‘Miracle baby’ doing well
THE Sunday Star traced and found the baby girl who was buried alive, but rescued in the Kaibia area in May last year, doing well.
Baby Crister, as she’s now called, has been adopted and is now 16 months old.
She is a healthy baby growing in a family of six.
Frank Misi, who dramatically rescued the baby from the shallow grave she was buried, said he was pleased to learn the child was doing fine.
Mr Misi visited the baby and gave her presents.
Tourism fund warning
TOURISM director says they are taking a tougher stand as of next year on how tourism funds will be distributed.
Barney Sivoro made the statement in light of previous cases where tourism funds given to applicants were not used for their intended purpose.
He also said previously, there was lack of monitoring of projects.
“But come next year the ministry would change the system which means tourism operators who apply for funding would be monitored first before his or her project can be approved,” Mr Sivoro said.
“Any incomplete project would not be eligible to receive further fundings,” he added.
Honiara marks hand washing day
SOLOMON Islands joined the world to mark Global Hand Washing Day (GHWD) in Honiara, Wednesday.
Schools throughout the country joined in the celebrations.
They engaged in interactive activities such as songs, poems, drama, hand washing demonstrations to raise awareness on the significance of hand washing and cultivate a habit of hand washing.
Each year over 200 million people around the world in over 100 countries celebrate Global Hand Washing Day events.
Teachers, parents, celebrities and government officials mobilise and motivate millions to lather up in order to reduce life threatening diseases such as diarrhea and acute respiratory infections.
Fanega removed from Finance
GOVERNMENT confirmed Permanent Secretary of Finance Shadrach Fanega has been removed from the ministry and reposted to Aid Coordination and Planning.
Mr Fanega was the longest serving permanent secretary of the Ministry of Finance.
Caretaker Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo reportedly reshuffled Mr Fanega for failing to inform the government of his trip to Washington and for travelling to Japan to purchase a ship for Small Malaita while on an official trip.
But critics claim Mr Fanega was reshuffled because of his stand against the $400,000 terminal grants to the outgoing MPs.
Terminal grant saga
PARLIAMENTARY Entitlements Commission (PEC) was reported to have threatened to sue the government if it pays the $400,000 terminal grants to the 50 outgoing MPs.
One PEC member revealed they are watching the government closely on this because they have already advised the government and the clerk to parliament that the Commission does not approve the $400,000.
“If the clerk to parliament approves the payment of $400, 000, the clerk too will be sued. Currently we put a hold to the payment and that must be honoured by the government,” says the PEC member, who asked not to be named.
He said if the 50 MPs want their payment, they can only collect $200,000, not $400,000.
Former officers keep the pressure on
FORMER and current police officers who served at the Solomon Islands-Papua New Guinea border during the Bougainville conflict have demanded the government to pay their allowances before the election.
The pressure group went to the Prime Minister’s Office this week to demand answers from the caretaker Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo.
The group urged the government to make any payment before the national election.
They claimed if Members of Parliament (MP) can get their terminal grants before the elections, there’s no reason why the government shouldn’t do the same for them.
“This is a long standing issue that progressive governments fail to address. And here we are demanding the government to pay our allowances.
“It makes no sense for MPs to get their terminal grants and those of us waiting for over sixteen years are still left hopeless,” one of the officers said.
Solomon Star understands Cabinet has already approved the payments for the officers however it is likely to be made on instalment payments starting next year.
Outgoing press secretary of the Prime Minister Douglas Marau told this paper the government has convened a meeting with the officers and had agreed to move forward with the agreement.
Telekom now a local company
SOLOMON Telekom becomes a locally owned company this week.
This followed the signing ceremony to mark the transfer of 32.58 percent shares held by Cable and Wireless Company (CWC) to Solomon Islands National Provident Fund (SINPF) in Honiara.
SINPF paid off the shares from CWC for a total of SBD$100 million (US$16.5m).
Board chairman Baoro Koraua said the fund now owned 97.32 percent in Solomon Telekom with the remaining 2.68 percent shares held by the Investment Corporation of Solomon Islands (ICSI).
Mr Koraua said the purchase was made after CWC shifted its business interest from the Pacific to the Caribbean region.
“CWC has now divested its interest in the Pacific region. Therefore by having NPF owning majority shares in Solomon Telekom, we can pick and choose who to sell the shares to,” Mr Koraua said.
He said there are some buyers who have already indicated their interest to purchase the shares.
