A Commission of Inquiry (COI) will be established to investigate the unpaid $8.6 million in royalties from 33 bauxite shipments extracted in West Rennell between November 2017 and January 2019. The company at the center of the issue, Asia Pacific Investment Development (APID) Limited, subcontracted Bintang Mining Solomon Islands (BMSI). The royalties were not paid…
THE trial of a 59-year-old man charged with the murder of a man whose body was found in a water well at Tulagi in 2022, has resumed in the High Court. Dickson Sina faces trial for one count of Murder before Deputy Chief Justice Rex Faukona. This is a re-trial, promoted by the death of…
SOLOMON Islands’ economy has experienced a growth of 2.7 percent in 2024. Minister of Finance and Treasury, Hon Harry Kuma (MP) confirmed this when speaking on the motion of Speech from the throne in Parliament on Monday. This growth rate represents a slight decrease from the 2.9 percent recorded in 2023, but remains well above…
POLITICAL instability have significantly hindered Solomon Islands’ development path since gaining independence in 1978. Minister of Finance and Treasury, Harry Kuma stated this during his contribution on the motion of Speech to the Throne in Parliament on Monday. Hon Kuma the nation has experienced political changes in seven out of twelve parliaments, resulting in approximately…
The cost of caring for a patient diagnosed with a Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) can range between $3,000 and $7,000 per week. This is posing a major burden on both the health system and affected families. Western Provincial Health and Medical Services (WPHMS) Director, Dr. Dickson Boara, confirmed this during an interview with the Solomon Star.…
The former Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Development (MID), Henry Murray has been rearrested and is now back at the Rove Correctional Facility to serve his 4-year imprisonment. Police officers from Taskforce Janus carried out the rearrest on Wednesday, 14th May. Mr. Murray was arrested in 2018 by police officers from…
Construction of a new treatment facility to ensure the country export locally grown sweet pineapples to overseas market will commence towards the end of this year. This came after the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) received its fumigation chamber, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) Franklyn Derek Wasi informed Parliament on Tuesday. He…
Leader of Opposition Hon. Matthew Wale has welcomed the announcement by the new Minister of Mines, Hon. Derek Manuari, to initiate a Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the 33 bauxite shipment saga. Minister Manuari announced the COI during a press conference earlier this week. Hon. Wale encouraged the new minister to leave no stone unturned…
In response to recent political developments, civil society organisations (CSO) and non-governmental organizations convened under the umbrella of the Development Services Exchange (DSE) for their monthly information-sharing session last week. The meeting focused on the implications of the motion of no confidence against Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele and its potential impact on governance, service delivery,…
THE election petition case against Member of Parliament (MP) for Shortlands, Junior Isikeli Vave, has been dismissed. Deputy Chief Justice Rex Faukona had yesterday dismissed the petition on Monday after ruling in favour of Vave. His lawyer Billy Titiulu confirmed late Monday that the petition was struck off all 18 allegations of bribery resulting in…