BEST ASSET HOTEL

SINPF defends investment in Heritage Park By CHARLES KADAMANA HERITAGE Park Hotel in Honiara is one of Solomon Islands’ National Provident Fund’s (SINPF) best performing assets. That’s according to SINPF general manager Mike Wate. “Heritage Park Hotel Limited had returned more than 60% of SINPF’s original capital of $28 million for its 10% equity in…

$2m raked by beche-de-mer export

AN estimated $2million was earned from beche-de-mer exports during the open season that closed at the end of January this year. Under Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Ferral Lasi revealed this to the Solomon Star in an exclusive interview on Wednesday. He said, the beche-de-mer harvest season was open September last…

Top tuna meeting underway in Honiara

A UNIQUE South-South exchange meeting between regional, international fisheries and ocean management agencies is currently underway in Honiara at the Forum Fishery Agency (FFA) headquarters. The meeting was held to help explain how the region has been meeting its challenges of managing tuna resources over the past decades and to share knowledge on what lessons…

GOLD RIDGE SLAMS CYANIDE CLAIMS

GOLD Ridge Mining Limited (GRML) has dismissed findings of a research that claims high levels of cyanide were found in sediments downstream of its central Guadalcanal mine. Researcher Dickson Boboria, a Solomon Islander studying for his doctoral degree, claims the situation has put the livelihoods of the Metapona communities at risk. But Gold Ridge last…

RIPEL announces ‘dividend’

LEVERS Solomons Ltd and Russell Islands Plantation Estate Ltd on Tuesday announced a $2 million dividend to the Lavukal land owners. The surprising announcement was made by chairman Patrick Wong in a press conference in Honiara on Tuesday. Mr Wong said the dividend was declared during the company’s board meeting held on September 18 last…

Provinces lacked banking services

With the exception of Auki and Gizo, the rest of our provincial centers are without proper banking services. The nonexistence of banks is a grave concern for the advancement of business and trade in the provinces. Banks are vital for the growth of our provincial economies as they provide the service businesses and people need…

SIG, private sector discusses plan

THE Solomon Islands Government (SIG) – Private Sector Advisory Group had held their first meeting on Monday in Honiara to discuss their plans for this year. The Group was set up following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between SIG and Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce (SICCI) last July to promote the Public…

Geber spells out challenges here

SOLOMON Islands is a very expensive place to do business, says Solomon Airlines Chief Executive Officer Brett Gebers. He made the statement in his presentation at the Tourism in Focus 2018 held in Honiara last week. Mr Gebers said that among other constraints facing the national airline, when the country is pushing boundaries to develop…

Airlines responds to criticism, says sorry

OUR one and only national air carrier the Solomon Airlines has been bombarded with criticism in social media about its safety inconvenience it has created. Following massive critics flooded in the social media the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Solomon Airlines Brett Gebers apologized for inconvenience experienced for the last few weeks. The CEO made…