Mua back in court today

THE matter of the Member of Parliament (MP) for Savo/Russell Dickson Mua accused of converting $3million intended to purchase a ship for his constituency in 2013 will return to court again Wednesday. Mua had his bail condition varied on the last court date allowing him to travel to Australia to under a medical review. He…

Rukumana vows to deliver

THE newly appointed Football Youth Development Officer (YDO) Eddie Rukumana vows do his best and deliver his responsibilities and YDO. Rukumana uttered this during his first press conference with the local media yesterday shortly after receiving his official appointment as YDO for the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) on Monday this week. “I know the…

PM defends 2019 Budget

‘This budget is credible’ By ANDREW FANASIA THE Prime Minister Rick Hou has defend his government budget after it was heavily criticised on the floor of the Parliament, Tuesday. Chairman of the Bills and Legislative Committee Mathew Wale came out strongly to criticise the budget in his debate yesterday. Mr Hou in his response said…

‘NO WEST PAPUA POLICY’

SIDCCG is neutral, says Hou By IAN MCDONALD THE Solomon Islands Democratic Coalition for Change (SIDCC) Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Rick Hou has no policy statement in dealing with the issue of West Papua. Mr Hou stated this, when asked by a journalist over the government’s stand on West Papua, in a…

$1m mysterious payment

THE one million ($1m) in shipping grant that was supposed to be received by Didao Development Cooperation remains a mystery and untraceable since documents related to the payment were missing from the Ministry of Finance. The payment was made between 2015 and 2016. Didao Development Cooperation never received the payment. According to the Auditor General’s…

Sigimanu: I did not lie

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs Ethel Sigimanu has hit out at media reports she lied to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) about the claims of government lawyers. “I did not lie,” Mrs Sigimanu retorted, Wednesday in response to the accusation levelled at her by a spokesperson for the Government…

APEC trip costs $2.7M

DESPITE the nation’s precarious financial situation, the Government forked out $2.7 million to pay for Prime Minister Ricky Hou and his delegation to the recent APEC summit in Papua New Guinea. Chairman of the Public Account Committee and East Honiara MP, Douglas Ete, revealed this yesterday in parliament in his deliberation on the 2018 Supplementary…

Wale wants health minister removed

THE Minister for Health and Medical Services (MHMS) Dr Kaitu’u should be reassigned by the Prime Minister for neglecting and not demonstrating any sense of urgency about addressing the crisis in our health sector. Chairman for Bills and Legislation Committee and Member for Parliament for Aoke/Langalanga Mathew Wale uttered this in parliament, Wednesday. Mr Wale…

READ SI roles highlighted

RESOURCES Educational Advance Development in Solomon Islands (READ SI) is a local non-government organisation (NGO) working together with other partners to get more reading materials into primary schools and communities in Solomon Islands. The NGO was established in 2015 purposely to provide a second chance learning mainly for adults and youths who have missed out…