NEW MINIMUM WAGE ANNOUNCED

GOVERNMENT last night announced an increase in the country’s legal minimum wage from $4 per hour to $8 per hour that will come into effect as of next year. Outgoing and caretaker Minister of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration William Marau announced this on the floor of Parliament last night while contributing to the Sine…

Two permanent secretaries sworn-in

TWO permanent secretaries (PS) were sworn-in on Thursday at the Government House by Governor General Sir Frank Kabui. The two permanent secretaries are Nego Sisiolo who was reappointed as the PS for the Ministry of Public Service and McKinnie Dentana as the new PS for the Ministry of Finance and Treasury. He replaces Harry Kuma…

HCC to dissolve Dec 17

LIFE of the Honiara City Council’s (HCC) current political administration will come to its end Monday next week. That’s according to the council’s legal adviser Vincent Kohata. Mr Kohata said the decision to dissolve the political administration headed by mayor Andrew Mua on 17 December was based on advice they received from the Attorney General’s…

Wale: Flawed Bill

THE Chairman of the Bills and Legislation Committee (BLC) and Member of Parliament for Aoke Langalanga Mathew Wale sternly argued that the Traditional Governance and Customs Facilitation Bill is flawed and it needs to be withdrawn. He made this strong comment when he debated the Bill on the floor of the parliament which resulted in…

GOV’T HOLD BACK BILL

Proposed law withdrawn from floor of parliament By ANDREW FANASIA  THE Government on Thursday withdrew the controversial Traditional Governance and Customs Facilitation Bill after several MPs spoke against it in parliament. The bill was still being debated when Minister for National Unity, Reconciliation, and Peace, Comins Mewa was forced to withdraw it. Opposition leader and…

BACK IN JAIL

Bailed alleged robber faces attempted murder charges By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN  AN accused who is on bail for allegedly robbing $1 million from two Asians who were on their way to the bank to deposit the money, was back in police custody yesterday – this time on attempted murder charges. Police remanded Eric Junior Nathaniel on…

$10k in fine for brewing kwaso

A man who confesses to having in his possession utensils for brewing kwaso has been fined $10,000 recently in the Honiara Magistrate’s Court. Primo Maehada, 53, was sentenced last Friday after pleaded guilty to the offence before Principal Magistrate Jim Seuika. Mr Seuika then imposed a fine of $10,000 in default of six months imprisonment.…

PM reaffirms war on corruption

PRIME Minister Rick Hou on Monday called on the nation to stand together to fight and eradicate corruption. He made the call at an event organised to mark International Anti- Corruption Day, as well as the historic launch of the Anti- Corruption Act 2018, and the Whistle-Blowers Act 2018 in Honiara. “Today 10th of December…