Thursday, December 22nd, 2016
35 females among today’s graduating police cadets
THE Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) today will be mounting a parade to mark the graduation of its 7O newly added constables to the force. The 70 new constables will likely boost police numbers over the festive and New Year period. Police Academy yesterday confirmed that out of the 70 recruits there were 35 females. The officer from the Police Academy said today’s graduation will add a total number of 140 officers recruited to the force this year. The training was undertaken over an 18-week period and the officersRead More
Flames gut FFA residence
ONE of Forum Fisheries Agency’s (FFA) residence buildings at Rifle Range area, east Honiara, was completely burnt down yesterday. The residents are said to be away on holidays overseas. The fire is estimated to have started around 12pm and spread quickly through the top of the building. Firefighters arrived at the scene but were unable to do anything to save the house since it was already engulfed in flame. The house was occupied by a couple employed at FFA who are reported to be away on holidays in PNG. TheRead More
Boy loses life at sea
A young boy was killed yesterday morning in a rare sea disaster when two outboard motor (OBM) canoes travelling in opposite directions collided at Lavuro Point, West Guadalcanal. The OBM in which the deceased was travelling in was heading to Ghorabau at South Guadalcanal while the other boat was heading to Honiara from Marasa, which is also at South Guadalcanal (weathercoast). According to Solomon Business Magazine’s (SBM) social website yesterday, Mr John Stewart the owner of the OBM in which the deceased was travelling in confirmed that it was hisRead More
Statistics office clears misinformation on Honiara’s population
THE National Statistics Office in Solomon Islands made clarification opposing claims made recently on Honiara’s population projecting to reach 350,000 people by 2025. The Government Statistician, Mr Douglas Kimi clearly highlighted the 350,000 people which Honiara’s population is expecting to reach by 2025 is not true as claimed. Mr Kimi said there is a misinformation Statistician office published about the population data. “The National Statistic Office has not release any population information for 2050, based on the projected growth rate to 2025, it is highly unlikely the population of Honiara would be increased fivefold to 350,000 people by 2050. “Population projections are increasingly volatile the further out they move from baseRead More
Campaign against beetle in full throttle
THE Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) is progressing with the fight against the invasive Rhinoceros beetle. The beetle, after being introduced into the country some years ago, has been a high destructive force in the copra industry, reportedly invading coconut plantations and damaging coconuts plants. And, as part of the Ministry of Agriculture’s strategy in fighting the pest, it engaged in countering the pest using biological means. MAL brought in what’s known as pheromones, which chemicals which are used by insects to attract partners. These pheromones are stored inRead More
Auki and Marau Sound next year’s cruise ship destination
AUKI and Marau Sound will next year host tourist cruise ships, this announced by the Minister of Culture and Tourism in the recent Parliament meeting. Minister Bartholomew Parapolo highlighted Auki in Malaita and Marau Sound of Guadalcanal will be one of the country’s stop-overs for cruise ships beginning next year. Minister Parapolo reveals this in Parliament, saying that his ministry is working on creating more stop-overs for tourist boats across the country. He said his Ministry and the Australian High Commission in Solomon Islands are working together on this, whichRead More
West activates disaster committee
WESTERN province yesterday reactivated its Provincial Disaster Committee to carry out responsibilities in response to earthquake affected areas in Shortland Islands. As instructed by Premier Wayne Maepio, a disaster committee was formed after a preliminary meeting yesterday. The committee consists of provincial division heads, representative of Red Cross Gizo and will include representatives from Western Health Services. Interim Chairman and PCD Advisor for Western Province, Henry Zimbo said this is to look at immediate issues to try and help address the earthquake affected areas in the Shortland Islands. The committeeRead More
N/east Choiseul Constituency committee’s project distributions
SUSUKA village community is complaining on the way the constituency administered and distributed projects in the communities of Northeast Choiseul. According to Nerio Ulemiki the media coordinator for Christ the King Parish at Voruvoru Northwest Choiseul, the local community said the constituency committee in Susuka village turned down project applications from many of them while they continuously gave projects to few recipients of their interests. They said recipients of their interest are receiving projects for more than one time when projects are allocated for the voters in the Constituency. ChrisRead More
Gizo police on high visibility throughout Xmas & New Year
GIZO police will carry out high visibility operations into the festive Christmas and New Year period throughout the province. Acting Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Vincent Eria confirmed that there will be high police presence during this Christmas and New Year celebrations to keep public order and maintain free movement of people. In an interview with Island Sun Gizo yesterday, Vincent Eria said some of his officers will go out in numbers to maintain public order to other communities in the surrounding Islands and along the street of Gizo. He saidRead More
5 million spent on Guam Pacific Art Festival
THE Government through the Ministry of Culture and Tourism budget had spent $5 million to foot the expense of contingents to the 12th Pacific Arts Festival held in Guam this year. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism Mr Andrew Nihopara told the Public Accounts Committee during their meeting at the Parliament this year. He said the money was from the Tourism Development programmes and it was used to help the country learn from other neighbouring countries how to tap existing opportunities and at the same timeRead More