THE country’s public debt-to-GDP (Gross Domestic Product) ratio has risen to nearly 22 percent and this is attributed to an increasing primary ‘fiscal deficit.’ A fiscal deficit refers to the shortfall in a government’s revenue compared to its spending during a certain period. And this debt-to-GDP ratio is projected to rise further, reaching 24.5 percent…
THE Kilu’ufi Hospital Improvement and Expansion Project is the second largest initiative funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Malaita Province. The SBD120 million project officially commenced with a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday. Prior to funding of the Kilu’ufi Hospital Project, Japan financed the construction of the Auki Market and Jetty, which were completed in 2012. JICA representative Takeshi Watenabe explained that the proposal…
TEACHERS in Malaita Province are questioning the Solomon Islands National Teachers Association (SINTA) Branch in Auki over its decision to forego the provincial celebration of the World Teachers’ Day in the Malaita Provincial Capital this year. Earlier this month, teachers in Honiara and Guadalcanal jointly marked the occasion with the theme“Valuing Teacher Voices, Towards a New Social Contract for Education.” eachers in the Western Provincial capital also celebrated…
The Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) on Tuesday 15th October 2024 conducted a one-day internal Mid-Term Review of the National Education Action Plan (NEAP) 2022-2026. Members of the Senior Management Team and Head of Divisions converged at the Heritage Park Hotel to undergo the review. The review was conducted to assess the…
The Ministry of Health and Medical (MHMS) together with its partners have celebrated World Mental Health Day recently. The event was commemorated on 10th October based on the theme: “Prioritising Mental Health in Workplace”. Speaking at the event Dr. Nemia Bainivalu, Deputy Secretary Health Improvement (DSHI), Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) in his keynote…
THE High Court has ruled in favor of the application for the dismissal of the petition filed against the Member of Parliament for Central Guadalcanal, Peter Shanel Agovaka. The petition was filed by one of the eight contenders for the Central Guadalcanal Constituency Parliamentary Seat in the April 17 National General Election, Jeromy Manengelea Rex.…
A suspect in his 20s has been arrested for the allegation of murder after a stabbing incident at Gilbert camp area, East Honiara early this week. It was alleged that the suspect stabbed the deceased with a short knife on his neck after an argument broke out between them. The motive behind the stabbing incident is…
The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF)’s Professional Standards and Internal Investigations (PSII) delivered a week of specialised Discipline Process and Procedure Training to 36 RSIPF Discipline Officers. The training was delivered last week with the support of the RSIPF-AFP Policing Partnership Program (RAPPP). Discipline Officers from every province attended the training which runs from…
INFLATION in the Solomon Islands is projected to ease to 3.7 percent in 2024 and further decline to 3.3 percent in 2025, according to the newly released World Bank Pacific Economic Update launched yesterday in Suva, Fiji. The report, titled Diminishing Growth amid Global Uncertainty: Ramping Up Investment in the Pacific, highlights the need for…
Five students from Selwyn College will represent the country in the ‘Youth Ambassadors for World Tsunami Awareness’ program in Kumamoto, Japan next week. The weeklong program will take place from October 19 to 25. The form four students, chosen for their outstanding academic achievements, will depart for Japan this Thursday, accompanied by their college principal,…