Court yet to determine murder inquiry

CONFIRMATION on the type of a committal hearing to be conducted into a murder case at Kolombangara, Western Province, last year will be made soon in court. This was after the long form preliminary inquiry set for yesterday did not take place. The court heard the reason for this was that some of the accused…

Pacific reporters challenged

MEDIA have an important role to play as a watch dog to uphold good governance by reporting on corrupt practices in the region. Samoan Observer Editor Keni Lesa was speaking to the regional participants of the business/economic reporting training yesterday at the National University of Samoa in Apia. He said a strong media working is…

Two died of diarrhoea in Isabel

ISABEL has recorded two deaths this week that were related to the diarrhoea outbreak. Two children died Wednesday at clinics around provincial capital Buala. A senior nurse at Buala Hospital Ambrose Kikolo confirmed this tot eh Solomon Star yesterday. He said the two children were affected by diarrhoea. Mr Kikolo said other patients brought to…

Flood victims threaten revenge

FLOOD victims reportedly issued threats against disaster management staff as tension mounts over the plan to close evacuation centres this weekend. Emergency authorities are running out of funds and are encouraging 1,500 people still living at the FOPA village to return to their home provinces. FOPA was the only remaining centre after others, set up…

NZ happy to see bridge opens

NEW Zealand High Commissioner Marion Crawshaw says her government was pleased to see the Mataniko bridge destroyed by the April 3 flash flood, restored. The New Zealand-funded bailey bridge opened for traffic yesterday – restoring a vital Honiara transport link. The new bridge was installed by Downer New Zealand Limited, with support from local firm…

Kokonut Pacific donates soaps

KOKONUT Pacific Solomon Islands is assisting the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) and health development partner organisations to prevent the spread of a deadly diarrhea outbreak that has so far claimed at least 18 lives. Last week Kokonut Pacific donated a box of local hand-made soaps to the Health Promotion Division of MHMS…

Resources owners told to be vigilant

FORUM Solomon Islands International (FSII) has renewed calls on resource owners not to rush into signing agreements without knowing and understanding their contents. FSII President Redley Raramo echoed this warning early this year. Mr Raramo said while it cannot be denied that the country needs more tangible development to prop up its economy, resource owners…

Aust donates further $2m for flood efforts

THE Australian Government is providing a further $2 million to help the country rebuild key infrastructure following the devastating floods that hit Honiara in April this year. The funding comes on top of the Australian Government’s $3 million emergency flood assistance package to provide immediate humanitarian relief to the people affected by the disaster. The…

Come and see a pig with big dreams!

Australian High Commissioner Andrew Byrne has announced that week two of the “G’Day Solomon Islands Film Festival” will feature one of Australia’s most popular movies, “Babe.” “Babe is a wonderful movie about a pig on an Australian farm, who wants to be a sheepdog!” said Mr Byrne. “Babe is one of Australia’s most successful films.…

Pacific nations look to increase tuna fishing fees

PACIFIC island nations announced plans Thursday to dramatically increase the fees they charge tuna fishing boats for the right to enter their waters, saying it will boost revenue and help conservation efforts. Around half the world’s skipjack tuna, the most commonly canned variety, is caught in waters belonging to an eight-nation group known as the…