UN releases $13.1m for flood relief work

THE United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has released US$1.8 million (SBD 13.1 million) to provide critical humanitarian support to flood-affected people in the Solomon Islands. The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) will use the funds to deliver life-saving activities, including health, nutrition, immunization, reproductive…

Taiwanese doc ends assignment here

A TAIWANESE doctor has completed his one-week volunteer service at the National Referral Hospital in Honiara and Good Samaritan Hospital, Guadalcanal plains. Dr John Wei-Chung Lai had worked at Melbourne Hospital for five years. In the wake of cyclone Ita striking Honiara, more than 10,000 people were affected. Due to poor sanitation and flood influence,…

Titiru: Your new lodge down West

A NEW eco-lodge for the adventurous traveller has just opened its doors on Rendova Island in Western Province. Called Titiru Eco Lodge, it was located northwest on Rendova island, about 40 minutes’ drive from Munda airport. Titiru is surrounded by untouched marine life with beautiful landscape at its background. The facility has self-contain bungalows furnished…

Guale gets automated weather station

THE installation of an automated weather station and rain gauge in the villages of Avuavu and Marau Sound in the Guadalcanal Province will assist in gathering more accurate data on the unpredictable weather patterns in the provinces. The installations were the first under the “Strogem Woaka Lo Community Fo Kaikai (SWoCK)” project. A total of…

Air Nuigini to re-open Honiara office

AIR Niugini’s sales office in Honiara, Solomon Islands, will be re-opened on Monday to look after interest of customers in the region, chief executive Simon Foo said. He said: “It is important to have an office to take care of Air Niugini customers because this will expand our market and further strengthen our presence in…

Our two legal seed dealers

ONLY two companies have been recommended by the ministry of agriculture and livestock (MALS) through quarantine division that have legal import permit licences to import vegetables seed into the country. They are Island Enterprise and Solfish company.  Quarantine chief officer Max Kolubalona in an interview yesterday confirmed that these two companies are the only recommended…

Quarantine confiscates seeds

Officers from the quarantine department within the ministry of agriculture and livestock have confiscated seeds from a number of shops in Honiara which have been sold without any approve permit license. Chief quarantine officer Max Kolubalona said during an inspection shops located at China Town, Kukum and Ranadi east of Honiara have been found to…

Ngasini wharf construction starts

Work has begun to upgrade and rehabilitate Ngasini Wharf on Vangunu Island in Western Province. The wharf is one of four wharves and a landing ramp to be improved under the second phase of the Domestic Maritime Support Project, which is financed by the Solomon Islands Government, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Australian Government,…

Westpac’s 17th In-store Banking in Yandina

Communities in and around Banika ward, Yandina, Central  province can now access secure, convenient, effective, efficient, banking services, through Westpac’s new In-store Banking outlet which opened last Thursday at the Te-mite store. In thanking Westpac for the partnership, owner of Te-mite store, Mr Gregory Riahi conveyed to the gathering of civil servants, school teachers and…

Alota’a school acknowledges tools

ALOTA’A community high school near Auki has acknowledged Australia and New Zealand Government for the provision of the agricultural tools equipment which was supplied to the school. School principal Andrew Eteri and agriculture teacher Freda Ruka were pleased with the materials. Ms Ruka said the school is one of the community high schools in Auki…