ORIGIN OF VIRUS UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT

AS Honiara residents prepare for the nation’s second lockdown later today, the debate over the origin of the COVID-19 community transmission continues unabated. The government maintains that Ontong Java in the Malaita Outer Islands (MOI) is the source of the outbreak of the community transmission, which began on Wednesday 19th January. Then, there were only…

West in fear over MV Nusatupe

THERE is now growing fear that the local freighter vessel MV Nusatupe visited more areas than expected. Reports reaching Solomon Star Gizo said the vessel anchored at Rukutu to off load cargoes as well as passengers then travelled to Munda and Taro. Noro refused the vessel entry so the vessel headed straight for Gizo before…

MINING FEE HITS $5M

THE Isabel Provincial Government has substantially increased its Business Licence fee for mining from $1 million to $5 million a year – an increase of 500 percent on the previous rate. The move has raised alarm bells ringing in the industry with some saying there is no justification for the increase unless it was designed…