Gov’t urged not to extend SOE period

OPPOSITION leader Matthew Wale calls on the Government not to extend the state of emergency (SOE) period, which expires on July 25. The call was made in response to the Prime Minister’s recent statement, revealing the government’s intentions to extend the emergency period because it is the reason why the Solomon Islands is still Covid-19…

Fatal ferry probe almost complete 

POLICE investigation into the fatal ferry accident that resulted in 27 passengers losing their lives in April is almost completed. Acting Police Commissioner Mostyn Mangau said the investigation will hopefully be completed by the end of this month. “I assure you that the National Criminal Investigation team has investigated this matter and about to complete…

Chief backs Vunagi’s comments on schools

A CHIEF from Falau community in Malaita says the statement made by the Governor-General (GG) describing schools as poultry houses perfectly fits the status of boarding schools in the province. Jersey Bobby said most boarding schools in Malaita have poor and over-crowded dormitories, which are not conducive and do not speak well of schools as…

2 HCC councillors arrested

Two members of the Honiara City Council were arrested on Wednesday for allegedly intimidating Rence Sore, the Honiara City clerk. Acting Police Commissioner Mostyn Mangau responding to questions raised by reporters in the weekly police conference confirmed that the two are councillor for Vura Ward Reginald Ngati and councillor for Vavaya ward Billy Abae. Mangau said the…

Farmer says DBSI loan hard for them

A FARMER says requirements for obtaining loans from the Development Bank of Solomon Islands (DBSI) are well beyond a rural dweller can meet. William Waneoroa from Malaita said he realized this when he went to enquire at the recently opened bank. “I think the requirements were totally opposite to what Prime Minister Sogavare stated in…

‘Don’t back the Bill’

PREMIER of Western Province David Gina has called on all nine Members of Parliament (MP) from Western province not to support the new proposed Traditional Governance Bill. Mr. Gina made the call saying the new Bill is not going to serve the current provincial system. He further described it as unconstitutional and does not entertain…

CURFEW TRIO ACQUITTED

No evidence their place of residence is within town boundary, says Garo By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN   CHIEF Magistrate Emma Garo has acquitted three young men accused of breaching the April 10 curfew in Honiara. Kevin Tarifu, Junior Lesley Tata and Hilton Jeffery Maetarau had stood trial for the charge of restriction of movement contrary to regulation…

You are dodgy, Wale tells Minister Manele

OPPOSITION leader Matthew Wale says Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele’s recent comments against him are “dodgy and misguided”. Manele had earlier expressed his disappointment over what he called, a deliberate distortion by the Opposition leader of his statement. But Wale in a statement on Tuesday pointed out that the minister is once again trying to dodge the…