MINING FEE HITS $5M

THE Isabel Provincial Government has substantially increased its Business Licence fee for mining from $1 million to $5 million a year – an increase of 500 percent on the previous rate. The move has raised alarm bells ringing in the industry with some saying there is no justification for the increase unless it was designed…

Govt seeking support

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare says the government is looking for support from members of the business community during this four-day lockdown. In his nationwide address on Monday, PM Sogavare said this to help reduce the Covid-19 transmission in the country. “I ask the Solomon Island Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the business houses to…

Dr Malefoasi: sick staff stand-down

MORE than 50 nurses and doctors who are infected with COVID-19 at the National Referral Hospital (NRH) have stand-down. NRH Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr George Malefoasi said this has resulted in staff shortage at the NRH. Dr Malefoasi was speaking during Sunday’s Radio Talk-Back Show. He said apart from staff shortage other key challenges…

Second lockdown for Honiara

THE Honiara Emergency Zone will go into another four day lockdown beginning 6pm tomorrow (Tuesday 25th January). Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in his address on the COVID-19 situation in the country this afternoon (Monday 24th January) said although the original outbreak of COVID-19 in the country started from Ontong Java, Honiara is now the epicentre…

Four-day lock down

The Honiara Emergency Zone will go into a four-day lock down as of tomorrow – Tuesday 6pm up until Saturday 6pm. This was announced by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in a special nation-wide address this afternoon. He said the lockdown is to ensure the spread of COVID is contained and contact tracing can be done.…

MV Awka crew plight

THE CAPTAIN and crew of MV Awka, the vessel that bought passengers from Ontong Java to Honiara on 10th January 2022 have called on the authority to address their plight as soon as possible. Captain onboard the vessel, Lawson Ghina told this paper yesterday that they’re still waiting for their test results since Thursday last week.…