Life skills training at RTC gets support

A program to boost life skill trainings in seven Rural Training Centres (RTC) in the country was launched in Honiara on Friday at the Holy Cross compound. The program dubbed Strengthening Technical and Agriculture Rural Training in Solomon Islands (START) will be implemented by Caritas New Zealand (NZ) and the Solomon Islands Association of Vocational…

Candidates set to launch campaigns this week

A HOST of intending candidates to contest next month’s National General Elections are set to launch their election campaigns this week. According to reports reaching this paper, both Independent candidates and those affiliated with various political parties will likely launch their election campaigns in Honiara this week. This was following the opening of nominations last…

Fanega’s removal

PERMANENT Secretary (PS) of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury has been surprisingly removed for delaying Members of Parliament’s (MP) $400,000 terminal grant it was disclosed. Information reaching the paper said Shadrack Fanega was removed from being the PS of Finance and Treasury and replaced by Fred Fakari’i who used to look after the Ministry…

Govt gets tough on funds

GOVERNMENT through the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MCT) is taking a tough stand on how it dishes out the tourism funds as of next year. Director of Tourism within the Ministry Barney Sivoro in an exclusive interview with the Solomon Star yesterday said as of 2015 tourism operators who wish to apply for the…

Susubona wharf upgraded

Work has begun to upgrade and rehabilitate Susubona wharf on the southern shore of Santa Isabel. The Government of New Zealand is providing additional finance to upgrade the wharf which will involve the demolition of the existing wharf head and causeway and the construction of a new reinforced concrete wharf head-raised to minimize erosion caused…

SPO opens new depot in Noro

South Pacific Oil (SPO) has established a new fuel depot on Noro, Western province. The official launching of the new facility was held on Friday. Acting Premier of the Western Provincial government, Wyne Maepio officiated the launching. This is the second depot to be built in Noro. Over the years only Markwarth has fuel terminal…

Visitor arrivals to Fiji up

Fiji Times – Visitor arrivals in Fiji for August this year totalled 69,632, an increase of 5 per cent compared with the corresponding month last year. “There were increases in the number of visitors from NZ (2225 or 15.6 per cent to 16,480), the US (676 or 13.6 per cent to 5642), Australia (408 or…

PNG Chancery to open next year

Papua New Guinea (PNG) Government through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in Port Moresby says the PNG High Commission Chancery building in Honiara, is likely to open next year. The new complex is currently under construction at the Townground area, West Honiara. According to reports from the MFA, the chancery construction was initially awarded…