Sae to face high court

MURDER accused Edmond Sae has been committed to stand trial at the High Court, yesterday. This followed a short form preliminary inquiry conducted into his case at the Rove prison before Principal Magistrate Augustine Aulanga. Sae faces charges of escaping from police custody, two counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, and two counts…

Gwaunaru’u set to reopen

The Gwaunaru’u Airport near Auki, Malaita, will reopen in the next two weeks following successful negotiations between the national government and representatives of the tribal groups claiming ownership over the airport site. The Commissioner of Lands, Nelson Naoapu, Permanent Secretary for Lands, Housing and Survey, Stanley Wale, and Permanent Secretary for Aviation and Communication, Moses…

Giant snails now in Afio

Residents of Afio station in Small Malaita are calling on responsible authorities to quickly address the presence of the African giant snails in the area. Crossen Wate told the Solomon Star that the bio agriculture officer there confirmed that theyfound few the snailscrawling around heavy-duty machineries recently brought to the station. Wate said the snails…

Bill protects whistleblowers

People wishing to remain anonymous while giving information to the media are covered under the Whistleblowers Protection bill 2016. Director of Public Prosecution, Ronald Talasasa stated this when asked by MP for Maringe Kokota, Dr Culwick Togamana, during the Bills and Legislative Committee hearing in Parliament last week. Talasasa said clause 8 of the bill…

Prendergast welcomes Anti-Corruption Bill

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Gov’t to fight beetle pest

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock is taking steps to curb the increasing presence of rhinoceros beetles in the country using biological control. Permanent Secretary Jim Saelea said they are considering this with other alternatives. He said at the moment they are doing a thorough surveillance nationwide to know where actually rhinoceros beetles have spread.…

Taloikwai, a humble person, says Sikua

GABRIEL Taloikwai, 65, who died last week on Wednesday night at National Referral Hospital in Honiara was described as a friendliest, most comprehensive and humble person. Former Prime Minister and Member of Parliament for North West Guadalcanal, Dr Derek Sikua mentioned this in his eulogy on the life of late Taloikwai at Holy Cross cathedral…

Australia volunteers here to serve

THE Australian High Commission has welcomed 10 new Australian volunteers to Solomon Islands who will use their skills and expertise to develop host organisations across the country. The volunteers, funded by the Australian Government through the Australian Volunteers for International Development program, will work in the areas of health, water resources, sports, finance, business, education…

FSII hails ruling

FORUM Solomon Islands International (FSII) has welcomed the High Court decision handed down by Chief Justice Sir Albert Palmer on Tuesday 19th April. Justice Palmer in his 17-page decision ruled that the MPs benefits set out in the [“the 2015 regulations”] awarded by the MPEC which came into force with effect from 1st April 2015…

Why homes were burned

THE burning of homes at Windy Ridge, central Guadalcanal, last Sunday, was retaliation to an earlier attack by youths from the area. Taxi driver Patkin Rere from Malango said youths from Windy Ridge attacked his car early Sunday when returning from Honiara to his village. “They’ve actually set up a road block near their settlement,”…