Australia ready to give help

AUSTRALIA’S Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says her government is ready to provide any support once requested in relation to Friday’s 7.8 earthquake that stuck off Kirakira, Makira-Ulawa Province. “The Australian Government has in place pre-positioned supplies for shelter, water, sanitation, food,” Ms Bishop said. “If they’re required we can work with the local authorities and…

Gov’t to respond to quake damages

THE government is preparing to respond to the affected communities hit by a very strong undersea earthquake of magnitude 7.8, which occurred at 4.38am, Friday. Minister of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology, Samuel Manetoali confirmed this when he informed Parliament on Friday. Mr Manetoali said from information generated from collected data and reports…

Team to assess damages

MAKIRA National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) will deploy an assessment team to remote areas believed to be affected by Friday’s powerful earthquake. Makira NDMO officer Ruth Timauku confirmed that they have received confirmation of damages around the province and her assessment team will be deployed today. “Around Kirakira, we have some major damages, two residential…

Powerful 7.8 earthquake hits here

Honiara residents got a scary early morning wake-up alarm when a powerful 7.8 struck at 4.38am yesterday, sending families out of their homes. While little or no damages were recorded in Honiara, the quake hit hard on Kirakira, the provincial capital of Makira-Ulawa Province. In Kirakira, which is close to the epicentre, the earthquake caused…

Forau awarded PhD from UNSW

THE University of New South Wales (UNSW) Campus in Canberra had its graduation ceremony on Wednesday this week. Twelve students were awarded PhDs.  Luke Forau a Solomon Islander from the island of Tikopia in Temotu Province was one of them. Luke started his education journey from his home village. He did his secondary education initially…

Coronation tightens school discipline

CORONATION Christian school says it would continue to strive hard in maintaining high standard of discipline at the school. Principal Adrian Dorovia highlighted this at the school’s graduation and closing program on Wednesday.  Coronation will continue to uphold and promote high standard of discipline to see discipline at the school improve. The event was held…

MPA opens defamation lawsuit

Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) for East Kwaio ward 18 Alick Butala has opened a legal action against political rival Jude Kaefia. This was for discrediting his status in this paper’s letters to the editor dated December 2. In the letter Mr Kaefia alleged that Mr Butala has a sexual relationship with a high school…

Flood victims get relief supplies

Victims of the Kwaibaita flood in East Malaita finally receive their food relief supplies after two months of waiting. This was confirmed by the Provincial Member for ward 16 Finely Fiumae in an interview with this paper on Wednesday. Mr Fiumae said the task of delivering the 2,500 rice bags was not easy especially when…