Australia opens its labour market

Solomon Islands and Australia have committed to a new understanding to foster greater cooperation and increase joint efforts in seasonal labour mobility. The MoU between the Government of Australia and the Government of Solomon Islands in support of the Seasonal Workers Programme was signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs & External Trade Milner Tozaka…

Women’s day events start today

Events marking International Women’s Day will start today in Honiara with a church service at the Rhema Family Church. International Women’s Day is marked annually on March 8. Sarah Buka of the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs told the Sunday Star celebrations marking the event will continue until March 10. “Celebrations will…

Tozaka defeats election petition

Foreign Affairs minister Milner Tozaka has all the reasons to smile after the High Court rejected last Wednesday an election petition brought against him by a losing candidate. High Court judge Rex Faukona dismissed the petition filed  Jenning Movobule, who contested against Tozaka in the 2014 national general election for the North Vella La Vella…

Veteran journalist farewelled

Members of the media, families, relatives, and friends farewelled veteran journalist Simon Papage in Honiara on Saturday, during his funeral service. Papage, who hailed from Makira-Ulawa Province, died suddenly last Tuesday at the National Referral Hospital in Honiara after a short illness. His body was sent to his home village for burial. The late Papage…

New fresh water fish, crustaceans discovered here

A total of 7 potential new species to science from freshwater fish, prawns and crabs were discovered by a team of scientists from the French Ichthyological Society (Société Française d’Ichtyologie (SFI)) and Ecological Solutions, Solomon Islands (ESSI).  Renowned scientists Drs Philippe Keith and Gerard Marquet of SFI led the freshwater team.    With the authorisation…

PM launches new aid policy

PRIME Minister Manasseh Sogavare on Friday launched his government’s new policy on foreign aid and how to manage it. Called Aid Management and Development Cooperation Policy, the Ministry of Development Planning and Aid Coordination, in consultation with other stakeholders, produced the document. Mr Sogavare said foreign aid to Solomon Islands is relative large and is a…

YWPG congratulates Ngaro

THE Young Women’s Parliamentary Group congratulates Dorothy Ngaro for being the only female candidate amongst six male contestants, who contested the Vuhokesa ward Honiara City by-election this week. Lysa Wini-Simeon, Chairlady of YWPG commented that it certainly takes courage and enormous efforts to vie for a leadership role in Solomon Islands politics. “Much political critics…

Let’s keep the city clean

THE beauty and cleanliness of the city lies in our hands, a youth leader says. Simon Tomasusu, of the Secretariat of Pacific Community (SPC) supported Youth@Work, highlighted this at the end of their two weeks of clean-up of the city, Friday. “Looking after and cleaning up the city is everybody’s business,” Mr Tomasusu stated. “We…

Council welcomes new councillor

THE Honiara City Council congratulates and welcomed its new councillor Greg Malefo, who was elected in Wednesday’s by-election for Vuhokesa Ward. Supervising mayor, Eric Tema said the council was pleased with the election results.  “Voters were allowed to exercise their democratic rights without fear or trouble,” Mr Tema said. “It was a peaceful by-election and…

Court defers sitting

THE Honiara Magistrates’ Court did not hear cases yesterday because magistrates took a day out to attend a one-day Family Protection Act workshop at the Heritage Park Hotel. A notice was pinned up at the magistrate’s court notice board to inform public of the reason why no cases are to be heard. “There will be…