BATTLE OF THE GIANTS

Two former PMs contesting the by-elections By ANDREW FANASIAHoniara Newsroom TWO former Solomon Islands Prime Ministers are vying for a seat in parliament come next month’s by-election. Gordon Darcy Lilo who is contesting the Central Honiara Constituency seat and Dr Derek Sikua for North East Guadalcanal seat are not new to local politics in Solomon…

NHA hostel Quarantine Station closed

ONE of the Government-managed Quarantine Stations (QS) National Hosting Authority (NHA) (formerly Telekom Recreational Centre) hostel at Panatina has been closed for quarantine purposes and a replacement site is being secured. National Disaster Council (NDC) clarified that the hostel has been decontaminated by the Health Team before it was released back to its owner since…

Suidani applauds PHEB committee 

MALAITA Provincial Premier has acknowledged the Public Health Emergency Bill (PHEB) committee for involving Malaita in its consultation exercise. Premier Daniel Suidani said by bringing the bill to Malaita, it means that the province will also have its feedback considered in the finalization of the bill. He went on to thank the team for bringing…

12 year-old guilty of criminal offences

A TWELVE year-old male facing three criminal offences has confessed to all the allegations made against him this week in the Honiara Magistrate’s Court. The teenager who cannot be named for legal reasons has pleaded guilty to the charges of larceny in dwelling house, malicious damage and burglary. Following his guilty pleas, Deputy Chief Magistrate…

Gov’t intervenes, SINU Council furious

THE Solomon Islands National University (SINU) saga has taken another twist. It was understood that the government has refused granting SINU’s Vice Chancellor Dr. Ganesh Chand the work permit to allow him to work legally in the country. A Government source familiar with the current issue told Solomon Star that the Labour Division within the…

Ousted MPs’ wives join race 

THE spouses of two ousted Members of Parliament (MP) for Central Honiara and North East Guadalcanal constituencies are in the political race for a seat in next month’s by-election. Central Honiara MP John Moffat Fugui and North East Guadalcanal Jamie Vokia MP lost their respective seats following petition cases against them. The two wives; Mrs.…

PM: gov’t budget needs redirection

Prime Minister (PM) Manasseh Sogavare says the government’s budget needs redirection.  Mr. Sogavare highlighted this during his visit to Pisei which hosts the North-West Guadalcanal Development Association (NWGDA) base on Wednesday. “The government’s budget needs bigger redirection,” he said.   Prime Minister said one of the reasons why they did not pass the 2021 budget was…

Wale hails FIB

LEADER of Opposition Matthew Wale commends Foreign Investment Board (FIB) for demanding Mas Solo Investment to explain its tubi dealings and calls for stringent follow-throughs. “I must once again applaud FIB and the Director for continuing to hold suspected illegal loggers to account.  “As I have said earlier, corruption is a disease that is crippling…