Corruption taints us with bad image

Revelations of corrupt practices, especially in the growing mining sector, is an odour colour to the country’s image, according to research findings by Dr Graham Baines. Baines has been in the Solomon Islands since 1981 and is currently a research fellow in the school of social science at the University of Queensland. In his discussion…

Politics as propaganda

……Malaita projects described as propaganda THE PARLIAMENTARY Opposition group has described the major development projects in Malaita earmarked by the Democratic Coalition for Change (DCC) government as mere propaganda. Leader of Opposition and Member of Parliament (MP) for Hograno/Kia/Havulei constituency, Jeremiah Manele said, this in a press conference with the local media on Sunday. “The…

Communities undergo RDP training

ABOUT 40 communities around Guadalcanal province have ended their sub-project implementation committee (SIC) training over the weekend. The training was organized by Rural Development Program (RDP) for committees from the affected communities around the province. It was held at the Solomon Islands Development Trust (SIDT) conference building. David Luza from the Guadalcanal provincial support unit…

‘Taskforce must be independent’

A West Rennell landowner has called on the Renbel provincial government to recheck their formed task-force and ensure that its members are free of bribery, independent and non-affiliated to any logging or mining companies. Speaking to the Solomon Star news last Sunday Rex Soaika stressed that the role played by the task force is highly…

Leaders meet McCully

NEW Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully has met with the Leader of Opposition Jeremiah Manele and Independent Leader Manasseh Maelanga last Friday. When receiving Minister McCully and his delegation at Parliament, both leaders acknowledged the New Zealand Foreign Minister’s visit and to include them in the Minister’s schedule. The Leader of Opposition Mr Manele…

NZ delegation visits eye centre

A NEW Zealand high level delegation led by Therese Walsh, Peter Kiely and Gill Greer, advisers to the New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs visited the new Regional Eye Centre (REC) on Friday. Walsh, Kiely and Greer are members of the International Development Advisory and Selection Panel (IDASP), an independent group that provides advice to…

New mechanic school opens in Auki

The Auki Academic Community School (AACS) was officially opened on Thursday at Kwaibala riverside in Auki Malaita province. The newly opened school will focus on training mechanics. The school’s motto is: “Learning Our Ways Forward.” Speaking during the official opening school director John Ulasi said, Auki community and the township have been without such a…

Treasures of the South Pacific workshop

Suva, FIJI (SPTO): The South Pacific Specialist Programme, the online training programme for travel agents, will be the focus of a two-day ‘Treasures of the South Pacific’ Australian workshop that will promote the programme to retail  travel agencies and tour wholesalers. The South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) will participate in a regional tourism seminar in…

Cook Is axes departure cards

RAROTONGA, (COOK ISLANDS NEWS) – People departing the Cook Islands no longer have to complete a departure form at the airport. Prime Minister, Minister for Tourism and Minister for Immigration, Henry Puna, said he had been approached in recent months by representatives of the tourism industry to review the process of requiring international passengers leaving…