PS lied to PAC: Gov’t Lawyers

‘Time ticking on strike notice’ By ANDREW FANASIA THE Government Lawyers Association (GLA) says the Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs Ethel Sigimanu had out rightly lied and misled the Public Account Committee (PAC) last week. Mrs Sigimanu was responding to a question asked by the Opposition Leader and PAC member Manasseh…

WHY SISE MUST END

Rodie: Std 6 exam is no longer serving its purpose By IAN MCDONALD THE Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development (MEHRD) sole purpose of advocating the termination of the Solomon Islands Secondary Entrance (SISE) exam is to lessen the high push outs from the education system. Permanent Secretary Dr Franco Rodie said according to…

$5m ABD grant to support SI

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $5 million policy-based grant to support the efforts of the Government of Solomon Islands to implement policy and institutional reforms to progressively improve fiscal sustainability, business climate, public financial management, and service delivery. “The Solomon Islands Improved Fiscal Sustainability Reform Program builds on previous policy-based operations of…

Journos told: Do more probing stories

LOCAL journalists attending a week-long Anti-Corruption Reporting, Promotion of Integrity, Transparency and Accountability training in Honiara were being told to write more investigative stories. Vice President of the Media Association Solomon Islands (MASI) and Press Secretary to Prime Minister Douglas Marau reminded the journalists on their ‘watchdog’ role, when speaking at the close of workshop…

Suavanao airfield in Isabel reopened

Suavanao Airfield in Isabel Province was re-opened last Saturday following the successful rehabilitation of the airport’s deteriorating runway which has forced the Government to close it in September this year. Representatives of the Ministry of Communication and Aviation (MCA), the Civil Aviation Authority of Solomon Islands (CAASI) and Solomon Airlines conducted a test flight using…

NCDs, a big threat, says PM

NON Communicable Diseases (NCDs) is a huge health cost to the government and poses the single biggest threat to the future development aspirations of our people and country. That’s according to Prime Minister Rick Hou, when delivering his statement at the High level Roundtable Meeting on the NCD Policy Roadmap, at the Heritage Park Hotel…

2018 Annual Joint Review underway

THE Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development (MERHD) 2018 Annual joint review is currently underway in Honiara. Deputy Secretary of the Ministry, James Bosamata told local media yesterday that the two days meeting normally occurred during this time of the year mainly to gather all its stakeholders and partners to involve in the annual…

Malaita ambulance drivers end training

Ambulance drivers in Malaita Province have reached a milestone after they completed a defensive driving training. The Malaita Provincial Health Director Dr.Henry Kako told participants that they have reached a milestone in trying to achieve safe driving which they covered under the defensive driving training. Dr.Kako encouraged the ambulance drivers in Malaita Province to apply…

PM DECLARES WAR ON NCDs

The trend must be reversed, says Hou By ANDREW FANASIA THE Government has now taken up the battle to fight against Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs). Prime Minister Rick Hou declared this at the High Level Roundtable Meeting on the NCD Policy Roadmap in Honiara, Monday. “This group, this government, we must declare war on NCDs,”…

Gov’t on lawyers strike

THE National Government is currently on shaking ground as they tried their best to carefully handle the plight of the Government’s Lawyers Association (GLA) by giving them some increase to their demands. Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs, Ethel Sigimanu confirmed before the Public Accounts Committee (PEC) last week. Mrs Sigimanu…