PM: Gov’t will deal with St Barbara

Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo on Thursday has assured Members of Parliament that his government will deal with St Barbara which operates the Gold Ridge Mining Limited (GRML) for abandoning the Mine site during recent flash flood in Honiara and Guadalcanal.   Prime Minister Lilo said this when replying to question raised by members of…

Beware of coconut disease

The Biosecurity Solomon Islands (BSI) formerly known Solomon Islands Agriculture Quarantine Service (SIAQS) which has been tasked to safeguard and protect the coconut industry in Solomon Islands has warned the public to be on alert for Oryctes rhinoceros disease. Jean Eroa Biosecurity Solomon Islands officer in the ministry of agriculture and livestock (MAL) said Oryctes…

Hike in gas price

Price of gas used for cooking and general purposes has increased forcing many customers to dig deeper into their pocket to buy for gas now. This came about due to increase cost in Australia early this month says an Origin Energy company spokesperson on Thursday. Some of the customers who depend on gas for their…

Farmers seeks compensation

A number of farmers who lost their copra and dried cocoa products during the recent bad weather have called on the owners of LC Dragon for some form of compensation. Speaking on behalf of the farmers, a Tetere farmer in North East Guadalcanal Brain Nahu who claimed to have bags of copra and dried cocoa…

ADB gives US$200k for relief effort

The country is benefiting from a $200,000 (SBD$1.5m) grant from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to help fund humanitarian and relief efforts following recent major floods. On 3-5 April 2014, prolonged heavy rain associated with a tropical storm caused severe flooding in Honiara, and parts of Guadalcanal province. As a result of the disaster 21…

MPA wants ministry to audit tourism funds

A member of the provincial assembly (MPA) in Isabel province has called on the ministry of culture and tourism to follow up and audit funds that have been accessed by tourism operators. Rhoda Sikilabu made the comment during a meeting between the Solomon Islands visitors bureau (SIVB) officials and Buala tourism operators last Friday. Ms…

Reconstruction of jetties set for Isabel

Isabel provincial premier James Habu says his government will this year focus on rebuilding and construction of jetties around the province. He revealed this during a meeting held with the Solomon Islands visitors bureau (SIVB) officials in Buala last Friday. Mr Habu said the province would renovate existing jetties and build some additional ones  to…

Aviation: Safety is our priority

Aviation authority within the ministry of communication and aviation (MCA) says safety of airport runway is a priority. Alwyn Navo aviation’s chief air traffic training officer highlighted this during a courtesy call to Isabel provincial government’s headquarter in Buala last Friday. Mr Navo was part of the Solomon Islands visitors bureau delegation (SIVB) officials that…

We’ll be back

St Barbara says they are returning to Gold Ridge OPERATORS of Gold Ridge mine, Australian company St Barbara, has insisted it hasn’t pulled out of the country. Instead, the company said it was forced to shut down operations at the Gold Ridge mine because of flood damage and subsequent security risks. St Barbara’s managing director…