Manele: I’m humbled by my nomination

Kia, Hograno and Havulei MP Jeremiah Manele says he is humbled by his nomination as the Solomon Islands People’s Democratic Coalition candidate for the Prime Minister’s position. Manele, a former diplomat and permanent secretary for almost 10 years, said he was also appreciative in the manner in which his nomination was made. Manele’s candidature was…

Locals graduate from USP Emalus

ONE hundred and forty students graduated from The University of the South Pacific (USP) Emalus Campus last Friday. Seventy four percent graduates were from Vanuatu while the remaining were from Belize, Cook Islands, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Niue and Tonga indicating the regional nature of Emalus Campus. Thirty three…

PNA unhappy with Japan

THE Parties to Nauru Agreement (PNA) and Tokelau’s proposal on a skipjack tuna has been withdrawn from the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) as Japan has refused to agree to the measure. The measure would have set a reference point, or agreed level of fishing for skipjack tuna, the most common tuna used…

Bech-de-mer ban lifted

The ban on bech-de-mer has been lifted for the next three months. The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources announced this, Friday. The ban has been imposed to ensure the sea cucumber have time to regenerate after studies revealed the fast depletion of this lucrative sea resources. The ban was lifted on December 1 and…

Forestry fast depleting

A Forestry expert has warned that Solomon Islands forest will inevitably become a “sunset industry” facing almost depletion of forest resources post 2015. Dr Shon Cheol-Ho, an expert from the National Forestry Cooperative Federation NFCF of Korea revealed the startling condition of the country’s forest industry during a workshop last Thursday. The workshop – Investigating…

Honiara market chaos

Honiara’s Central Market was thrown into chaos on Saturday afternoon after a man almost had his left arm chopped off by an attacker. The incident forced buyers and sellers alike to run for their lives – causing panic and chaos in this often crowded environment. Police arrived later at the scene and arrested the attacker,…

Tausinga may switch side

MEMBER of Parliament for West New Georgia/Vona Vona, Silas Vaqara Tausinga looks set to join the Democratic Coalition for Change (DCC). Camp insiders told the Sunday Star Tausinga, a member of the Solomon Islands Party for Rural Advancement (SIPRA), is currently in dialogues with his party’s executive and will be tendering his resignation before teaming…

Call to disengage CDO

An EAST Makira constituent has urged the constituency’s re-elected MP, Alfred Ghiro to dump his former Constituency Development Officer (CDO), Samuel Waitara. Mr Waitara had come under intense criticism during his tenure as CDO over the manner he administered the constituency’s development funds. Wanione chief, Robert Wetara claimed Mr Waitara had fooled the constituency and…

How the numbers stand

As the 50 Members of Parliament prepare to vote for a new prime minister on Tuesday, here’s how the numbers stand as of last night: Democratic Coalition for Change (Honiara Hotel camp) 1.     William Marau (Ulawa-Ugi)2.     Freda Comua (TemotuVatud)3.     Manasseh Sogavare (East Choiseul)4.     John Moffat Fugui (Central Honiara)5.     Danny Philip (South New Georgia, Rendova/Tetepare)6.     Mathew…

New, but capable

Manele’s nomination gets everyone talking No MP has ever secured the trust and confidence of his colleagues to contest the prime minister’s job on his first foray into parliament. That is until Friday when Jeremiah Manele, a first-term parliamentarian, was nominated by the Solomon Islands People’s Democratic Coalition to be its candidate in Tuesday’s vote.…