Fiji envoy discusses issues with Sogavare

FIJI’S High Commissioner to Solomon Islands Romano Tikotikoca paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Hon Manasseh Sogavare, Wednesday, and discussed issues of common interest to their two countries including the identification of Fijians of Solomon Islands black-birded ancestry in Fiji. The majority of Fijians with Solomon Islands ancestry are descendants of Solomon Islanders who…

New magistrates take up duties

FIVE lawyers became magistrates after taking their oath on Thursday before Chief Justice Sir Albert Palmer in the High Court. They Ricky Iomea, Fatima Taeburi, and Edwin Saramo, who are now principal magistrates; and first class magistrates Natalie Kesaka and Augustine Aulanga. Three of them – Mr Iomea, Mrs Kesaka, and Mr Aulanga – have…

Top visiting BSP officials meet PM

A TOP level delegation from the PNG-based Bank South Pacific (BSP) made a courtesy call on Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare on Thursday during which they expressed confidence in the business environment in Solomon Islands. The three-man delegation includes BSP Chairman Kostas Constantinou, BSP Chief Executive Officer Robin Fleming and BSP Country Manager David Anderson. The…

Youth@Work praised

Prime Minister Hon Manasseh Sogavare has commended the Youth At Work (Y@W) Programme for its significant contribution towards youth employment in Honiara. The Prime Minister and a high-powered DCC Government ministerial delegation toured the Y@W office yesterday morning to see for themselves what the programme has on offer for youths in Honiara. The delegation included…

Visa for DWU students set

VISAS of students studying at Divine Word University (DWU) in Madang, Papua New Guinea have arrived through the system of PNG High Commission office in Honiara on Thursday. This came after the institution is set to start its academic class Monday next week. An officer in the PNG High Commission said, only four names are…

USP offers financial assistance

A FINANCIAL scheme to assist private funded students is being offered by the University of the South Pacific (USP) to offset their study cost. This scheme is being offered this first semester. USP Solomon Islands campus administrative coordinator Layson Leve said, private funded students currently enrolled in the undergraduate or postgraduate degree can apply through…

GPPOL gives green light to GPG

Guadalcanal Plains Palm Oil Limited (GPPOL) has given greenlight to Guadalcanal Provincial Government (GPG) to resume the budget support that the company normally injected to the Province’s budget. The budget support of $750,000 per annum was suspended last year following reports of funds abuse and misappropriation. But this week GPPOL’s management have assured a GPG’s…

Lightning strikes, mobile coverage down

Mobile service in Temotu was disrupted after a lightning strike on Monday night. Reports reaching the Solomon Star from Lata Telekom station on Thursday said, this had caused minor damages in one of the Telekom towers in Lata. However, telephone lines and internet are working. Engineers have blamed lighting because such tall towers can attract…

Honiara road repairs measure up

REPRESENTATIVES of the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID), the Australian High Commission and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) inspected road repair and maintenance works in Honiara last Friday. These works are jointly funded by the Solomon Islands and Australian Governments through the National Transport Fund (NTF), with technical support from the ADB. Local contractors are…

Prime suspect still at large

Police say investigation into $4m bank robbery continues POLICE investigation into the $4 million daylight robbery outside Westpac Bank, Point Cruz, last month is still continuing. Police prosecutor David Tepai yesterday told the court investigation is still ongoing and that disclosures are yet to be provided to the defence counsel. Allan Tinoni of Public Solicitor’s…