A new roads and aviation project worth $433M that is set to benefit the country was officially launched by the government and donor partners in Honiara yesterday. The Solomon Islands Roads and Aviation Project (SIRAP) will upgrade Malaita’s road network and provide improvements to Honiara international airport and Munda airport in Western province. The project is…
‘Can we manage China’s appetite for our natural resources?’ By ANDREW FANASIA CHINA is certainly eyeing Solomon Islands raw materials to boosts its economy and sustain its 1.4 billion people but are we capable of managing it? This question was raised during the Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Wednesday when the head of ministerial delegation…
The Minister of Finance and Treasury Harry Kuma has launched the 2020 budget process on Monday. At the same time he called for wide-ranging support from development partners, the private sector, NGOs and ordinary people to support the Government in this endeavor. This is the first National Budget since the formation of the Democratic Coalition…
* Officer jailed for bribery* Police questioned on delay of case* Submission on armed robbery case Officer jailed for bribery THE on-suspension police officer, who accepted a $200 bribe from bus driver and his conductor back in 2015, has been sentenced to six months imprisonment. Nelson Isogeto was convicted of one count of accepting bribe after…
ESTABLISHING diplomatic relations with China may lead to a boost in the local economy, Communication and Aviation minister Peter Shanel Agovaka claims. Agovaka, who led a controversial ministerial delegation to China recently, appeared before the Foreign Relations Committee (FRC) inquiry yesterday. The FRC is inquiring into why Solomon Islands should severe its diplomatic ties with…
THE visiting 28 youth ambassadors from Taiwan yesterday paid a brief visit to Parliament and the Speaker of Parliament Patteson John Oti. The visiting ambassadors are in Solomon Islands from the 1st September to 5th September to engage in youth exchange programs on the theme; ‘Youth Diplomacy Brings Taiwan to you.’ The youths consisted of…
A CONCERNED man from Malaita is calling on the Police Commissioner Mathew Varley to act immediately and investigate allegations concerning his officers in Auki, Malaita province. The man who wants his name withheld for personal reasons said its sad to learn about the illegal actions of some police officers in Auki. He said the…
SOLOMON Water Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ian Gooden has refuted recent statements published on Island Sun on “Minister Tovosia accused of ‘misinforming’ parliament on water situation in Honiara” by Alfred Sasako 3 September 2019 as – misleading. Gooden said he was disappointed that his personal correspondences with Frank Short was somehow obtained, selectively edited and…
CHAIRMAN of the Parliamentary Standing Foreign Relations Committee (FRC) Peter Kenilorea Jnr says attempt to tarnish his credentials on international matters and understanding of our government processes by the Prime Minister is but “cheap politics”. He was responding to a statement authored by a disgruntled officer from Prime Minister Office on behalf of the Prime…
INQUIRY STARTS TODAY By ANDREW FANASIA HEAD of the bi-partisan taskforce John Moffat Fugui will be among the first to appear before the Parliamentary Foreign Relations Committee (PFRC) this morning. Chaired by Peter Kenilorea Jnr., the PFRC will inquire into whether the country should severe its existing diplomatic ties Taiwan. Fugui, who is also the MP for…