$4.5m for by-election

THE Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC) has confirmed they have approved a budget of $4.5 million for the by-election in 2020. This was confirmed to this paper by Electoral Commissioner and Chief Electoral Officer Mose Saitala on Wednesday. “Yes, we have a budget for by-election 2020 approved by the National Parliament,” Saitala added. When asked…

PLANS TO REVIEW CASE

PSO plans on reviewing Vokia’s judgment By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN The Public Solicitor’s Office (PSO) is planning to review the High Court election petition of Northeast Guadalcanal Member of Parliament (MP) Jamie Vokia. In a letter addressed to the Attorney General (AG) and Governor-General (GG), Public Solicitor Howard Lawry said they feel that the High Court…

Fire left families homeless  

TWO families in Gilbert Camp, East Honiara are now homeless after their two homes were burnt down by fire around midday on Monday. The cause of the fire is still unknown but neighbours and surrounding communities suspect its must be a fault from the battery charger using a solar panel. Speaking to this paper, an…

Firimolea confesses to armed robbery charge

One of the recaptured prison escapees Frank Firimolea has on Monday confessed to a robbery offense laid against him. Firimolea entered his guilty plea on Monday afternoon before Principal Magistrate Felix Hollison. This came after police recaptured Firimolea and another prison escapee Dilo Faiga in a RAV4 vehicle along the Burnscreek main road in East Honiara…

Saudi envoy meets PM

PRIME Minister Manasseh Sogavare recently received a courtesy visit from the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to the Solomon Islands His Excellency Mesaad Ibrahim Al-Sulaim at the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. H.E Al-Sulaim used the opportunity to reaffirm Saudi Arabia’s commitment to assist the Solomon Islands in its development aspirations, a statement from…

Sofu survives petition 

ELECTION petition case against the Member of Parliament (MP) for East Kwaio Stanley Festus Sofu was dismissed by the High Court Chief Justice Albert Palmer, Monday. Chief Justice Palmer made his ruling in-front of a packed courtroom on Monday, much to the delight of the supporters of the Sofu. The election petition was filed on…