Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Minister for Defence, the Hon Richard Marles MP visited Solomon Islands over the weekend on Saturday, 18 January 2025. While in Honiara, Deputy Prime Minister Marles met with Hon Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele, and the Minister of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology, Hon Trevor Mahaga. This was…
PRIME Minister (PM) Jeremiah Manele has responded to a 10-point Memorandum of Demands (MoD), demanding among other things reshuffling of Cabinet Minister holding key positions in the eight-month-old GNUT coalition. The Solomon Star has gained exclusive access to the confidential document, which carries the Prime Minister’s answers to each of the demands. And, like any…
THE World Bank-funded Solomon Islands Roads and Aviation Projects (SIRAP) in Malaita Province will be officially handed over to the province next month. The completed projects include the North Corridor Road, Bio 1 Bridge, Bio 2 Bridge and Koa Bridge. The announcement was made by Malaita Premier Elijah Asilaua at the Revised 2024/2025 Budget Meeting…
THE sentencing of the man who pleaded guilty to spreading false rumours about an attempted kidnapping at Kola Ridge cemetery in Honiara last October has been deferred to Monday, 20th January. The deferral is to give time for Magistrate Ishmael Kekou, who has taken over the matter from Principal Magistrate Felix Hollison, to review the…
TRIAL dates for the Malaita Provincial Assembly Member for West Baegu-Fataleka Ward and former Malaita Premier Daniel Suidani along with his political adviser Celsius Talifilu have yet to be set by the Honiara Magistrate Court. The trial dates were scheduled to be fixed last week, but the magistrate assigned to the case was not available…
A MAN, who allegedly stabbed his niece with a knife at White River, West Honiara last November, has been granted bail in the Honiara Magistrate Court. This followed a bail application made for defendant James Sugegeo, who faces one count of Unlawful Wounding. The prosecution did not oppose the bail application, but asked for the…
MALAITA Province has expressed its gratitude to the New Zealand Government for its support in completing the geotechnical studies for the Bina Harbour Tuna Processing Plant Project. The successful completion of these studies marks a significant step forward for the ambitious project, which is considered crucial to addressing several of the country’s pressing challenges, including…
FORMER Papua New Guinea (PNG) Prime Minister and businessman Peter O’Neill has expressed interest in the controversial Tavanipupu Wellness & Spa Retreat located in Marau, East Guadalcanal. Mr O’Neill, currently visiting Honiara, has been exploring some of the country’s iconic tourism destinations, including the Solomon Islands National Provident Fund (SINPF)-owned Tavanipupu retreat. SINPF General Manager…
THE newly launched ‘Stronger Education Together (SET)’ programme will deliver 50 important school infrastructure projects nation-wide over a period of eight years. Under this scheme it will deliver new and urgently needed education facilities for education institutions. This was highlighted by the Australian High Commissioner Rod Hilton in his remarks on Wednesday at the signing…
CONCERNS have resurfaced over certain passenger vessels traveling to the Western Province in breach of marine safety regulations by exceeding the authorised passenger capacity set by the Solomon Islands Maritime Authority (SIMA). Reports indicate that some vessels carry passengers beyond the certified limits, raising serious safety concerns. January is a travel peak time for passenger…