April 2014

Villagers head to higher ground after 7.3 quake

SOME villagers in Western Province fled to higher grounds last night when a 7.3 magnitude undersea earthquake struck 74 kilometres south-west of Arawa, Bougainville. The quake struck at 6.50pm, and was strongly felt by most islands in the Western Province. “It was a strong earthquake, we felt it here,” Gizo resident and SIBC broadcaster Sina…

NZ delivers essential supplies for flood relief

A SECOND military aircraft from New Zealand arrived in Honiara on Friday with essential supplies for the relief and early recovery effort. Critical supplies delivered on the flight included sewerage and plumbing infrastructure necessary to improve Solomon Islands Water Authority capabilities; collapsible water bottles and brass taps to support water distribution; hygiene kits and mosquito…

Gov’t asked to relocate flood victims

RESIDENTS of Burns Creek settlement affected by the floods say the government must find land to relocate them. The settlement was one of the hard-hit areas in Honiara, although no one was killed. Most of them are now taking shelters in evacuation centres in Honiara. Pastor Richard Taloga said it’s time they move out from…

Hygiene products to flood victims

COLGATE Palmolive Fiji Limited on Friday donated personal hygiene products worth $80,000 to be distributed to flood victims. Company representative Romil Narayan said personal hygiene is important in times like this and he hopes the donation would assist toward that. “Our donation is to ensure victims’ health are protected,” he said. He said the company’s…

Thousands remain affected after floods

AN estimated 52,000 people remain affected in the worst-hit areas of Honiara and greater Guadalcanal following last week’s devastating floods which killed at least 23 people. The floods had caused severe damage to infrastructure and properties including 41 schools in flood stricken areas. The National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) with support from humanitarian organisations, donors…

Panga: We are not dissolved

GUADALCANAL premier Stephen Panga says his executive has not been dissolved as the Solomon Star reported on Friday. “I want to inform my people of Guadalcanal and the public that my executive and provincial assembly has not been dissolved,” he said. “The order that came from the minister of provincial government follows a request for…

Guale executive stripped of powers, not dissolved

GUADALCANAL Provincial Secretary James Taeburi has been given powers to run the province. This was after the Minister of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS) Silas Tausinga ordered the transfer of functions and powers from the Guadalcanal Provincial Executive to the Provincial Secretary. Permanent Secretary of Provincial Governments Stanley Dick Pirione said the Government has…

Kola in hot water again

DEPUTY Police Commissioner Walter Kola has found himself in hot water again after damaging an official vehicle her was driving in an early morning accident on Friday. An eye-witness told the Solomon Star, Mr Kola slammed the government vehicle he was using into a post in front of the central police station. “I can say…