New ports charges gazetted

The Minister of Finance and Treasury, Snyder Rini has approved new levy of rates and dues for the Solomon Islands Ports Authority (SIPA). The new levy of rates and dues applies for the Honiara Port and that of the Noro Port in the Western Province and became into force on March 30th, 2015, the date…

Judiciary wants control over finance

Chief Justice Sir Albert Palmer has reiterated that Judiciary as a fundamental body of the government, playing a vital role in the country must have its finances handled by the ministry itself, rather than Ministry of Finance & Treasury (MoFT). Sir Albert highlighted this in his recent appearance before the Members of Parliament (MPs), as…

Maneke, Pacha take oath

Two Government Ministers on Monday took their oath of Office at Government House following a minor reshuffle. Governor General Sir Frank Kabui administered the oaths at a brief ceremony attended by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, senior Cabinet Ministers and officials. The two Ministers are the South Guadalcanal MP, David Day Pachawho took over as the…

Judiciary setback

Financial constraints compromise the work of judiciary Chief Justice Sir Albert Palmer says delivery of justice in the country is being compromised by financial constraints. He revealed this during the induction program conducted for Members of Parliament (MPs) last week. Speaking before the MPs Sir Albert admitted that the major obstacle to progress the work…

Government grants bauxite export

The Government has announced that Cabinet has approved a limited shipment of stockpiled bauxite from the Rennell mine, operated by PT Mega Bingtang Borneo Company. The decision was made late last week. A statement issued by the Office of the Prime Minister yesterday said, Cabinet has considered the pros and cons surrounding the consignment, concluding…

Culture a unique tourism product, says minister

The Minister for Culture and Tourism Bartholomew Parapolo says the country’s diverse and unique cultures are an important product as a tourist attraction that must be harnessed in the country’s development agenda. Speaking at the official launch of the Government’s new National Tourism Development Strategy Friday, Parapolo said culture is an important fabric of Solomon…

Survey finds many have high stress, trauma level

Most people in Malaita lived stressful and traumatic lives, a survey has found. The High Level Stress and Trauma Self-Assessment Survey was carried out by the Commission on Justice, Reconciliation and Peace of the Anglican Church of Melanesia in Malaita. It focused on the problems that affect the physical, mental, behavioural, emotional and spirituality of…

SINU plans to reclaim malaria lab building

Solomon Islands National University (SINU) intends to reclaim and renovate the run-down and disused Solomon Islands Malaria Training and Research Institute building at Kukum. The building, once of the prides of Honiara, was built by the Japanese Government. It has since been abandoned due to its debilitating condition. SINU’s vice chancellor Dr Glynn Galo said:…

Top UN official visiting here

Appointed Special Representative of the United Nation’s General Secretary on Violence Against Children (SRSG), Marta Santo Pais will be visiting the country this week. She will be here for two days from Wednesday 20 to Friday 22. The purpose of her visit is to advocate and support the national government and its partners to achieve…

Call to maintain FOPA

A local tourism operator has urged responsible authorities to maintain the Festival of Pacific Arts (FOPA) village in east Honiara. The government built the village, which costs millions of dollars, as the central venue for the festival of arts, which the country hosted in 2012. After the festival ended, the venue of the village was…