Wednesday, June 21st, 2017
A personal message for the Solomon Islands
DEAR EDITOR, the two day National Dialogue on Sustaining Peace and Stability in Solomon Islands which opened on Monday in Honiara and is set to conclude today, Tuesday, brought together a collaborative effort by the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of National Unity, Reconciliation and Peace and Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs and with support from the UN Peacebuilding Fund (UNPBF) project. The dialogue was also attended by Members of Parliament, Provincial Premiers, Women, Youth and Community Leaders and international stakeholders as observers. It was the aim ofRead More
We give reasons, not excuses: Harris
THE Solomon Islands Maritime Safety Administration (SIMSA) Director Tim Harris said the authority gives reasons and not excuses as to why it cannot undertake some of its mandated responsibilities. “If you talk about the rest of SIMSA’s other activities, yes, we do give reasons, not excuses, as to why we cannot undertake certain of our mandated responsibilities due to shortage of personnel and funding resources,” said Capt Harris. However, he said this does not apply to the essential services of SIMSA’s Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC). “I would like toRead More
HCC urged to explain ward grant audit
THE Honiara City Council has been called on to explain the status of its ward grant auditing. This call follows allegations on seeming ignorance showed by the councillors in allowing their voters access information on the spending of the ward grant. The source, who requests anonymity, told this paper yesterday that it has been almost two years and nothing is known about the grants. “We receive nothing from our councillor for the last two years, but our councillors keep on taking the grant. “This is the reason I want toRead More
SIMSA Director talks out against criticisms of ‘slow response’
THE Solomon Islands Maritime Safety Administration (SIMSA) has clarified criticisms of “slow response” levelled against the authority’s Search and Rescue Unit on the latest boat tragedy that claimed five lives and 15 missing off the coast of Marau. Premier of Malaita Province Peter Ramohia was reportedly angered by the ‘slow’ response made by SIMSA Search and Rescue (SAR) unit saying that lives have been lost due to no rescue attempts being made at the first instance. But, SIMSA Director (Ag) Capt Tim Harris, while sending his condolences to the familiesRead More
Authorities to probe boat tragedy
MARINE authorities will soon hold a de-briefing into the tragic death of five people and 15 missing when their boat capsized off the coast of Marau last week. Director (Ag) of the Solomon Islands Maritime Safety Administration (SIMSA) Capt Tim Harris said they are in the process of arranging a de-briefing session when this incident is finally stood down. “Whenever there is a serious maritime incident, especially with loss of life, SIMSA holds a de-briefing session with the Maritime Police Unit and, if they have become involved, the RAMSI supportRead More
National peace dialogue reaches consensus on sustaining peace
AT the second day of the National Dialogue, the Prime Minister, Hon Manasseh Sogavare, Leader of the Opposition, Hon Jeremiah Manele, Cabinet Ministers, Members of Parliament, Provincial Premiers and youth and women leaders agreed to work collectively and in partnership to sustain peace in the country after RAMSI leaves. The two-day dialogue hosted by the Prime Minister under the theme ‘Sustaining Peace and Stability’ is supported by the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (UNPBF) project, through United Nations Development Program and United Nations Women Solomon Islands. The provincial premiers reiterated theirRead More
Outcry over fishy distribution of lock-up shops
THE process of allocating lock-up shops in the central market is under fire over allegations of nepotism and biased selection. It is claimed that over the last 10 years the system has been influenced by the councillors and Honiara City Council employees. A source familiar with the issue said, “This is very serious and it seems those involved had stepped out of the boundary of what they had mandated to do. “According to HCC act 1999, HCC employee or councillor should not engage with the business as stipulated by theRead More
Country loses $billion
Lost in Forestry revenues in last decade, warnings trend could worsen A former commissioner of forest has estimated that the government may have lost a billion dollar or more in logging revenue as a result of lack of monitoring by forestry officers. And Kennedy Hodu, who was Commissioner of Forest between 2004 and 2005, warned that unless drastic measures are taken to address the situation today, the trend would only worsen. “The cash flow problem the government is experiencing right now is the direct result of what I amRead More