African giant snails invading Guadalcanal

The invasive giant African snail has invaded a huge area in Guadalcanal from Aruligo in the west to Ruavatu in the east. That was according to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) Jimmy Saelea. He was speaking before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) hearing of the Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2016…

SINU graduates query certificates

Students who graduated from Solomon Islands National University (SINU) urged the university to finalise their certificates so that they can collect them. On graduation day, the students were issued certificates that did not carry the signature of the chairman of SINU council Dr Culwich Togamae. Those familiar with the processes said the Vice Chancellor, Dr…

Coral Triangle Day June 9

Coral Triangle Day will be celebrated on June 9 this year. The Regional Secretariat of Coral Triangle Initiative together with its six member countries are organising the event, with the theme  “Save Coral Triangle – Stop Plastic Pollution”. Solomon Islands is a member of the Coral Triangle Initiative. The theme aims at generating awareness and…

Bribery claim denied

A land acquisition officer has dismissed claims AU Capital Mining Limited bribed landowners in Temotu to acquire its prospecting licence to seek minerals on their land. AU Capital Mining, an Australia company, held two tenements under its prospecting licence – one Temotu and another in Choiseul. Recently Iron Mountain Mining, a different company, obtained shares…

No pay

Gov’t, UNDP deny paying former special constables A big number of former special constables are in Honiara to collect payments they claimed the government had promised them. A spokesman said they are to be paid on May 26, with each person expecting to receive $300,000. He claimed the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) provided funds,…

Malaita premier to lead trip to Fiji

MALAITA Premier Peter Ramohia will lead a 22-man delegation on a one-week education tour to Fiji onTuesday to visit the Native Land Trust Board, Native Land Commission and Land Registration Office. Mr Ramohia will be accompanied by Deputy Director of Malaita Peace and Reconciliation office, Francis Kairi, six provincial members, 13 chiefs representing every language…

Rescued PNG nationals to returned home

THE 14 Papua New Guinea nationals who drifted for six weeks at sea returned to Port Moresby last Saturday. The PNG High Commission office in Honiara confirmed. The Solomon Star understood High Commissioner Fred Yakasa had hosted a reception last Friday to farewell his country’s citizens. Mr Yakasa earlier said his office met the airfares…

SI forge bond with Langley

The Solomon Islands is planning to re-locate its consulate to Langley, the first diplomatic post to be established in the Township. Last Monday, Premier Anthony Veke of the Solomons’ Guadalcanal Province visited with Langley RCMP officers. The local police have established a relationship over the past several years with Ashwant Dwivedi, head of the Solomons…