Thursday, April 6th, 2017
Avaiki destroys Islanders
“Fatigue affected us”: Matangi HEAD coach for Islanders rugby team Eric Matangi said the lack of recovery time had affected his side performance yesterday. Islanders lost 43-5 to defending Honiara Rugby Union Association (HRUA) champions Avaiki at the Town Ground rugby stadium. “Last week we played games on Wednesday, Saturday and again today. So yes the lack of time for recovery is a factor in our loss today,” Mr Matangi said. “Fatigue was clear in some of the players but it’s not an excuse. This is a competition weRead More
$1.89m allocated under Western premier’s office
WESTERN Province Premier’s Office, which is being allocated $1.89 million, ranks third in the recurrent budget of Western province, according to the province’s minister for Finance, Lester Saomasi. Mr Saomasi was referring to the 2016/17 budget under the Premier’s Office allocation. In his tough stand against unnecessary spending by the province during last week’s Assembly meeting, Mr Saomasi said this office has never at any time over the past seven years executed its functions below its budget allocation. Hon Saomasi said the Premier’s Office through the Provincial Executive is expectedRead More
HCC closes 4 lock-up shops at Central market
HONIARA City Council has put an indefinite close to the four lock-up shops which were damaged by fire last week. The assessment team of HCC’s Works Division produced an inter-office memorandum of understanding for the indefinite closure of kiosk lockup shops 15 – 18. The indefinite closure is effective as of April 3 until repair works are complete. The HCC Office said, “This is because the roof structures has been deformed due to flame’s heat, and is dangerous for further occupation of our tenants, safety of our tenants and publicRead More
CDF formula to boost transparency and fairness
AN introduced formula considered to reflect fair allocations of Constituency Development Funds (CDF) to all 50 constituencies was passed as a motion in Parliament last week. The motion to create the formula for distributing CDF was moved by the Leader of the Independent Group Hon Dr Derek Sikua. The Leader of the Independent Group said he was asked by his constituents to see how the allocation of CDF can be done in a transparent and equitable manner based on population, remoteness and hardship factors “For my constituency alone, I haveRead More
PAC outlines serious recommendations in 2017 Supplementary Appropriation Bill Report
THE Public Accounts Committee (PAC) made Committee made seven recommendations in the 2017 Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2017 in response to a number of issues highlighted during the inquiry. Chairman of the PAC and Member of Parliament for Small Malaita, Hon Rick Hou briefly explained each recommendation on the floor of Parliament this week. According to his statement on the floor of Parliament in his capacity as Chairman of the Standing Select Committee of Parliament that scrutinises financial exercises of the Government, Hon Rick Hou briefly touched on the recommendations asRead More
Ministry of Agriculture in turmoil over funds for farmers
REPORTS have emerged that there is internal chaos among the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock top officials. This division is in relation to the Cocoa and Coconut fund allocated for farmers this year. This paper obtained documents which highlight correspondence between the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and the Director of Planning and Land Use Department. In the first letter, dated Tuesday April 4, 2017, the Director of Planning and Land Use Department said that there will be no application forms given out to farmers thisRead More
Expenditure Pressures – will materialise
‘Students may be sent home’ GOVERNMENT pressure will only increase as the year draws on and the real pressure will come when unbudgeted expenditures turn up for payment at Treasury and some of these will become very urgent. Hon Rick Hou, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), made the statement on the floor of Parliament this week when presenting his speech on the report of the 2017 Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2017. PAC Chairman Hon Hou, then said a classic example is the huge scholarship bill emanating from theRead More
Govt cash management risky
‘Government spending appetite growing’ THERE has to be real concerns for cash management at Treasury and risks for the country’s general fiscal posture of the Government for the rest of the year. Hon Rick Hou, Member of Parliament for Small Malaita and Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) raised the concern on the floor of Parliament this week. “Sir, that economic analysis I provided earlier would suggest most of the broad indicators remain as they were in the previous quarter, that is, at the end of December 2016.Read More
Taiwan’s navy squadron to visit Solomon Islands
THE Republic of China (Taiwan) Navy Squadron will be visiting Solomon Islands for a three-day stay in the capital, Honiara. Taiwan’s Embassy confirmed the Navy Squadron has already departed for Solomon Islands as part of the Government’s invitation for a three-day goodwill visit. On board three vessels are 742 Navy officers, sailors and Navy Midshipmen Cruising Training Squadron led by Commander Rear Admiral Cheng-Kuo Chiang. Taiwan Embassy highlights the squadron also carries with them donations and supplies. “The Squadron carries a lot of donating goods which includes 33,593 yards ofRead More
A-Construction at work
LOCALLY owned road maintenance company, A-Construction, is back on track to do maintenance along Gizo Town’s damaged roads after a halt on operation since last year. According to the A-Construction Supervisor Mr John Jnr Surrender Uma, the work on maintenance had stopped last year because of financial situations rooted back to the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID). “On receiving bit assistance in finance has helped us with our work recently to be back on track witnessed in Gizo Town. “Anyway despite the slowness of our work experienced, we want toRead More