Papua New Guinea Government has handed down yet again another historic budget – a record K16.2 billion (US$6.19b) in comparison with three previous biggest budgets of US$5.7b in 2014, US$4.9b in 2013, and US$4.01b in 2012. The 2015 Budget has been framed against a backdrop of moderate, albeit strengthening global economic growth and continued domestic…
MINISTER of Foreign Affairs, Milner Tozaka has reportedly made direct contacts with his counterpart in Fiji, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, to resolve the long-drawn air services impasse between the two countries. This came after he took up his ministerial appointment before New Year. Mr Tozaka told Solomon Star last night he is treating the standing issue…
THE Parliamentary Opposition has welcomed and acknowledged the announcement made by the Prime Minister to establish an independent Commission against Corruption (ICAC). Leader of Opposition Jeremiah Manele in a statement on Monday said the Parliamentary Opposition Group fully supports the establishment of an ICAC. Mr Manele said for many years, undetected and unchecked corruption in…
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has defended his decision to appoint the former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Mines Rence Sore to the position of Special Secretary to the Prime Minister. This followed disapproval expressed by the Office of the Leader of Opposition and Gold Ridge landowners over Mr Sore’s appointment, alleging that the appointee…
PRIME Minister Manasseh Sogavare says Rence Sore is his best choice for the Special Secretary to Prime Minister’s (SSPM) job. Mr Sogavare made the defence after the Opposition and Gold Ridge landowners alleged that Mr Sore is yet to be cleared as a suspect in the $18-Million Gold Ridge royalty payment scandal. “He has the…
THE Office of the Leader of Opposition has questioned the swift move by the Democratic Coalition for Change (DCC) Government to cancel Bingtang Borneo’s prospecting license for Rennel/Bellona Province. The statement said it was a concern that cancelling Bingtang’s license was one of DCCs top priority. The Opposition Office said the Government’s decision to kick…
GOLD Ridge Landowners have expressed displeasure with the appointment of Rence Sore to the post of Special Secretary to the Prime Minister (SSPM). Mr. Sore was the PS of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification who was removed by the past NCRA government over the $18m royalty scandal around 2011/2012. It was alleged that as PS…
Alfrence Inoga Fatai recently returned to city council politics to claim the mayor’s job. In his victory speech, he spoke of change as what is needed to make Honiara a better city for everyone to live. “Let us introduce changes in all sectors – you want change, I want change, all of us want change,”…
Member of Parliament for Central Honiara, Moffat Fugui says the issue of Honiara City boundary should be discussed thoroughly. He said this during the swearing in of the newly elected city councilors last week. Fugui said the issue of Honiara boundary is that, it cannot be extended further and for decades, Guadalcanal, as host of…
White River Clinic in west Honiara will be reopened within two weeks, Assistant Director Nursing of the Honiara City Council (HCC), Moses Karuni said. Karuni said their renovation work will finish soon and they are certain that the official opening will occur within two weeks from now. White River clinic is amongst the damaged health…