14 YEARS FOR RAPE

Rapist told his actions are ‘cowardly’ A MAN who raped a disabled girl in her bedroom on two occasions was jailed for 14 years, yesterday. And Justice Stephen Pallaras told the accused, who cannot be named because he was closely related to the victim, that his actions were cowardly. “It is difficult to imagine more…

Dancing under the stars

THE G’Day Solomon Islands Film Festival continues today with another popular Australian movie, ‘Strictly Ballroom’. Deputy Australian High Commissioner, Dr Dave Peebles encouraged everyone, not just lovers of dance, to come along. “Strictly Ballroom is a spectacular Australian comedy filled with dancing, drama and just a little bit of romance” he said. “This film will…

SIEC reaches out to journalists

THE Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC) and the Media Association of Solomon Islands (MASI) will hold a workshop tomorrow, aimed at developing a Code of Conduct for journalists covering the National Elections. The first of its kind in Solomon Islands, the workshop will give journalists a chance to have their say on the new Code…

Pre-trial meet for defilement case

A YOUNG man who allegedly had sexual intercourse with an underage girl last year at her parent’s home is facing a pre-trial conference next. The case will return to court on July 2 where the next step in this case will be decided as to whether a principal magistrate will conduct the conference on that…

US cruise boat makes brief visit

A CRUISE boat from United States (US) made a brief stopover – spending half a day in Honiara yesterday. MV Paul Gauguin, a cruise line owned by Beachcomber Croisieres Limited, has its headquarters in Bellevue, Washington. Beachcomber Croisieres operates the luxury cruise ship the Paul Gauguin which operates to Tahiti, French Polynesia and the South…

Giant African snails now in Malaita

THE invasive African giant snails have found their way into Malaita and rapidly populating at provincial capital Auki. Malaita’s chief agriculture officer John Faleka confirmed to the Solomon Star the snails have been found in large numbers at Sikitae Marine Police headquarters in Auki. “They were found in machineries brought into Auki from Honiara over…

Onika criticised over promise to victims

LANDS minister Joseph Onika has come under sharp criticisms from the public over the promise he made to victims of the April 3 flash flooding in Honiara. Mr Onika had promised the victims that his ministry will relocate those who lost their homes to a site in east Honiara. But one senior citizen, who asked…

Su’u reunion event on July 5

A REUNION gathering for former teachers and students of Su’u National Secondary School in Malaita will again be held on July 5. The organising committee of Fossa Honiara have booked the Telekom Recreation Centre for the event. The event, according to the chairman of the organising committee Elton Osiagalo, will focus on bringing together former…

Tourism ministry supports clean-up campaign

Ministry of culture and tourism yesterday donated $50,000 towards Honiara City Council (HCC) for its clean-up campaign. Permanent secretary (PS) of the ministry John Wasi handed over the $50,000 cheque to Honiara City Lord Mayor Andrew Mua yesterday. Mr Wasi said though the money is small the ministry supports the HCC’s clean-up campaign that is…

HCC spends $5m on dumpsite

HONIARA City Council (HCC) is spending $ 5 million in upgrading and maintaining the rubbish dumpsite at Ranadi, East Honiara. Lord Mayor Andrew Mua highlighted this during the official handing over of $50,000 cheque by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MCT) to the council yesterday. He said each year the council normally spends $5m…