Rini on submarine cable

MINISTER of Finance and Treasury, Snyder Rini says the government is considering the costs and benefits of the planned new submarine cable project. According to Solomon Oceanic Cable Company (SOCC), the total cost, including financing cost, civil works, supporting studies, legal costs, project management costs and contingencies, is expected to be in the range of…

Byrne hails new graduates

TWENTY-NINE Solomon Islanders from the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and the private sector yesterday received internationally recognised Certificate IV qualifications in Civil Construction Supervision and Materials Testing. This is the first time these qualifications have been delivered in Solomon Islands. They are critical for strengthening the quality of repairs, upgrades and maintenance of roads, bridges…

Aust-SI ties strengthen through 32 scholars

Thirty-two students from Solomon Islands have been granted prestigious Australia Awards Scholarships to study at universities in Australia and the Pacific in 2016. Sixteen of the students will go to Australia, whilst another 16 will study at institutions in Fiji, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea, in fields including law, fisheries, commerce, health and engineering.  Australian…

REP staff ends gender training

RAPID Employment Project (REP) staff have completed a one-day Gender Equality workshop led by the World Bank Gender Consultant Kathy Cusack. The workshop, which was held on Wednesday, came as a second part following the first workshop held last April 1-2 this year. Honiara City Council City Clerk Charles Kelly in his opening remarks at…

PM: I’ve no interest in airport contracts

PRIME Minister Manasseh Sogavare has dismissed accusations he had vested interests in the contractual jobs at Henderson Airport. Former Aviation and Communication minister Commins Mewa claimed Mr Sogavare removed him from the ministry because of vested personal interest. But Mr Sogavare told the Solomon Star in an exclusive interview yesterday he has no vested interest…

New bishop for Santa Isabel

THE Anglican Church of Melanesia has a new bishop for the Diocese of Isabel. The Diocesan Electoral Board of the Anglican Church of Melanesia elected the Reverend Ellison Quity as the sixth bishop for the Diocese of Ysabel. The meeting, which was preceded by a retreat yesterday,took place at Tete Ni Kolivutu, East of Honiara.…

Leni says he’s the reappointed SIPA chair

CHAIRMAN of Solomon Islands Ports Authority (SIPA) board, Nollen Leni has defended his re-appointment. This came after insider sources claimed newly appointed Minister for Infrastructure Development, Jimmy Lusibaea plans to appoint new board members due to some allegation leveled against Leni. The former SIPA board under the leadership of Mr Leni had finished their term…

Govt told to control expenditure

  Opposition Leader Jeremiah Manele has cautioned the national government to control expenditure to keep its fiscal balances close to their budget target.   He made the statement when debating on the 2015 Supplementary Appropriation Bill in Parliament, Tuesday.   “It is obvious that the fiscal position of Solomon Islands generally has deteriorated due partly…