C’Wealth observers still in provinces

OBSERVERS from the Commonwealth are still in different provinces observing the counting phase of the elections. The Media Adviser to the Commonwealth Observer Group, Julius Mucunguzi said that the teams spent much of yesterday, following the counting processes in locations in Central, Malaita, Western, Santa Isabel and Guadalcanal. “Vote counting is an important component of…

Cartons of beer seized

Kirakira Police officers have confiscated 11 cartons of beer and a bucket of homebrew from Ulawa Island during the polling day. The confiscated beers were transported along with the ballot boxes to Kirakira by boat yesterday. Information from the Kirakira Police said, “Our officers on the field have confiscated 11 cartons of beer from Ulawa…

Tausinga bows out

After 30 years, voters showed veteran politician the exit door THE nation’s longest serving politician Job Duddley Tausinga has finally lost the North New Georgia Constituency – a seat he held for three decades. He becomes the first major casualty in Wednesday’s polls – going down to a little-known John Dean Kuku, who contested as…

Delayed counting for Renbel

RENBEL Constituency will proceed with its counting this morning. The delay was to allow ballot boxes from Bellona to be transported to Tingoa, Renbel Provincial capital where counting will kick off today. Returning Officer (RO) Rueben Ngiumoana told the Solomon Star from Tingoa station yesterday that ballot boxes from all polling stations around Rennell Island…

Manetiva hails trouble-free election

The Caretaker Premier of Central Island Province has thanked all the registered voters of Gela and Savo/Russell Constituencies for the successful polling day on Wednesday. In an interview with the paper yesterday, Mr Manetiva who observed the election said people have behaved well. “I have gathered reports from these two constituencies and their polling stations…

FSII calls for respect to election results

LOSING candidates in Wednesday’s polls are encouraged to work hard, instead of being discouraged. Forum Solomon Islands International (FSII) made the reminder yesterday. A total of 447 candidates contested the November 19 election as party and independent candidates for the 50 constituency parliamentary seats. FSII Chief Executive Officer Benjamin Afuga said now that the electoral…

Lilo denies reports he is critically ill

CARETAKER Prime Minister, Gordon Darcy Lilo has denied reports circulating both in Honiara and in the Western Province of him being ill and in critical condition. Reports had it that Mr Lilo had suffered from a mild stroke whilst on his campaign trail the past week and was in critical condition at the Gizo hospital…

Church leader calls for sensitivity

CHURCH leaders from around the country have called on the general public to demonstrate sensitivity ahead of the declaration of election results, Thursday. Some results have already been declared yesterday, whilst others are expected in today. Leading the appeal to the public, Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Melanesia, The Most Reverend David Vunagi called…

Counting in Choiseul today

Counting of all the ballot papers for the three Constituencies in Choiseul Province will kicked off 9am this morning in Taro. This was confirmed by Choiseul Province Election Manager Jeffery Pakipota. He said the delay was due to transportation of the ballot papers from the various polling stations around the province by outboard motor (OBM).…