The year of 2021 is special to Solomon Islands people. While countries in the world are fighting together against COVID-19 pandemic, riots and looting overtook Honiara and razed Chinatown to the ground, as well as other business districts. When we enjoyed family reunions and friends gatherings during Christmas a few days ago, let us also…
Speech by Ambassador Li Ming During a handing over ceremony The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China strongly condemns the recent riot in Honiara, which left Chinatown and other areas in ruins, resulting in huge property loss and social panic. Hundreds of Chinese families, including kids and women were homeless and displaced in distress.…
Extortion turns a wise person into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart. (Ecclesiastes 7:7 NIV) The Bible says that money is the root of all kinds of evil, right? WRONG. What the Bible says is: the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:10 NIV). It is…
Dear Editor – The month, before MACFest, I visited the Art Gallery to see local art work and I must say, exhibits included impressive carvings, jewellery, and some paintings. Also, I witnessed, the work of an American artist, who was on an art demonstration tour arranged by the American Embassy in Papua New Guinea; her…
Dear Editor – As I have read the article on the above subject I have learn the words to discipline church followers is (Ex-communicate) as such they will not be taking part in any formal programs of the church. The defaulting members are said to be largely from south sea Evangelical church (SSEC) as well…
ON the afternoon of November 25th 2021, I decided to contact a senior Malaita Government Minister to suggest a pathway that would ensure a smooth transfer of power that would allow the Prime Minister to step down without losing face, and be seen to succumb to the pressures from the looters. I knew that the…
Dear Editor – I am saddened to read about the violence. I lived in Honiara from 1983 to early 1985, while working for the Forum Fisheries Agency. I met many lovely people from different islands in the Solomons, and have many happy memories. I was struck by the kindness of the people: for example, people…
Who owns the foreshore? This is a very big and “hot” topic and I’ll attempt in this article to summarise it as much as possible. It’s a vexed question and even the High Court has made different conclusions, that land covered by water, below highwater mark (what we would call “the sea”) is either vested…
The words of wisdom from the drafter of the Independence Order 1978, which turned this nation into a unified Solomon Islands with decentralized provincial governance powers in a master-servant relationship of shared rule, still linger in my ears to this day. The learned professor from Kenya who was also instrumental in brokering the independence package…
Dear Editor – Over the past many days Honiara has witnessed a mob burning buildings with youth stealing cargoes from them before they were devoured in flames. This destruction of businesses, some owned by Solomon Islanders and most employing Solomon Islanders, has shown what unskilled, uneducated and unemployed youth are capable of doing under the…