Accused await ruling

FOUR men who allegedly helped a life time prisoner escape police arrest in Guadalcanal in 2013 are still waiting for the outcome of their case. The ruling will be handed down shortly after the closing submissions which are yet to be made in court. The trial in this case has been completed recently in the…

Duo found guilty of stealing public funds

THE forgery case involving the cashing of a government cheque of more than $50,000 is back in court and almost in its finally stage of sentencing. The sentencing submissions will be made in court before Justice Leonard Maina on June 27. This followed the long awaited ruling which had just been delivered on May 23,…

Sentencing submission for rapist

SENTENCING submissions on the case of the man who raped a disabled girl at Rannogga Island in Western Province will be made in the High Court, today. The accused, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the now 21-year-old girl, has been found guilty of two counts of rape after a trial in…

Principal threatens to sue his teachers

EMBATTLED principal of Mbokonavera Shool in Honiara has threatened to sue his staff who are staging a sit-in protest for his removal. Saniel Kako issued the threat yesterday as the sit-in protest entered its third day yesterday while the school remained closed. “I cannot comment on the actions of the teachers, rather I will be…

Victims given June 21 to leave camp

FLOOD victims at FOPA village have been given until June 21 to vacate the centre. Chairman of the victims committee confirmed this to the Solomon Star yesterday. Charles Ketea said the authorities have given them until June 21 to leave the camp since the budget to support them has already been exhausted. But Mr Ketea…

WASI: Cultural development crucial here

THE Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism John Wasi has called on all stakeholders to seriously consider cultural development in Solomon Islands. Mr Wasi made the call yesterday as Solomon Islands prepare to send its cultural practitioners to participate in the 5th Melanesian Festival of Arts and Culture in Papua New Guinea…

ISIA relocates office

THE Institute of Solomon Islands [ISIA] has relocated its office into the Heritage Park Commercial Building. The move has been made possible through the support of Deloitte Solomon Islands, which has provided a workspace, furniture and access to office equipment for ISIA’s Secretariat headed up by Rosilyn Hiku, Administration and Finance Officer. ISIA President Smiley…

Isle De Fashion dresses contingent

THE Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MCT) has thanked local business Fashion De Hapi Isles for supplying the official outfit for the country’s contingent to the 5th Melanesian Festival in Papua New Guinea (PNG). The festival will kick off June 28th in Port Moresby and will run for two weeks ending on July 11. About…

Customs take one step ahead

Customs and Excise Division is taking a step forward in realising the ‘aviation project’ co- initiated by Brisbane based company Torn Parachute and local tourism training company Solomon Host. The aviation project involves displaying of important messages vital for travellers via plasma screens at the arrival and departure lounges of the international terminal. The project…

Electricity crucial for rural development

ABOUT seven million of the Pacific region’s ten million people still do not have access to electricity. Rural Melanesia in particular faces the exceptional challenge of achieving universal electricity access in an area where the cost of electricity and petroleum are among the highest in the world, averaging around 20% of total household income. This…