Veke announces executive line-up

NEWLY elected Guadalcanal Premier Anthony Veke has announced his new executive. The announcement of the new line-up was made after consultations which resulted in the allocation of portfolios. Mr Veke says his new government will focus and implement reforms that will improve effectiveness and the efficiency of administration and service delivery to people of the…

Lower growth for Pacific economies

Pacific economies will grow by an average 3.8 per cent this year; down from 7 per cent last year, mainly because of pressures faced by Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Fiji — the region’s largest economies. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) notes Pacific economies face lower growth and tighter fiscal conditions this year because of…

Pacific Island ministers in Nelson

NELSON, (VOXY) —Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT) is to host a delegation of Pacific island fisheries ministers and agency representatives next week (April 14). Ministers from at least a dozen nations will spend the day in Nelson. Participants have been invited from the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru,…

Tongan lines crew to assist Fiji recovery

NUKU’ALOFA, (MATANGI TONGA) —-A Tongan line mechanic group will be deployed in Fiji to assist with the efforts to repair the damage to the Electricity Distribution Network caused by Tropical Cyclone Winston. The group consists of six qualified and experienced line mechanics personnel from Tonga Power Limited, led by line supervisor Metuisela Afu. The first…

Heavy rain threatens tailings facility

Gold dam scare THE controlled de-watering of Gold Ridge tailings dam in central Guadalcanal is reportedly gone out of control due to heavy rain in the area. Downstream villagers have lodged complaints to health authorities in the past week about the safety of the water that was released into their streams. This had prompted teams…

Container trucks and safety

COMPANIES that are involved in transporting containers on our public roads have ensured they abide by the safety rule. This is despite the risk these vehicles posed to the public and the traffic. Most companies said, they ensure that containers don’t fall off from the back of the trailer while on the road is their…

Rav4 dumped into river

A Rav4 vehicle was pushed down the steep banks of Lungga River on Tuesday and disappeared into the flooded water, much to the amazement of the public. The incident occurred at around 11am. The vehicle owner was understood to be under the influence of alcohol at that time. Eye-witnesses told the Solomon Star, the man…

Malaita projects in limbo

Investors, development partners show lack of interest MOST of the proposed national projects earmarked by the government for Malaita province may soon be canceled due to lack of interest by investors. This was revealed by the Provincial Minister for Development Planning of Malaita Provincial Government Glen Waneta. He was speaking to a small group of…

New Ports fee soon

LOCAL ship operators will soon have to pay between $15,000 to $30, 000 per year under a new ports fee imposed by the Solomon Islands Ports Authority (SIPA) as of this month under its reform, it was claimed. This fee known as the ‘Ports Registration Fee’ is being charged per vessel per year based on…