SPBD gives clients health check-ups

SOUTH Pacific Business Development Microfinance (SI) on Thursday conducted medical checkup for its west Guadalcanal clients for the first time. SPBD teamed up with the Ministry of Health to check its clients’ sugar level, diabetes and other diseases. Microfinance is a financial institution that offers small loans to women and those in communities to help…

Chinese mark New Year

PRESIDENT of United Democratic Party, Sir Thomas Chan hopes the Chinese New Year of the Goat will bring many good tidings and rich blessings to the Chinese community and their families. Sir Thomas made this remark when celebrating the event at Honiara Hotel on Thursday night. “I wish you strength, honour, and good judgement this…

SINTA issues ultimatum to gov’t

THE Government has until April 19 to attend to grievances of teachers. These grievances include housing allowance and leave passage. General secretary of Solomon Islands National Teachers Association (SINTA) Samson Faisi said they have given the government until April 19 to attend to the grievances. Failure, he said, will result in a nation-wide strike action.…

SINTA lauds new bill, but queries processes

THE Solomon Islands National Teachers Association (SINTA) has applauded the new Education Bill that will undergo nationwide consultation soon. A newly drafted Education Bill that will soon undergo further nationwide consultation is aimed at replacing the existing Education Act of 1978. Education minister Dr Derek Sikua announced the bill last week. SINTA’s general secretary Samson…

No allowance increase for students in Fiji

SOLOMON Islands government sponsored students studying in Fiji will not receive increase of allowances that has been reported in this paper earlier this year. A statement from Education Attache in Fiji Samantha Teitei said students will not receive an increase of their study allowance. “According to payments received from Honiara, only first year students will…

Oso: Gov’t took FSII report ‘seriously’

GOVERNMENT is taking a report Forum Solomon Islands International (FSII) submitted about the engagement of Solomon Airlines chief executive officer Captain Ron Sumsum, very “seriously”. The report, amongst others, is question the huge pay package Captain Sumsum is reportedly being paid. FSII handed the report to the Prime Minister’s Office last week, requesting that they…

Measles outbreak now under control

MEASLES cases have dramatically declined in the country after the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) administered 400,000 doses of measles-rubella (MR) vaccine in response to an earlier outbreak. From August to October 2014, between 300 and 600 new cases of measles were being reported each week, although the actual number of cases was…