‘Spirit of Solomons’ more than an aircraft but a legend symbolising courage, ingenuity

Solomon Airlines new flagship, an Airbus A320, aptly named “Spirit of Solomons” arrived at Henderson International Airport on Saturday afternoon. The new aircraft recently underwent painting and seat installation in Townsville, Australia. The arrival of the aircraft comes at a time when the Solomon Islands, like so many other countries, is facing the threat of…

Kotalewala is not a ‘do-gooder’

By WILLIAM BARILEFormer CEO, SIPA THERE is a time and place for all things worthy of publicity.   The incumbent Chief Executive Officer of Solomon Islands Ports Authority Eranda Kotalewala could not have erred more on both scores.   The sweeping statement made Wednesday 18th December on page 3, Issue 2434 of The Island Sun Newsaper; to…

In whose interest, Mamae & Sore?

The majority of City residents and working population, market vendors, teachers, Police Officers, Public Officers, City Councillors and their employees, school children and thousands more in the provinces have benefited tangibly from their investment with One Link Pacifica and thousands more are waiting patiently to receive their share of their investment with One Link Pacifica,…

COMPASSIONATE SERVICE TO THE NEEDY

(Sharing in the compassion of Christ) By Retired Bp. Raymond Aumae   Good people of God in Solomon Islands. It won’t be long from now when you will hear from me again through SIBC, social media, and other local media outlets that a charitable organization known as COMPASSIONATE EDUCATION TRUST FUND will have been legally…

I’m glad to be here

From the High Commissioner’s Desk Dr Lachlan Strahan  AS Australia’s new High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, I’m delighted to continue the tradition of fortnightly conversations with Solomon Star readers through this column.  It’s an honour to serve here in Solomon Islands, a neighbour with warm and enduring ties to Australia. I take this opportunity to acknowledge…

China and media freedom in the Pacific

By JEMIMA GARRETT*Writing in the Interpreter   THE refusal of the Vanuatu government to allow high-profile Vanuatu-based journalist to fly home on Saturday has given a sharper edge to concerns about a wider trend of attacks on media freedom in the Pacific and highlights both China’s influence and Australia’s policy failure in broadcast and other…

Birth of a nation? 

Bougainville’s independence referendum explained By KATE LYONSGuardian Australia   TODAY, the people of Bougainville – a small archipelago of islands flung 700km off the coast of Papua New Guinea in the Solomon Sea – will begin voting in a referendum that will determine if their beloved homeland will become the world’s newest nation.  It is…

We need to understand

By SETH GUKUNAWest Honiara THE decision taken by our Government for this country to switch to China was based on the cabinet paper that Cabinet endorsed on September 16th 2019.        In that paper our Ministers would have been given the reasons as to why this country needs to move to China.  That…