BREAKING NEWS
The Biometric Voter Registration process has raised confidence in the integrity of the electoral roll, according to the Commonwealth Observers team. This was one of the points noted in the team’s interim report, released last Saturday. The Commonwealth Observer team was led by respected statesman and former Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea Sir Mekere…
An outgoing Solomon Islands high court judge says an Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) is required in the country more than any other “on the planet”. Justice Stephen Pallaras, a former director of public prosecutions in South Australia and an executive member of an international association against corruption, has served a three-year contract with the…
A candidate who contested Temotu Pele constituency in last Wednesday’s polls has not officially resigned from his government job before contesting. A senior officer in the Ministry of Rural Development said Drummond Tupe Vaea, who is the Constituency’s Development Officer, has not resigned his job. The officer said it was surprising Vaea’s candidacy has not…
Half of registered voters from Nafinua and Kwaiafa polling stations in Malaita have to be assisted when casting their ballots. This was due to confusion over the new process and lack of educational awareness in the area ahead of the polls, voters there said. A Solomon Star reporter at the station last Wednesday witnessed many…
Auki Red Cross volunteer staff assisted in the election counting process in Malaita over the past days after polling day on November 19. Team team leader David Oto said almost every province that have Red Cross branch offices are also doing the first aid assistance during the counting process. He said their purpose of being…
Police in Makira-Ulawa Province are investigating the death of a young man from Ulawa island. The incident was reported as suicide but the provincial police commander Richard Hane said it needs to be investigated. “We have our officers on the field, who confirmed the incident had happen but the nature of death looked suspicious and…
Former Baegu-Asifola MP in Malaita, David Tome, has secured the seat for his first full term in parliament. Tome first won the seat in 2012 in a by-election following the death of Toswell Kaua, who claimed the seat in the 2010 elections. His victory in last Wednesday’s polls means he has a full term of…
Outgoing Minister for Women, Youth, Children & Family Affairs Peter Tom has reclaimed the West Kwaio seat in Malaita and a third term in parliament. Tom was first elected to parliament in 2006. In last Wednesday’s polls, he received a total of 1,791 votes ahead of his runner up Titus Fika, who polled 1,507 votes.…
Jimmy Lusibaea has returned to the helm of North Malaita constituency in last Wednesday’s polls. He won by an overwhelming majority of 1,512 votes after polling 2,430 ballots. His runner up, Frederick Kwanairara, polled 918 votes. Lusibaea first won the North Malaita seat in the 2010 elections, but lost it a year later after he…
In Western Province, voters there re-elected seven of their nine outgoing MPs in last Wednesday’s polls. Only two of the old MPs – outgoing prime minister Gordon Darcy Lilo and veteran politician Job Duddley Tausinga – lost their seats. Lilo was replaced by Jimson Fiau Tanangada, of the United Democratic Party, while Tausinga was unseated…