St James feast celebrated

Companions within the Diocese of Central Melanesia have gathered yesterday to commemorate St James feast day St Barnabas Cathedral in Honiara. Hundreds of companion members, members of the Melanesian Brotherhood and other religious societies’ members within the Anglican Church of Melanesia (ACOM) got together to mark the St James day with holy Eucharist and feasting.…

PM opens office in Cuba

Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo has officially opened Solomon Islands Embassy in Cuba in a landmark event in Havana. The event described by Cuban Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Rodrigo Malmierca Diaz as “historic” saw the opening of the first Pacific Islands mission in Havana. “We are indeed pleased to be the first…

NEW TWIST IN AIRLINES’ WAR

Fiji refuses SI passengers entry AROUND 30 passengers from the Solomon Islands booked to travel on Air Niugini for Nadi, Fiji were stopped from travelling to Fiji yesterday.The passengers purchase code chairs from Solomon Airlines in the Air Niugini aircraft which runs a Honiara-Nadi route. Reports reaching the Solomon Star stated that Fiji Aviation informed…

Toddler drowns at FOPA pool

A one-year-old baby died at the FOPA evacuation centre at Panatina. Reports reaching the Solomon Star stated that the toddler from Malaita died after drowning in the artificial lake on Thursday afternoon. The report stated that the baby was found floating in the lake. The reports said the baby’s mother was away in town when…

Disaster risk management facilities given to SI

The Government of Japan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) today delivered a new radio broadcasting transmission facility to improve Solomon Islands disaster early warning system through the National Broadcaster, SIBC. The Minister for Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology Bradley Tovosia “turned the switch on” after receiving the equipment from Japanese Ambassador…

Former cop successfully argues punishment

A former police officer facing traffic offences has been given a lesser fine when he was re-sentenced in the Honiara Magistrates Court recently. Ubaldo Tiva paid a total fine of $700 in default of four weeks for the charges of reckless and dangerous driving and careless driving. He was fined a total of $1,500 after…

Pacific Corporation Foundation helps in flood recovery work

Oxfam New Zealand has accepted a cheque for almost $1000 today from the Pacific Corporation Foundation toward recovery efforts in the Solomon Islands, following April’s flash flooding that left thousands homeless. Laulu Mac Leauanae, Chief Executive of the Pacific Corporation Foundation, has just returned from a trip to the Solomon’s representing New Zealand at the…

Tubi log case returns to court

THE case involving a Taiwanese national will return to court on August 13. The Taiwanese national allegedly attempted to export millions of dollars worth of Tubi logs out of the country. The decision as to whether the charges against the accused Hsieh Chen Chin Fu will be dropped is not yet known. The court heard…

United Party disassociates itself from UNDP

The United Party of Solomon Islands has disassociated itself from the United Democratic Party – UNDP. Interim General Secretary of the United Party of Solomon Islands, John Keniapisia said the party does not want people to be confused with the names of the two political parties. He says the United Party of Solomon Islands is…

Call for accountability on public funds

Visiting South Guadalcanal Villager, Rughu Poli is calling on the government to ensure recipients of State Funds are accountable and transparent about how they use the money. Mr Poli said many recipients of State Funds are city dwellers who have been given the money because their proposals are based on rural development concepts. He said…