No leprosy outbreak here

SINCE January this year there have been 24 notified cases of leprosy in Solomon Islands as part of the routine surveillance of the disease in the country. The Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) confirmed that the new cases were not a result of the April floods and refutes the allegations of the occurrence…

More pending court orders on land

UP to 19 court orders relating to land evictions are before the High Court ready for execution. That’s according to High Court Sheriff Richard Muaki. He said land is becoming a major issue in the country and that it is good that people understand the processes involve so they do not get themselves into confusion.…

Plans to review city laws

HONIARA city council is currently making plans to review its city law. City clerk Charles Kelly told this paper that there is urgency for a review of the current city act and council ordinances which have been long overdue. “It has come to a time that the city act and council ordinance must be reviewed…

Raramo clarifies group’s position on Evita Solomon

FORUM Solomon Islands International (FSII) has dismissed accusations by veteran journalist and former MP Alfred Sasako that FSII is chasing away potential investors. The group was responding to Mr Sasako’s private column in the Solomon Star and Island Sun newspapers yesterday. The statement said Sasako’s claim that FSII members led by its Chief Executive Officer,…

Calls to re-open Kilu’ufi unit

CALLS have again been made for the swift re-opening of the Kilu’ufi Psychiatric Unit in Malaita. This was after concerns over the ill-fated and aggressive behavior of some the Unit’s former patients, mostly roaming the streets of Auki town, and also in communities surrounding the provincial capital. Over the past months, Auki police have attended…

Man survives knife attack

AN elderly man is in critical condition after he was slashed by his son with a knife at Fiu riverside, Malaita, over the weekend. Police reports revealed that the suspect, one of the man’s young sons who is believed to have been mentally affected from drug, is currently being held in custody awaiting full medical…

Auki faces shipping problem

AUKI, the capital of Malaita province, is currently facing a lack of efficient shipping services to and from Honiara. With the current daily shipping services providers, 360 Discovery and Express Pelican under maintenance, people are finding it difficult to travel to and from Honiara. Such also stirs up the problem of overloading of marine vessels…

Seized tobacco still with Customs

CUSTOMS and Excise say they are still waiting on the Ministry of Health and the Attorney General’s office for advice on what to do with a consignment of imported tobacco seized in 2012. Comptroller of Customs Nathan Kama confirmed the products are still lying in the Queens warehouse at Point Cruz. Mr Kama said they…

Fijian likely to be next police chief

THE country’s next police commissioner is likely to be a Fijian, according to well-placed sources. A Fijian was amongst the four shortlisted candidates interviewed for the top job. The others are two locals and an Australian. One source close to the Police and Correctional Service Commission said the Fijian candidate was endorsed for the job.…

Afuga: We are not anti-investment

FORUM Solomon Islands International (FSII) said it is not anti-investment but pro-investment and fully supports and encourage investments for the development of the country. FSII said part of its pro-active action is to advocate about right development and warn resource owners about the advantages and disadvantages of development. “Our resource owners must be vigilant and…