15 gov’t MPs declare stance

WE ARE WITH TAIWAN By IAN M. KAUKUI FIFTEEN government ministers and backbenchers wanted the country to maintain its diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Led by former Prime Minister and Minister for National Planning and Aid Coordination Rick Hou, the 14 MPs made their stance clear in a statement they issued last night. “We believe Taiwan has been…

Suidani on dependency of existing social services

Malaita province cannot continue to depend of existing social services says Malaita Provincial Premier Daniel Suidani. He was speaking at the province’s Second Appointed Day celebration on Thursday in Auki. “Being the most populated province in Solomon Islands Malaita cannot continue to depend on the existing social services,” he said. Premier Suidani said the infrastructure and…

In Court with Assumpta Buchanan

Man to pleaNew trial set for gold dealerTalu still without lawyer Man to plea THE man accused of obtaining $10,000 from Solomon Islands National University (SINU) students under false pretences will take his plea on August 22. Junior Wane will be entering his pleas to the five counts of false pretences. Police Prosecution had informed…

Wale queries China trip

OPPOSITION leader Matthew Wale has questioned the Government’s decision to send a second delegation to Beijing, to further explore and do ground work on the establishment of possible diplomatic ties with China. He raised this after a group of senior Government Ministers led by Central Guadalcanal MP, Peter Shanel Agovaka, left for Beijing yesterday, on…

Six ministers to visit communist nation

BIG CHINA TRIP By ANDREW FANASIA  CHINA’S push to get Solomon Islands severe its diplomatic ties with Taiwan hits another button this week with a big ministerial delegation visiting the communist nation. Six government ministers, two backbenchers and one senior official will be in China from August 15 to 19 on a Chinese government funded trip. The…

Friendly match showdown

Solomon U19 takes on Junior Matildas By CARLOS ARUAFU THE much waited historic international friendly match is set to kick off at 4 pm at the Lawson Tama Stadium this afternoon. Solomon Islands Women’s U-19s will take on the Westfield Junior Matildas of Australia in a historic friendly match at Lawson Tama today. This is…

Manetoali’s trial next week 

THE Hearing of evidence into the alleged fraud case of the MP for Gao/Bugotu, Samuel Manetoali will start next week at the Honiara Magistrates’ Court. The two weeks trial will commence on Monday next week before Principal Magistrate Fatima Taeburi. Manetoali is facing 17 counts of conversion in relation to allegation in 2014. This is in…

Police tackle kwaso

KWASO is illegal.  It affects the health of people who consume the home brew and it causes social problems including violence in families and the community at large. That’s the warning from the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) as it continues to roll out the Kwaso Action Plan throughout the provinces with stakeholders including…

Police probe top officer

POLICE say they are investigating claims the supervising Provincial Police Commander for Malaita province, Solomon Sisimia, sexually harassed one of his female officers at work. The police’s Professional Standards and Internal Investigation (PSII) confirmed this yesterday following concerns from relatives of the female officer. “We are looking into this allegation seriously,” a police statement said…

Malaita’s 36th second appointed day today

Malaita Province will today mark its 36th second appointed day in Auki. The event will be commemorated based on the theme “Self –Reliance and Community Resilience.” Invited guests from Honiara have already arrived in Auki for the Malaita Second Appointed Day celebration.  The official opening of the program will start at 8:30am with a protocol…