Women discuss gender equality

THIRTY stakeholders from across government, civil society organisations and development partners attended a one-day consultation to discuss the challenges and achievements in implementing the Government’s national gender equality and women’s development policy. The government policy was endorsed in 2010 and expires at the end of 2015. “We recognise the Ministry for Women, Youth, Children and…

Forum leaders to talk West Papua

PACNEWS – INCREASED regional awareness of alleged violence and human rights violations in West Papua has convinced the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat’s Specialist Sub-Committee on Regionalism (SSCR) to recommend that it becomes one of the five priority issues to be the agenda of the Pacific Forum Leaders when they meet in Papua New Guinea next…

Maelanga wants parliament meet

LEADER of Independent Group Manasseh Maelanga has supported the Parliamentary Opposition Group’s call for Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare to convene Parliament meeting. He said it is becoming a public knowledge that the controversial issues that have been raised are been set aside and it is only proper to discuss in the Parliament. The Opposition said…

Man denies bribery claim

A MAN accused to bribing a court official to alter court records has hit out at the claim on Thursday. And Jefter Tuhangenga, a west Rennell man, said he welcomed any police investigation into the claim. Magistrate Court official Jimmy Hanahunu on Wednesday alleged Mr Tuhangenga offered him $2,000 to alter court records. This was…

Boat owners demand gov’t $3.7m each

Local companies with shipping services are demanding the Democratic Coalition for Change (DCC) government to pay them $3.7 million each to support their businesses, since they have done this to Sun Express. This was raised by boat owners during the People’s Forum held in the Korean Restaurant’s conference room, Thursday. Most of those who attended…

Laws clash

APID seeks to remove 11 firms ASIA Pacific Investment Development (APID) mining company is now spreading its tentacles in Rennell under mining and is seeking legal order to remove 11 logging and timber companies from lands it is claiming on Rennell. In what looks like the twist of Solomon Islands Forestry Act, Minerals & Mining…

FSII vows to address issues

The Forum Solomon Islands International (FSII) plans to consult Cabinet to address some of its controversial decisions. This follows a resolutions derived in their public forum held yesterday in Honiara. At the forum those who attended the event have condemned many of these decisions related to public funds. Representatives from NGOs, Prime Ministers Office, Parliamentary…

MPs tax-free case, Friday

THE legal suit challenging the tax-free pay awarded to MPs in April this year will go before the court today, for its second preliminary hearing. Chief Justice Sir Albert Palmer will hear the preliminary issues of the case this morning. The matter first went before the court on 5 June, where preliminary matters were discussed.…

Tourism injects $500m in 2013

THE country has earned well over $500 million in revenue generated with the arrival of guests into the country in 2013. This was highlighted by the Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in his key note address to the 2015 Council of Tourism Ministers Meeting in Honiara, Thursday. He said, since coming into power, the Democratic Coalition…