Fiji hits back at Sogavare

FIJI has hit back at the deputy prime minister Manasseh Sogavare over criticism about the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG). Speaking in parliament Monday, Mr Sogavare said Fiji should apologise for bringing Indonesia into the MSG. He said Fiji’s Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama breached MSG procedure by forcing the other four full members to accept Indonesia…

New health deal with Australia

AUSTRALIA and Solomon Islands have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Pacific Pharmaceutical Laboratory Testing Pilot Program. This pilot program will give Solomon Islands access to Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) laboratories for medicine quality testing. Testing will focus initially on a selection of routine antibiotics and medicines commonly used in Solomon Islands…

TRIO RESCUED

…after surviving a 26-day sea ordeal By CHARLES KADAMANA AN ELEVEN (11) year old boy with his father and grandfather survived 26 days drifting out in the open ocean after their boat developed a mechanical problem early last month. They were rescued about 750 nautical miles away from Honiara and 400 nautical miles from Fiji…

Rhinoceros beetle sighted in Russells

MORE PEST FEARS By CROFTON UTUKANA   THE deadly Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle has been sighted for the first time on one of the islands in the Russell Islands, Central Province. This latest discovery has prompted more worry to the government’s Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB) task-force. “This worrying new report was received last week by the…

PM explains sour relationship in MSG

Prime Minister (PM) Rick Houenipwela had explained the sour relationship with member countries of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) revealing six issues that gave rise to the ill relationship. Houenipwela was responding to question asked by Member of Parliament (MP) for Aoke-Langalanga Matthew Wale. Mr Wale asked the PM that in his recent trip to…

Kingdom followers hit back at critics

Kingdom followers in Malaita province have hit back at its critics by claiming that they are following a true movement that God mandated and unveils to their spiritual father, Pastor Kemuel Kaleni Ramohia in late 1970. A statement from the Kingdom followers stated that the Kingdom Prophetic Acclamation is not a cargo cult or cult…

Sikua says MSG must change its name

Leader of the Parliamentary Independent Group, Dr. Derek Sikua asks Prime Minister (PM) Rick Houenipwela to move a motion in the next Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) meeting to change the name of MSG, since the organisation no longer serves its purpose. Sikua stressed this on the floor of parliament after learning from the revelation by…

Police report improved traffic observance

There has been a drastic decrease in number of careless driving incidents in Honiara as reported by the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) Traffic Department at Kukum for the period 23 February – 01 March 2018. Acting Director of RSIPF Traffic Department, Inspector Brian Surimalefo says, “I am pleased to announce that there has…

Two Bills withdrawn

Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela has withdrawn the ‘Constitution (Amendment) (Dual Citizenship) Bill 2017’ and the ‘Citizenship Bill 2017’ on Monday to sort out issues raised by the Bills and Legislation Committee. This means both Bills will be reintroduced to Parliament after government deals with the issues raised by the Bills and Legislation Committee. A report…