Panga’s trial adjourns to Wednesday

Trial on the case of the former Guadalcanal premier facing a charge of abuse of offence has been adjourned to Wednesday. The adjournment was done on Tuesday to allow prosecution to make an application to admit some witness’s statements before opening their case. Principal Magistrate Jim Seuika therefore moved the matter to today to allow…

PUBLIC TRANSPORT PROTEST

PUBLIC transport providers in Honiara are planning to stage a peaceful protest tomorrow. This is in response to the newly imposed tax increase by the Inland Revenue Division (IRD) within Ministry of Finance & treasury on all taxis and buses operating in the country. Members of the transport association in Honiara on Tuesday met to…

NZ Chief Ombudsman here for outreach

New Zealand Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier is currently in the country for a three-day visit. During his stay he will be meeting with staff of the Solomon Islands’ Ombudsman’s office and other government officials as part of his Pacific outreach programme. He has a long association with Pacific judicial issues and was seconded to undertake…

Taiwan development assistance lauded

PRIME Minister Rick Hou says Taiwan’s development assistance to Solomon Islands over the last four decades has led to new technological innovations. Mr Hou announced that agreement during a business workshop last week held at the Heritage Park Hotel. He said much innovations has been established in the agriculture sector, including fruit trees, vegetables, crops,…

16 years in jail for incest

The Principal Magistrate at Kirakira in the Makira Ulawa Province on Friday sentenced a 40-year-old man to 16 years imprisonment after finding him guilty of eight charges of incest. The man was found guilty of having sexual intercourse with his biological daughter on eight separate dates in 2011. Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Makira-Ulawa Province, Superintendent…

MP: Need for better budget planning

Member of Parliament for Aoke/Langalanga says there is need for better planning and budgeting process to minimise the use of Contingent Warrants, Advance Warrants and Supplementary Budget Bills. Mr Mathew Wale made this statement in his debate on the 2017 Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2018. Its understood that the money has been spent and Parliament is…

Govt loses MP

The Government is mourning the passing away of one of its great leaders, the Member of Parliament for West Kwaio, Malaita Province, Monday. Late Peter Tom passed away on Monday evening after battling a long illness. With the passing away of late Peter Tom, parliament now has only 48 MPs leading up to the lapse…

In Court with Assumpta Buchanan

* Child abuser, molester guilty* Court hears submissions for Goufi, Keota* Tikopia murder case today Child abuser, molester guilty A MAN has been found guilty after a trial for intimidating a 12 year-old girl in Honiara in August this year. Nick Pitamama has stood  trial for one count of intimidation and molestation before Deputy Chief…

‘Slow economic growth’

THE Minister for Finance and Treasury Manasseh Sogavare says that the country’s economy is growing very slowly. Mr Sogavare said this worrying statement when he wind up the debate on the 2017 Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2018 in the parliament on Monday. He added that this is something the leaders of this country really have to…

BOAT DETAINED

POLICE has finally detained the locally built aluminum boat for Ngella constituency on Monday at Tulagi, Central Province. The boat cost taxpayers $4.5 million and had been a subject of heavy criticism particularly from Ngella people. The boat is currently kept under police watch at Tulagi. The seizure of the boat came following a detention…