Law students vacate halls

UP to 150 government-funded law students studying at the University of the South Pacific (USP), Emalus campus, in Vanuatu, have vacated their halls of residence for safety. A student Junior Mae’akofia said they were evacuated from their halls of residence and moved into classrooms, court moot and the gym at the campus. He said they…

Kuve faces vote

WESTERN Province premier Robert Pye Kuve is facing a motion of no confidence, which will be moved this week. Ward 16 provincial member Ramrakha Talasasa is moving the motion. Assembly clerk Gideon Tuke confirmed the motion to the Solomon Star on Friday. “Yes, my office and that of the Speaker were served with the motion,”…

Tuki calls for empowerment of women

EMPOWERING Women and girls is important to recognise the potentials of women and girls in this country, according to Minister for Rural Development, Freda Tuki. She highlighted this at International Women’s Day celebration this week, saying that women and girls have proven themselves in different ways globally and at home. Mrs Tuki took the opportunity…

Why PNG turned back students

STUDENTS who were turned back by Papua New Guinea immigration on arrival in Moresby this week travelled under tourist visas, it was revealed. More than 10 students travelling to begin their studies at various universities in PNG were affected.  “They boarded Air Niugini bound to PNG on Monday but were stopped by the PNG immigration…

ADP offers gov’t a helping hand

THE Asian Development Bank stands ready to provide assistance for some of the policy priorities of the Democratic Coalition for Change Government. An ADB delegation comprising Xianbin Yao, its Manila-based Director General for the Pacific, Dr Andrea Iffland and Mr Hayden Everett from the bank’s Pacific Liaison and Coordination Office in Sydney met with Prime…

PM wants strong ties with Indonesia

PRIME Minister Manasseh Sogavare and the new Indonesian Ambassador to Solomon Islands, Ronald Manik said they want to see a strengthened bilateral relationship between their two countries. The duo expressed this desire when they met Thursday in Honiara during a courtesy visit the Indonesian envoy paid theprime minister. Mr Manik was in Honiara to present…

Students slam new cost-sharing policy

THE introduction of the new ‘cost-sharing’ policy by the Ministry of Education has irked law extension students studying at the University of the South Pacific (USP), Emalus campus in Vanuatu. This was after up to 150 government0funded law students, including extension students at the campus, reportedly went without allowance for a month now. “We will…

Gov’t settles Unitech student fees

THE National Training Unit (NTU) stepped in the last minute to settle tuition fees of 17 Solomon Island students studying at the University of Technology (UNITECH) in Lae, PNG. The national government has not paid the students’ 2014 tuition fees, resulting in threats not to readmit them this year. Reports from those students said this…

More work needed to build peace

THERE is a lot of work that needs to be done before true reconciliation can take place inside the country. Peace-building participants highlighted this during a peace-building meeting organised last week in Honiara. Up to 13 people attended the meeting that gave them the opportunity to share their stories as peace-builders. The individuals represent various…

Landslide hits central Malaita

ONE semi-permanent House and a water source have badly been destroyed by landslide this week in central Kwara’ae in Malaita province. The incident occurred at Aisiko community in Central Kwara’ae after heavy rain started on Friday and continued this week. A community leader of Aisiko Paul Kabolo said, the family that owns the semi-permanent house…