This week I met a special friend in town. Franz-albert Joku and I used to be on the editorial staff of the Murdoch-owned newspaper in Papua New Guinea, the Post Courier. I had not seen him in years. Back in the early to mid-80s, he was a senior newshound doing the political rounds in Port…
Dear Editor – Women in the Solomon Islands can, and must, play an important role in innovative economic development and business expansion in the country and the DCCG, along with regional partners, including the Asia Development Bank (ADB) should continue to explore business development services for women and help gender disparities in terms of business…
Dear Editor – Writing from Thailand, I can comment more objectively when mentioning initiatives in the Solomon Islands which I perceive to be praiseworthy. A case in point, to begin, has been the staged week-long reconciliation ceremonies as a first step towards national healing. I believe the DCCG’s initiative in hosting the ceremonies was justified…
BRUSSELS, (THE JAKARTA POST) – Deception and lies have been commonly practiced to promote political interests by bad politicians. Emele Duituturaga, executive director of the Pacific Islands Association of NGOs, recently claimed she had submitted a report on the human rights situation in Papua directly to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the margins of the…
Dear Editor – The Prime Minister of Fiji who is in Honiara for the PIDF Summit is shamefully denying open and free discussions over the issue of West Papua. I for one, find it ridiculous that his speaking notes revolve around climate justice, instilling democracy and promotion of regionalism, yet he does not give a…
Dear Editor – I believe it is a very serious concern with regard to those issues being raised by Mr Diau’s article in your paper on the excess fees being charged by our International Shipping Agents to both individuals and businesses who imported goods from overseas during SIPA and Mr Yow’s era or even now. …
Dear Editor – Joss Vyleu I refer to your letter in the Solomon Star[Monday 11th] re leaf huts. Don’t you know there are 2 standards for buildings in and around Honiara? Those who do what they want and do not apply and us who do the right and legal thing and apply for a permit…
The police commissioner Frank Prendergast on Friday last week revealed that 10 people have been arrested as a result of the first usage of breathalyzers. The first ten are going to face tough consequences under the newly passed laws. When parliament was about to pass this new traffic laws, the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force…
In almost one decade of its existence, the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) has shown its potential to be “the strong man of the South Pacific”. It is making the region more economically integrated while sustaining its Melanesian cultural identity. However, one issue threatens the Group’s core interests and imperils the whole MSG project. The United…
Dear Editor – Its good to see the successful staging of the national healing and apology week. At least some of the former combatants have come together and reconcile with each other and with the government, police and Honiara city. Its a first step to achieving lasting peace in the country. The experience from the…