First batch of nurses Vanuatu-bound

THE first batch of 28 local nurses recruited by the Vanuatu Government jetted out of the country on Monday to take up their new jobs. Most of them will spend two years under a contract working in various clinics and hospitals around Vanuatu. The recruitment of local nurses will fill the huge retirement gap left in…

Stop the handout mentality

GOVERNOR General Rev. David Vunagi says Solomon Islanders must stop the habit of relying on aid donors or politicians to provide cash handouts. Vunagi made the statement when he delivered his first speech from the throne yesterday to start off the second meeting of the 11th Parliament. He said the Government believes that the way…

LOGGING TRAGEDY

Two killed in horrific vehicle accident By WILSON SAENIin Auki   TWO logging workers were killed in a horrific vehicle accident in east Fataleka, Malaita, last Saturday. The deceased – a local and an Indonesian – were employees of Malaysian logging firm Samlimsan.  A third worker, a local, survived by jumping off the back of…

WALE: GOV’T FAILS PEOPLE

CURRENT struggles and difficulties Solomon Islanders face are a result of Government failures, Opposition leader Mathew Wale says. He stated this in a lengthy and explosive speech he delivered in parliament yesterday in response to the speech from the throne. “The oppressors have taken over everything from the oppressed ordinary Solomon Islanders, leaving them behind…

The fight against Rhino beetle in Rennell rages on

The Ministry of Agriculture & Livestock, through their Biosecurity Solomon Islands (BSI) Department, assisted Rennell Islands last month to fight the threat of the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB).  The CRB, which destroys coconut plantations, is threatening the livelihoods of Rennell Island communities and Solomon Islands farmers. To respond to this serious threat BSI sent two…

Replacement sought for East Makira MP

THE people of Santa Anna Island of East Makira Constituency in the Makira Ulawa Province tussle over who should be their candidate to replace their late Member of Parliament, Charles Maefia. The late East Makira MP who was elected into the National Parliament only on April 3 died in Honiara following a short illness.  And…

Land for terminal expansion cleared

The two privately-owned land parcels at eastern end of the Henderson International Terminal in East Honiara which bogged expansion of a proposed new terminal and taxi runway project is now cleared. Acting Commissioner of Lands Alan McNeil of the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey (MLHS) revealed that the one month notice lapsed earlier this…