seeking an additional $5 million to help finance plans to boost cruise ship visits to Gizo in Western Province. Permanent Secretary Andrew Nihopara and under-secretary Moses Tepai explained this to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) last week. PAC is conducting hearing into a supplementary appropriation bill the government…
A Taiwan Mobile Medical Team is here to offer free medical service. The trip is being funded by the Taiwanese government. It was led by Dr Chin Yi-Ying, a dermatologist, and comprised of three medical doctors and three nurses from Taiwan Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital. While here, the team will first visit Tongan…
Executive Personal Secretaries and their assistants from the various government ministries received training and mentorship on their roles and responsibilities last week. IPAM conducted the training as part of its role in improving capacity and working knowledge of public servants. The three-day workshop ended with a field trip and presentation of certificates to participants by…
The government spent $6 million to send its 170 participants to the 12th Festival of Pacific Arts in Guam, which opened last Sunday. Under Secretary of the Ministry of Culture & Tourism Moses Tepai revealed this to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) hearing last week. PAC was examining the Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2016. Tepai said…
The invasive giant African snail has invaded a huge area in Guadalcanal from Aruligo in the west to Ruavatu in the east. That was according to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) Jimmy Saelea. He was speaking before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) hearing of the Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2016…
Students who graduated from Solomon Islands National University (SINU) urged the university to finalise their certificates so that they can collect them. On graduation day, the students were issued certificates that did not carry the signature of the chairman of SINU council Dr Culwich Togamae. Those familiar with the processes said the Vice Chancellor, Dr…
Coral Triangle Day will be celebrated on June 9 this year. The Regional Secretariat of Coral Triangle Initiative together with its six member countries are organising the event, with the theme “Save Coral Triangle – Stop Plastic Pollution”. Solomon Islands is a member of the Coral Triangle Initiative. The theme aims at generating awareness and…
A land acquisition officer has dismissed claims AU Capital Mining Limited bribed landowners in Temotu to acquire its prospecting licence to seek minerals on their land. AU Capital Mining, an Australia company, held two tenements under its prospecting licence – one Temotu and another in Choiseul. Recently Iron Mountain Mining, a different company, obtained shares…
Gov’t, UNDP deny paying former special constables A big number of former special constables are in Honiara to collect payments they claimed the government had promised them. A spokesman said they are to be paid on May 26, with each person expecting to receive $300,000. He claimed the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) provided funds,…