THIS is my message to the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders from my Freedom Hideout in Washington, D.C. Brothers and sisters of the Pacific Islands Forum, as you getting ready for the 46th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, I want to say a few words to you on behalf of…
While English is the official language of the Solomon Islands, Pijin is clearly the ‘unofficial’ national language. It is the common language of the Solomons, spoken and understood by almost everyone in the country. It is the language of gossip, jokes, the market, the bus stop, the bar. Until recently Pijin has almost entirely been…
LAST week I was in Canberra for a meeting of all Australian High Commissioners and Ambassadors from around the Pacific. One of the topics we discussed at length was climate change, including Australia’s efforts to mitigate climate change and assist Pacific countries in adapting to climate change. We know that climate change is a priority…
THIS week appears to be setting the stage for a showdown when Parliament meets next month. In many ways, issues that have surfaced are playing into the hands of the Opposition, which could unleash a torrent of salvos come Question Time. For example, SKL and its subsidiaries, a group of company being promoted here as…
THERE is great need for openness and transparency in the use of Constituency Development Fund. Why CDF information continued to be left in the dark is a painful reality to people in the rural communities. It is for their sake that this additional layer of service delivery apart from the central and provincial government system…
THE article by Elton Osiagalo carried in the Solomon Star issue #5954 dated Saturday 22nd August 2015 makes very interesting reading but unfortunately “lacks substance” and can only be summed up as “unconstructive and a classic example of one creating issues out of non-issues”. However, I would like to thank him for exercising his right…
[I have mentioned in my last article on this that that article was the last on the handling by the Minerals Board of APID’s mineral licences on Rennell Island. But since then several documents have landed on my lap that the temptation to write another was irresistible.] So here it is. The Mines and Minerals…
Welcome to our continuing discussion on the theme ‘The Secret of God’s Presence’ under our topic for this week, “Walk with a Perfect Heart.” Our next text to explore under this topic is 2 Kings 20:2-5, which says, “Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, “Remember, O Lord, how I…
It was on the country’s 37th Independence Day celebrations that an extraordinary incident happened in front of heads of our Government, diplomats, visitors and our people. The country’s national flag had fallen during from the flag pole to the ground in what was described as a disgraceful and a bad omen for a country that…
I’VE just returned to Honiara after a four day walk along the Weathercoast and back across central Guadalcanal. I was accompanied by my wife Dawn and three High Commission colleagues: Ben O’Reilly, Tanya Morjanoff and Warrant Officer Gary Fuss. The remarkable Pastor Selwyn Saro guided us through the whole journey. For us, the walkabout was…