Gov’t plans to set up ICAC by next year

THE government intends to get the proposed Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) functional by 2016. This was revealed when a delegation from the Prime Minister’s Office appeared recently before the Pacific Accounts Committee. PAC members grilled the delegation about the proposal. The Government recently announced the intention as part of its efforts to fight corruption…

Project to protect seagrass, dugongs

EFFORTS to conserve seagrass and dugong in the country received a funding boost of US$5.88 million (more $40 million) from the Global Environmental Facility (GEF). The four-year project (2015 – 2018) is the first of its kind here, under GEF’s Dugong and Seagrass Conservation Project. The project was titled “Enhancing the Conservation Effectiveness of Seagrass…

Police keep SIPA dispute on radar

POLICE will continue to monitor the industrial dispute at Solomon Islands Ports Authority (SIPA), police chief Frank Prendergast says. A 28-day strike notice the workers issued lapsed on Tuesday, but it’s understood the workers have decided not to go on strike. Mr Prendergast said police are very grateful for the support they received from the…

Aussie docs help out at Referral Hospital

THE National Referral Hospital this week welcomed a team of paediatric doctors and nurses from Sophie’s Gifts for Projek Strongim Pikinini. The Projek included three full days of clinics and training in children’s health. The Sophie’s Gifts team taught life-saving skills in the management of seriously unwell children and babies. This was supported by medical…

Stop drink driving

DRIVERS are again warned against drinking alcohol while they are behind the wheel. Police chief Frank Prendergast made the friendly reminder this week in light of increasing alcohol-related road accidents. Mr Prendergast also urged the public to be responsible when on the roads to avoid unwanted accidents. “I just want to remind people that we…

New job advertising website launched

PASIFIKI Services Limited has launched its new job advertising website in Honiara, Friday. Attending the launching were members from various companies, as well as members from the local media. Speaking during the launching on Friday, General Manager James Edgecombe highlighted some facts that the website had. “Some of the website facts are, it can be…

Provincial participants attend workshop in Honiara

MORE than 10 participants from Choiseul and Isabel Province were in Honiara this attending a week long capacity building workshop organized by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) with the support of funding from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and the Australian Government. Participants are representatives of TNC partners from the Choiseul Provincial Government, Choiseul Provincial…

Gov’t clarifies air space agreement

THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade (MFAET) wishes to correct some errors in a news article published by the Island Sun newspaper on Wednesday 16th April 2015 regarding the Solomon Islands-Fiji Air Services Agreement. A statement from the Ministry said the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to implement the 1990 Air Services Agreement (ASA)…