Australia Awards short course launched 

The first Australia Awards Solomon Islands Short Course Award- a Graduate Certificate in Fisheries Management and Development- has officially launched.  Economic contributions, food security, and jobs creation makes fisheries a critical sector for Solomon Islands and all Pacific Island countries and territories. This Australia Awards Short Course is a collaboration between the University of Wollongong, Australian National…

Urgent call to strengthen gov’t grants after ESP audit reveals major fraud risks 

The Auditor General on Tuesday calls for the urgent strengthening of the legal and regulatory regime for the administration of government grants. David Dennis made the call after an audit into the COVID-19 Economic Stimulus Package (ESP) revealed major fraud risk, poor to non-existent administrative controls and almost zero transparency in the disbursement of $309…

Wale urges police to probe ESP report

LEADER of Opposition Matthew Wale has called on the police to initiate immediate criminal investigations into the Economic Stimulus Package (ESP) report. In a statement on Tuesday, Hon Wale said investigations must proceed with technical support for police in financial expertise for the investigations. The Member of Parliament (MP) for Aoke Langalanga said the report…

Suspicious death in West Honiara probed

The discovery of a male person in his 20s whose body was found at the seaside near Fangs company area at Tandai, in West Honiara on Sunday 6 October 2024 is under investigation. The suspicious death is now being investigated by National Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) of the Royal Solomon Island Police Force (RSIPF).  Provincial…

Honiara airport runway upgrades progresses

Upgrades to the Honiara International Airport runway and airfield ground lighting are progressing positively despite delays in receiving offshore materials.  The upgrades were made possible under the Second Solomon Islands Roads and Aviation Project (SIRAP2). It was supported by the World Bank and implemented by the Ministry of Communication and Aviation (MCA). These improvements are targeted…

Rape case in Choiseul 

A TWENTY-THREE (23) year old male suspect has been apprehended for raping a 15-year-old girl at a garden in a village in North West Choiseul recently. He allegedly raped the girl while under the influence of alcohol. Officers of the Royal Solomon Police Force (RSIPF) at Taro police station carried out the arrest.  It was alleged that…

SI signs visa exemption deal with Saudi Arabia

SOLOMON Islands has signed a ‘Mutual Exemption of Short-Stay Visa Requirements Agreement’ with Saudi Arabia this week. This is part of the spirit of Solomon Islands- Saudi Arabian friendship demonstrating genuine serious partnership of the decade old diplomatic relations. The signing of the ‘Mutual Exemption of Short-Stay Visa Requirements Agreement’, was described as a ‘landmark transformation’…