PM expresses shock over ESP Audit Report upon return from Saudi Arabia and UAE PRIME Minister Jeremiah Manele is shocked to hear the revelation of the COVID-19 Economic Stimulus Package (ESP) audited by the Office of Auditor General. The audit report reveals major fraud risks, poor to non-existent administrative controls and almost zero transparency in…
THE Luapel House of Chiefs have renewed their call on the government to lift the ban imposed on the harvesting and trading of beche-de-mer. The renewed call followed reports that the Member of Parliament (MP) for Malaita Outer Islands, the Minister for Lands, Housing and Survey, Polycarp Paea at a Caucus meeting on Tuesday spoke…
A MAN accused of pretending to be a recruitment agent under Seasonal Workers Scheme and obtaining over $4,000 from two people appeared in the Honiara Magistrate Court yesterday but was released on bail. Joe Rex Raukaniu, 38, who is facing two counts of False Pretence, was released on a cash bail of $1,000 with strict…
THE man accused of the murder of a man at the Nazareth Apostolic Centre (NAC) area in Central Guadalcanal in August will take his plea to the allegation next Monday. A comitial hearing will be also conducted that day. The defendant Michael Manei is facing one count of Murder. He was studying Theology at NAC…
SOME recipients of the government’s $309 million Economic Stimulus Package (ESP) failed to complete their projects due to limited funds received. This was confirmed when officers of Office of Auditor General (OAG) visited their sites as part of auditing the ESP from March 2020 to December 2021. According to the OAG audit report released last…
PRIME Minister Jeremiah Manele has shrugged off any co-relation between Solomon Islands vote in support of the United Nations (UN) Resolution demanding that Israel withdraw militarily from the West Bank and Solomon Islands enhanced relations with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the development assistance they offer. The United Nations General Assembly…
THE crucial role played by Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) in democracies and societies was brought to the limelight as HRDs from Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Fiji gather in Honiara for a workshop to build their knowledge on the legal protection mechanisms available for HRDs and initiate discussions of the development of National Action Plans. The…
The Acting Prime Minister and the Minister responsible for the Ministry of Mines, Energy & Rural Electrification (MME&RE) Honourable Bradley Tovosia, MP, on Tuesday (8 October 2024) received a courtesy call from the visiting China’s National Machinery Industry Corporation (SINOMACH) officials. During the brief courtesy visit, the General Manager of Blue Economic Cooperation – SINOMACH,…
The Royal Solomon Island Police Force (RSIPF) says its waiting for the referral of the Economic Stimulus Package (ESP) audit report from the Office of Auditor General (OAG) before commence its investigation. Commissioner RSIPF Mr. Mostyn Mangau said, police and the Office of Auditor General had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Office of the Auditor-General…
FIVE communities in the Gao-Bugotu Constituency in Isabel Province are the proud recipients of assistances donated by the People’s Republic of China through its Embassy in Honiara. The assistances, which include two sets of computers for Kalenga Community High School, Fishing Nets for Poro, Tatamba and Lau communities and solar lights for Katoka Community, were…