A 40-YEAR-OLD man has been remanded in custody yesterday for allegedly burning down three houses in east Guadalcanal last month. Donation Tapalia faces three counts of arson in relation to an allegation on 25 October 2016 at Listara village. The houses he allegedly burnt were made of sago palm leaves and bush materials and belonged…
AUSTRALIA’S Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says her government is ready to provide any support once requested in relation to Friday’s 7.8 earthquake that stuck off Kirakira, Makira-Ulawa Province. “The Australian Government has in place pre-positioned supplies for shelter, water, sanitation, food,” Ms Bishop said. “If they’re required we can work with the local authorities and…
THE 7.8 earthquake that struck at 4.38am on Friday caused damages to buildings in Kirakira including homes, a hospital, a church, the World Vision office and cut off the town’s power supply. That was according to World Vision Solomon Islands. The earthquake hit less than 30 kilometres off the island of Makira and around 200…
THE government is preparing to respond to the affected communities hit by a very strong undersea earthquake of magnitude 7.8, which occurred at 4.38am, Friday. Minister of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology, Samuel Manetoali confirmed this when he informed Parliament on Friday. Mr Manetoali said from information generated from collected data and reports…
MAKIRA National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) will deploy an assessment team to remote areas believed to be affected by Friday’s powerful earthquake. Makira NDMO officer Ruth Timauku confirmed that they have received confirmation of damages around the province and her assessment team will be deployed today. “Around Kirakira, we have some major damages, two residential…
Honiara residents got a scary early morning wake-up alarm when a powerful 7.8 struck at 4.38am yesterday, sending families out of their homes. While little or no damages were recorded in Honiara, the quake hit hard on Kirakira, the provincial capital of Makira-Ulawa Province. In Kirakira, which is close to the epicentre, the earthquake caused…
THE University of New South Wales (UNSW) Campus in Canberra had its graduation ceremony on Wednesday this week. Twelve students were awarded PhDs. Luke Forau a Solomon Islander from the island of Tikopia in Temotu Province was one of them. Luke started his education journey from his home village. He did his secondary education initially…
CORONATION Christian school says it would continue to strive hard in maintaining high standard of discipline at the school. Principal Adrian Dorovia highlighted this at the school’s graduation and closing program on Wednesday. Coronation will continue to uphold and promote high standard of discipline to see discipline at the school improve. The event was held…
Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) for East Kwaio ward 18 Alick Butala has opened a legal action against political rival Jude Kaefia. This was for discrediting his status in this paper’s letters to the editor dated December 2. In the letter Mr Kaefia alleged that Mr Butala has a sexual relationship with a high school…
Moves to increase safety standards for fisheries observers have run into unexpected headwinds to the Tuna Commission leaving Pacific negotiators frustrated. The Pacific through the Forum Fisheries Agency now has over 800 observers in the region deployed on fishing vessels, mainly on purse seine vessels which have 100% coverage. Less than 5% coverage of the…