FORMER militant groups were the main beneficiaries of the USD$25million (SBD$200m) EXIM loan from Taiwan in mid-2001. This was highlighted by the Opposition Leader, Matthew Wale, in his speech to contribute to the debate on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Final Report last week. He said the EXIM loan funds led to a lot…
LIVES of patients suffering from hypertension and high blood pressure in the Western Provincial Capital and those in the province relying on the Gizo Hospital Pharmacy for their supply of Simvastatin and Enalapril are at risk as these two vital drugs are out of stock. The two drugs are necessary for the treatment of patients…
THE Honiara City Council (HCC) has announced that all betelnut stalls in Honiara will be closed down and demolition activities by the HCC Law and Enforcement Officers will occur in the second week of September. This is to prepare Honiara City for the Sol2023 Pacific Games from November 19 to December 2. HCC Legal Officer,…
LEADER of Opposition Hon Matthew Wale has outlined weaknesses in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Act. Speaking in Parliament recently, Hon Wale said firstly there is a lack of a specified timeframe for the implementation of the TRC recommendations. Hon Wale said this has led to a delay of over a decade, an indication…
Unavailability of medical consumables sends National Referral Hospital Theatres into emergency mode THEATRES at the National Referral Hospital (NRH) are reportedly being forced to go into emergency mode as medical consumables such as gauge and other accessories are no longer available. Because of the situation, “all hospital departments who are theatre users have decided to…
THE Australian Government is delivering 13 new community-partnership projects to 13 schools and communities in the country. To formalise the delivery of the projects, the Australian High Commission hosted a project signing ceremony at its Annex Building in Honiara which will be delivered through the ‘Direct Aid Program’ under the Solomon Islands-Australia Partnership. The Project…
A MAN who received a stolen mobile phone from another person at Tinge Ridge, Honiara, in March this year has been sentenced to 12 months in prison. However, the defendant Patrick Pambo,19, who had pleaded guilty to one count of receiving will be serving only eight months behind bars. This was after Principal Magistrate, Felix…
THE High Court will this afternoon deliver the verdict on the case involving the former president of the Solomon Islands Medical Association (SIMA) who was terminated last year for criticising government’s handling of COVID-19 measures. Dr Claude Posala received his marching order in April 2022 under the Covid-19 State of Public Emergency. He was the…
This week Prime Minister Hon. Manasseh Sogavare MP has graced three important events relating to the Second World War. The Second World War in the Pacific was heavily fought on Guadalcanal Island, and it was on this island that the Japanese Imperial Army was defeated ending the war in the Pacific. Annually the country commemorates…
THE Office of the Prime Minister is believed to have taken over the spending of the 2023 National Budget, a move which has denied Permanent Secretaries their roles in carrying out their statutory duties and responsibilities. “All government spendings in the 2023 National Budget as approved by Parliament are now controlled by the Office of…