THE Leader of the Independent Group in Parliament, John Dean Kuku MP, yesterday joined the leader of Opposition in ridiculing the recent release of Additional PRC National Development Fund (NDF) funding to DCGA members of parliament. Mr Kuku had expressed concern that the release of NDF may be unconstitutional. He therefore called on the Democratic…
A DEVOTED father, a national hero and a legend to all is what Late Sir Moon Pin Literati Quan will be remembered for. These were the sentiments highlighted yesterday during a memorial service for Late Sir Quan held at Holy Cross Cathedral. The service was attended by Chief Justice Sir Albert Palmer and his wife,…
‘Sex-workers pose threat to the nation’ FREQUENT illegal visits by local sex-workers to foreign vessels that dock at the Honiara habour pose a big risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19 into the city. This was brought to light by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare on Monday in his nation-wide address as he warns sex-workers against visiting…
A FORM five student was one of the people sentenced on Thursday to 12 months in prison for breaching the lock down exercise in the early hours of August 30 at Vavaya Ridge, Honiara. The 18 year-old was sentenced on Thursday with two others after pleading guilty to one count of restriction of movement contrary…
‘Wale says our economy cannot handle the pressure’ OUTSPOKEN Leader of the Opposition and Member of Parliament for Aoke/Langalanga out rightly says the Parliamentary Entitlement Commission (PEC) should not consider any increase in Members of Parliament (MPs) entitlement. He made this profound statement after the media reported that the Government has proposed a massive increases…
Fire razes Tenakoga Adventist High School double classrooms AN early morning blaze has left damages worth SBD$2.5 million to Tenakoga Adventist High School in North East Guadalcanal after a two-storey classroom complex was burnt to the ground around 4am on Thursday morning. Reports reaching the paper said staff and students were alerted about the…
WHAT is known today as the National Development Fund (NDF) is essentially a discretionary fund controlled by the Prime Minister. It began in the 80s. Every government budget up to 1996 contained a discretionary vote in the Prime Minister’s Office. At the time it was just a million dollar a year. The discretionary fund, as…
A SIGNIFICANT decline in international arrivals continues to be recorded since restrictions were imposed on International flights by the Solomon Islands Government towards the end of March 2020. The latest Visitor Arrivals bulletin released by National Statistician Douglas Kimi on Tuesday 31st August 2021 confirmed this. The report showed the total arrivals for fourth quarter…
A COURT Sentence for a man who breached the lockdown after walking to King George Sixth market area, East Honiara on Monday will be handed down this afternoon. This followed the sentencing submissions and mitigation on the matter of the 25-year-old man yesterday before Deputy Chief Magistrate Ricky Iomea. The accused had pleaded guilty to…
CHAIRMAN of the National Disaster Operations Committee Loti Yates said in the event that COVID-19 breakout happens in the Western Border they can manage the situation. “But it will be a huge challenge logistically and financially for the government,” he revealed this in response to a question on how the government will respond with a…