Govt deploys team to Ontong Java

THE national government will be deploying a team of 31 people in its first response phase to Ontong Java in the Malaita Outer Islands tomorrow (Wednesday 19th January 2022). Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in a special address on the COVID 19 situation in our country this morning (18th January 2022) said four health personnel and…

$48M+ LOSS

SITCO hopes to bounce back despite ‘million dollar damages’ incurred during November riots  DESPITE being looted and damaged during last November’s riot and looting in Honiara, Solomon Islands Tobacco Company (SITCO) has affirmed that it will bounce back. SITCO General Manager, Kazi Mushfiqur Rahman told Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare of the company’s stand, during a…

Saudi Arabia Minister expresses interest in Solomon Islands

SAUDI Arabia’s Deputy Minister for International Economic Affairs, Saudi Ministry of Economy and Planning, Mr. Bandar Alchemies, visited the Solomon Islands Pavilion on Sunday 9th January, 2021 as part of his Government’s familiarization tour to Pacific Island Countries (PICS) attending Expo 2020 Dubai. After a brief welcome and introduction by Deputy Commissioner General and Pavilion…

PCDF mechanism attracts donor interest

THE Provincial Capacity Development Fund (PCDF) is attracting interest from Development partners that are keen to support the scheme. Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS) Stanley Dick Pirione said donor interest was expressed during a number of consultations last year. According to Pirione, the European Union through UNDP and…

NPF’s Our Finance announces rates

THE Board of the Solomon Islands National Provident Fund (SINPF) has set up a non-bank financial entity, which it says will help its active members borrow against their savings. An advertisement announcing the set up of the newest financial institution in the country appeared in the Solomon Star last Thursday. Curiously, the logo for the…

Solomon Water increases water tariff

Solomon Water is increasing its water tariff for both domestic and commercial monthly charges. A statement from Solomon Water Board Chairman Tony Makabo on Thursday(6th January 2022) said the new tariff represented only an increase of 84 cents per kilolitre (tonne) of water for the lowest domestic tariff band. “We acknowledge that some households may…