Police detain vessels for overloading

AUKI Police over the weekend detained two marine shipping vessels for more than three hours for overloading. The two vessels, MV Daystar and MV Maetalau were detained for having been overloaded on Saturday morning, after both Police and the vessels declared that it was unsafe to travel to Honiara, given that the load of both…

Mounting police presence worries victims

FLOOD victims residing at the FOPA village have expressed fear at the increasing presence of police at the vicinity. Committee chairman of Mbokonavera camp said the presence of police at the village is worrying and caused fears amongst them especially women and children. Charles Ketea said since Thursday last week, police continued to present in…

Sick officers still receive salaries

A number of police officers who are sick and no longer working are still drawing salaries from the state and occupying police houses, the Sunday Star can reveal. Two such officers are living in Honiara, while one is in Buala, Isabel. Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Service Ishmael Avui could not be reached…

NZ govt acknowledged over new bridge

PEOPLE of northwest Guadalcanal have acknowledged the New Zealand government for the newly completed Mataniko Bailey bridge. Northwest Guadalcanal chief John Kaoni said his people really appreciated the support by the New Zealand Government in supplying the new bridge after the old bridge was destroyed in the April 3rd flash flooding in Honiara. Mr Kaoni…

Sisilo tells ANZ: Pour in more money into trade, investment

“In its current bilateral form, development assistance from Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) allows only little that directly benefits the development of the private sector in Forum Island Countries (FICs) in general and trade and investment in particular.  “This will not have significant effects on the development of trade in goods by FICs.” This is…

New entertainment at airport

Visitors and returning residents arriving at the Honiara International Airport are now being treated to local music entertainment. Solomon Island Visitors Bureau (SIVB) has contracted several local bands to provide entertainment at the arrival lounge each day. SIVB board chairman Wilson Ne’e said the idea was to make visitors feel welcome as they get off…

Community child forum held

SAVE the Children (SC) last week held a community child forum for communities within the Central Kwara’ae region of Malaita province. The forum which was part of Save the Children’s Communities Child Protection Project (CCPP) was aimed at informing and making known to both children and the communities of the issues of concern with regards…

New machine to screen cervical cancer here

Cervical cancer is the biggest cause of cancer-related deaths for women in Solomon Islands, according to health authorities. Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health Dr Cedric Alependava revealed this, Thursday. He was speaking at the handing over of an important medical device called “Colposcope” by the Australian Cervical Cancer Foundation to the Ministry…

Malaria workers to collect data

A week long training conducted for malaria workers on data collection and slide testing ended, Thursday. The training was part of preparing malaria workers for an indicator survey to be conducted in the provinces. Malaria Vector Borne Disease Programme within the Ministry of Health facilitated the training. More than 60 malaria workers participated in the…

Afuga hits back at Mata

FORUM Solomon Islands International chief executive officer Benjamin Afuga has hit back at a response made on the chemical spill issue. General Manager of the Tandai Seafront Hotel, Martin Mata in response to initial reports made by FSII on the issue described the claims as none-sense. But Mr Afuga yesterday said Mr Mata’s response only…