Bailey bridge opens today

THE Mataniko bailey bridge will open today for public use after constructors completed the temporary bridge yesterday. New Zealand funded the bridge after the old bridge was destroyed in the April 3 flash flooding in Honiara. Acting Development Counsellor of the New Zealand High Commission in Honiara Barbara Williams and First Secretary Development Luke Kiddle…

Importance of Archives highlighted

THIS year’s International Archives day theme unfolds the very existence of an archive to national development and the role we play as public servants. National Archives of Solomon islands director Julian Chonigolo emphasised this at archives day marked at the National Museum’s auditorium hall yesterday. The theme was ‘Good Records, Good Archives and Good Governance.  …

Police arrest ‘wanted man’

A MAN who evaded police on several occasions after he fraudulently obtained money from several foreigners has been arrested at his home village last weekend. Michael Bosa from Luluga village on Central Guadalcanal is now in police custody. Police alleged Bosa was heavily involved in the local gold buying business where several foreigners were involved.…

Archives handbook launched

THE Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism John Wasi has launched the National Archives Solomon Islands Records Management Handbook yesterday. The launch coincides with the International Archives Day celebrations in Honiara. The handbook was presented to the permanent secretary and NASI director Julian Chonigolo by Cathrine Green from Australian Volunteer International. About 150 copies…

24 cases of leprosy confirmed here

SAVE the Children in Solomon Islands says there’s an outbreak of leprosy affecting 24 people living in displaced people’s centres in Honiara. The head of logistics and emergency, Graeme Kenna, says no one has died from leprosy but the situation is stretching the health services in Solomon Islands as the country struggles to recover from…

Keenan hails RAMSI’s 10-year support

AUSTRALIA’S Minister for Justice Michael Keenan has praised the enduring support of RAMSI and Australia to the Solomon Islands’ Law and Justice sector over the past 10 years. The acknowledgement was made on the Justice Minister’s arrival in Honiara yesterday. Australia has worked closely with the national government to strengthen its justice institutions since 2003,…

Gov’t lifts ban on Gold Ridge expat workers

GOVERNMENT has lifted the immigration ban it imposed on Gold Ridge Mining Limited (GRML) expatriate workers, allowing the first 10 to return last week. Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo initiated the ban after GRML closed its Gold Ridge operation in central Guadalcanal in the wake of the April 3 flash flood and sent all its…

Haununu: SIEC is functioning effectively

THE Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC) says it is functioning effectively and has rejected claims that ‘the country does not have an Electoral Commission’. In yesterday’s Island Sun newspaper, freelance writer Alfred Sasako claimed that the timetable for the National Election is in doubt because there are ‘no Commissioners appointed’. A claim the SIEC has…

People challenged to take pride in nation

SOLOMON Islands Visitors Bureau (SIVB) has challenged the country’s population to show pride in their nation by keeping the Solomon Islands clean. The SIVB’s new ‘Green Team’, led by marketing manager Freda Unusi, started the nationwide drive recently by cleaning a badly blocked drain at the side of the SIVB headquarters, which had been left…