The drowning isles

The Solomon Islands are an archipelago filled with idyllic beaches and perfect waves, but as temperatures and sea levels rise, much of their pristine coast is disappearing. ASHTYN DOUGLAS of www.surf.com reports From the window seat of our small aircraft, the islands 13,000 feet beneath us looked like uncut emeralds poking out of a vibrant…

MOVE TO OUST PM

Claim: 29 MPs sign to remove Sogavare A move to oust Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare is reported to be gaining momentum. One of masterminds of the move, who is also a MP, told the Sunday Star at least 29 MPs in the Opposition, Independent, and government have signed up to support the move. “We are…

TWO YEARS FOR PLAQUE THIEF

Man who damaged Bloody Ridge monument jailed A YOUNG man who damaged and stole the engraved plaque on a monument at the newly declared Bloody Ridge National Park, east of Honiara, was jailed for two years, Friday. Peter Tagana, 19, pleaded guilty to the charges of wilful & unlawful damage and simple larceny following his…

No more logging on Renbel

IN a government bid to remove the ‘in-danger status’ of the country’s only World Heritage Site at East Rennell, the government through a cabinet decision will revoke and refuse granting of felling licence on Rennell Island. This was revealed by Minister of Environment and Conservation Samuel Manetoali during the three-day round table meeting with East…

Deal to destroy blue boats sealed

THE Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources and a local company on Friday has paved the way for the Vietnamese Blue Boats destruction. Fisheries Director Edward Honiwala signed on behalf of the ministry while Wale Tobata for Iona Firi Properties Limited – the company. Under the terms and conditions…

Challenges to opening Lomlom

MINISTER of Aviation and Communication Peter Shanel Agovaka is faced with the challenge of clearing ministerial issues shelved by past political governments. Mr Agovaka said this when contacted by the Solomon Star regarding the Lomlom airstrip development in the Reef Islands of Temotu Province after a landowner raised concerns about the issue of incomplete payments…

TSI praises work of JANUS

TRANSPARENCY Solomon Islands (TSI) has congratulated JANUS following its arrest of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Infrastructure Development Henry Murray and his wife this week. Murray has been charged with 19 counts of official corruption. His wife faces 19 counts of false pretence. These were in relation to a company they set up…

Silent achiever

Meet artist Nelson Horipua THERE are those whose achievements are often celebrated. Equally but regrettably, there are those whose attainments deemed insignificant and often gone unnoticed despite their importance to society. One such group is our artists, whose works received little or no accolade regardless of their economic contributions. This may be because of our…

History in stone

I OFTEN wondered why people of Lau in Malaita Province had to endure such a tedious and laborious task of building artificial islands whilst there is vast uninhabited land on the mainland.    This question has led me on the quest for answers and to right the many myths surrounding the “Salt Water” people as they…