Move baffles Rennell landowners LOGGING company, Asia Pacific Investment Development Ltd (APID) has taken a 10-year caveat over mining tenements in West Rennell, deepening the controversy over the controversial grant of its mining lease as well as the process of its land acquisition At the same time, the company has doubled the size of its…
A PROPOSED housing scheme the Sogavare government plans for public servants is rigged of corruption, Parliamentary Independent leader Manasseh Maelanga says. Mr Maelanga also slammed the $3.7 million the government paid to owners of speed boat Sun Express, which they hired during the government formation stages last December. “This government must come out clear on…
THE Ministry of Forestry is embarking on new tougher measures to crackdown on illegal logging practices in the country. The new initiative is aimed at ensuring that logging companies and operators do business within the laws of the land by fully complying with the requirements of the Forestry Act and other related regulations. Minister for…
LOCAL environmental campaigner Lawrence Makili has described the recent Solomon Islands-New Zealand Timber Industry Meeting as a “total miscarriage”. He said this is because reps from environmental organisations were excluded from the talks. “As an environmental campaigner, I have made attempts to be part of the dialogue but received no positive response from organisers,” he…
THE court will be handing down its ruling on a legal issue raised in relation to the $7.3 million fraud in the Ministry of Health and Medical Services case on September 31. Public Solicitor Douglas Hou last Thursday raised the issue of double jeopardy on the charges against accused John Biliki. Biliki is facing 14…
A NEW Zealand-based non-government organisation, OceansWatch, is leaving Temotu Province because of Customs and Immigration issues. The NGO, whose workers normally travelled directly to Temotu on yacht, said they’ve always experienced immigration and customs clearance delays at Lata. This is due to the absence of immigration and customs officers in the province. OceansWatchhad been working…
A POLICE officer found guilty of causing the death of a girl in a road accident in 2011 will be sentenced, Monday (today). Principal Magistrate Ricky Iomea deferred the sentence that was listed for Friday because he was yet to finalise it. Rex U’upwe of Makira/Ulawa had been remanded in custody after his conviction and…
LOGGING company Samlinsum’s operation on Rennell is illegal, a Rennel man claims. And Pautangata Hakatingisa’a urged government authorities to stop the logger from felling trees on disputed land,which are currently before the High Court. Mr Hakatingisa’a said Samlinsam has continued to trespass and operateon land, whicha High Court order had restricted them from entering. He…
THERESE Walsh, Peter Kiely and Gill Greer, advisers to the New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs visited the new Regional Eye Centre (REC) on 14 August. Walsh, Kiely and Greer are members of the International Development Advisory and Selection Panel (IDASP), an independent group that provides advice to the Minister on the New Zealand Aid…
THE Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources Observer training Programme has entered its sixth week with the observers moving into second part of their programme. The 35 observers were divided into two groups with one doing sea time at the Solomon Islands National University and the other the Pacific Islands Regional Fisheries Observer Syllabus Programme.…