APIA, 19 MAY 2016 (SAMOA OBSERVER/RNZI) – The National Council of Churches (NCC) in Samoa has welcomed Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi’s call to review the religious freedom provisions of the Constitution. Tuilaepa had indicated last week that the country’s supreme law could be changed to recognise Christian principles and teachings, not just in the…
First report on shipping grant presented to gov’t NORTH WEST Choiseul has become the first constituency to produce a report of the $5 million grant it used to purchase MV Vatate and set up its business venture. The constituency presented its report to the government yesterday. Chairman of the Taskforce, Moses Pelomo handed the report…
THE Governor of Oro in Papua New Guinea says he has no confidence that the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) will act in the interests of the region’s people over a West Papuan bid for MSG membership. Gary Juffa’s comment comes after the Indonesian President Joko Widodo visited PNG this week as high-level lobbying intensifies over…
Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) has recorded a major turnaround on the bank’s operations last year. This was announced by the Governor of the Central Bank Denton Rarawa on Wednesday at the launch of the bank’s 2015 annual report. “I am pleased to announce a major turnaround in CBSI financials from a net loss…
THREE men accused of damaging properties worth more than $500,000 at Tamone Settlement, east of Honiara will return to court again on June 1. That’s when they will enter their pleas to the new charges levelled against them. One of the accused is yet to be allocated a lawyer while another two have already secured…
Lawyers representing six people accused of attempted murder on an elderly man at Gela, Central Province last year are urged to attend court on June 1. This is for the lawyers to inform the court on how to go about their clients’ case and to confirm to the court of their position regarding the case…
THE recently released 2015 Annual Report from the Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) shows a record deficit of $172 million for the year on the fiscal front. This was revealed by the Governor Denton Rarawa during the launch event yesterday. He said the deficit resulted from an increase in government expenditure in the second…
SOLOMON Islands recently participated in a four day workshop on Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) in Siem Reap, Cambodia, on 3-6 May. The workshop, which was organized by Control Arms, Nonviolence International Southeast Asia (NISEA) and the Pacific Small Arms Action Group (PSAAG) with funding support from the Australian Permanent Mission to the United Nations, was…
HONIARA City Mayor Alference Fatai has stepped in to assist a community in his ward in East Honiara by donating a grass cutter. Mr Fatai said this assistance is for the community in Naha to make good use of it to help the Council by keeping their residences and areas clean. “The Council’s 7 meter…
IS it the end for Colin Yow – the Singaporean-born high flyer who took on the establishment and lost, the man who confused reforms for rice and noodle sales? Legal experts spoken to said it is the end for Mr Yow in terms of his fight to remain the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the…