Friday, April 7th, 2017
Work on London mission in final stage
WORK on establishing Solomon Islands diplomatic mission in London, United Kingdom is now in its final stage. Supervising Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade Christopher Laore informed Parliament this week that the work will be fully operational once a bank account is ready in any suitable banking institution. Mr Laore was responding to a question by the Leader of Independent Dr Derek Sikua on details of the cost-benefit analysis that is being conducted by his Ministry to justify the establishment of a Solomon Islands Diplomatic Mission in London. MrRead More
SINU Gov’t sponsored students’ fees ready
PAYMENT for tuition fees of government sponsored students at the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) is ready to be made. This is for the second semester of last year, 2016, which has not yet been paid. Minister of Finance and Treasury, Snyder Rini announced this on the floor of parliament yesterday. Mr Rini said the problem with SINU is similar with the University of the Solomon Pacific (USP). “We have to do verification of students, because we have found out that a lot of students that are included in SINU’sRead More
Rini clarifies student fee and allowance delays
DELAYED series of payments for overseas tertiary students has been clarified by the Minister of Finance and Treasury. Hon Snyder Rini yesterday disclosed on the floor of Parliament that the main reasons behind such delays is because the Ministry has to verify the payments given by the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD). Rini told Parliament that there is a big expectation from the Ministry of Finance and Treasury but when it comes to delayed payments for educational purposes, it is because the listing provided by the MEHRDRead More
Government finances intact: Rini
MINISTER of Finance and Treasury Hon Snyder Rini has assured that the Government’s finances and cash flow is intact and that they are still meeting all their financial obligations for this year. The Minister made the national assurance yesterday on the floor of Parliament when queried by the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Hon Rick Hou. Hon Hou’s question yesterday standing in his name states, “In view of the current disturbing public concerns regarding Government finances, more particularly non-payment of contractual obligations, can the Minister assure Parliament thatRead More
Businessman Robert Satu calls for investigation into shipping grants
BUSINESSMAN Robert Satu has called on authorities to investigate recipients of the controversial multi-million dollar shipping grants, saying the scheme has been widely abused without accountability. “I want authorities to investigate recipients of the grants because some are abusing the funds by spending the money for their own benefits,” Mr Satu told Island Sun yesterday. Mr Satu’s boat, Sandgroper, a 35ft Channel Craft, bought in Queensland, Australia was to have been bought for $1.5 million with last year’s grants, but this was not the case. Instead, Mr Satu was paidRead More
Government’s $350M worth of cash reserves since March
THE country’s’ cash reserve total as at March 20, 2017 is $350 million. The Minister of Finance and Treasury and Member of Parliament (MP) for Marovo, Western Province, Hon Snyder Rini disclosed this on the floor of Parliament yesterday. Hon Rini made the statement based on queries by MP for Aoke-Langalanga, and Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, Hon Mathew Wale. According to Hon Wale, before Parliament, based on the figures provided to him by the Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury (MoFT), he queried ifRead More
Country’s inflation rate clarified
THE Minister of Finance and Treasury and Member of Parliament (MP) for Marovo, Western Province has clarified the country’s inflation rate, saying that in March it was positive. According to Hon Rini, the Ministry of Finance and Treasury (MoFT) is monitoring the situation very closely. Hon Rini made the statement when queried by the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and Member of Parliament (MP) for Small Malaita, Hon Rick Hou. Hon Hou questioned the Minister of Finance and Treasury based on the economic analysis from the Central BankRead More
Logging’s hidden equation to exorbitant profits
THERE is a common practice by logging companies which a lot of indigenous landowners are not privy to, which leaves everyone else at a loss. When logging companies proceed into Solomon Islands, they deal with US dollars. And, unknown to landowners, when these companies do their deductions, they do so in the US currency instead of the local SBD currency. So, for example, if it is SBD$120,000, they will deduct it in 120,000 US dollars. After it is converted, they deduct another SBD$120,000. “If you ask for the commercial invoiceRead More
Ministerial expenditure within Pro Rata
MINISTERIAL expenditures are within the Pro Rata [manageable means]. This was confirmed by the Minister of Finance and Treasury, Hon Snyder Rini on the floor of Parliament yesterday when responding to the Member for Aoke-Langalanga, Hon Mathew Wale’s query on the issue. Hon Wale made the supplementary question when the Minister of Finance and Treasury, Hon Rini said Government expenditure is within the Pro Rata. Wale was concerned on the statement and questioned if the additional scholarships awarded by the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development cost were withinRead More
Commissioner Moveni clarifies allegations against Ministry of Forest
FORESTRY Commissioner, Reeves Moveni has clarified accusation made against the Ministry by claimed Chief of Rennell, Newman Nikamatu’a Tegheta. Chief Tegheta accused the Ministry for failing to oversee Oceania Trading Company (OTC) timber-right hearing; stating that it is a breach of the Forestry Act in allowing a third party timber right hearing. Commissioner Moveni said according to records at the Ministry, the point raised by the Chief is a non-issue and that is why the Ministry endorsed OTC application. He confirms previously, there was timber-right hearing held on that sameRead More