Wednesday, February 15th, 2017
Western United in top form
WESTERN United is in top form as it enters its sixth week undergoing intensive training ahead for OFC Champions League early next month in Tahiti. The club yesterday continued their training at Lawson Tama stadium. “We are on intensive training since we started on January 9, now we concentrate on fitness level of players,” said Head Coach, Commins Menapi in an interview. Menapi said he also put more emphasis on mental training to set a strong mindset on players. “We still need to build more on fitness, will see whereRead More
Capacity lacking in Bill formulation
TECHNICAL and composition capacity lacks in the formulations of Bills. Chairman of the Bills and Legislation Committee (BLC) and Member of Parliament for North West Choiseul, Hon Connelly Sandakabatu highlighted this in Parliament this week. Hon Sandakabatu made the statement when contributing on the Town and Country (Amendment) Bill 2016 in his capacity as Chairman of the BLC. “Mr Speaker, capacity as number and capacity as in the technical knowhow is what I am referring to. “I don’t know how we can rate this, in terms of an issue ofRead More
Parliament adjourned, no quorum
Ombudsman Bill to cause division PARLIAMENT was adjourned yesterday because the House did not have the required quorum to proceed. The Leader of the Official Opposition and Member of Parliament for Hograno-Kia-Havulei, Hon Jeremiah Manele made a point of order yesterday when it was evident the House had no quorum. The Prime Minister, Hon Manasseh Sogavare then acknowledged the call for quorum made by the Opposition Leader and suggested that the Speaker adjourn Parliament. Speaker of Parliament Ajilon Nasiu however, still proceeded to give absent Members of Parliament 15Read More
SIPA board’s top recruit arrives in Honiara to take up appointment
ERANDA Kotelawala, the man picked by the Board of Solomon Islands Ports Authority (SIPA) to head the organisation arrived in Honiara yesterday, ready to tackle the mammoth job ahead of him. He was met on arrival by the acting Chief Executive Officer, Mike Wate and other SIPA senior officials. Welcoming him, Board chairman, Billy Titiulu, said SIPA is indebted to a number of organisations and government agencies for facilitating Mr Kotelawala’s arrival. “I am sure Mr Kotelawala would feel at home in his new role as Chief Executive Officer ofRead More
Absentee voting will be allowed in new national elections: HA Minister
THE Minister of Home Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister, Manasseh Maelanga has told Parliament absentee voting will be allowed in the next National General Elections. He revealed this in Parliament while answering a question about whether or not absentee voting will be allowed in the next National General Elections. Mr Maelanga said Solomon Islanders both within the country and outside who will want to register as absentee voters would be able to do so when electoral registrations will begin in June. But he said absentee voting is one of theRead More
Malaita land recording to begin soon
MALAITA land recording is on the horizon as pioneer high-level talks are underway in Auki. The consultations brings together members of the Malaita provincial executive, staff of the provincial lands division and a delegation from the national government. The government delegation includes Mary Tegavota from the national lands record, Hellen Ohukeni of the land reform unit from the Ministry of Lands, Housing & Survey (MLHS) and Genesis Kofana, the national consultant land reform from the Office of the Prime Minister, on customary land process for malaita province. According to PremierRead More
OPMC refutes ‘MPS EAT $11.4M’ article
THE Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has refuted yesterday’s Island Sun front-page article which seem to wrongly imply that 38 Members of Parliament have unlawfully benefitted from a discretionary funding payment between January and February this year. Chief of Staff in the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Mr Robson Djokovic said the truth of the matter is that a total of $12.85-Million has been released within that period of time to 43 Members of Parliament (MPs). Mr Djokovic said $12.43 Million is discretionary funding which MPsRead More
Town Planning Bill to enhance development plans
AMENDMENTS in the Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Bill 2016 will enhance the existing legislation on town planning, however, doubts on bodies to be created bearing conflict of interest remains a worry. The Chairman of the Bills and Legislation Committee (BLC) and Member of Parliament for North West Choiseul, Hon Connelly Sandakabatu confidently made the statement in Parliament this week. Hon Sandakabatu made the statement in his capacity as Chairman of the BLC. The amendment in the existing Act “is to replace the unnecessarily separate concept of Local Planning andRead More
Dr Aipia’s case adjourned
CASE against Dr Reginald Aipia has adjourned for Thursday this week. The case was mentioned in the Honiara Magistrate Court in Honiara before Principal Magistrate Augustine Aulanga yesterday. Dr Aipia was charged for unlawful possession of beche-de-mer when it is banned in 2013. Hearing of evidence into his case has been adjourned since last year due to Prosecution witnesses not being available for the trial. Dr Reginald Aipia was charged with possession of beche-de-mer for export contrary to section (c/s) 13A of Fisheries Act of 2009. This is in relationRead More
Former CBSI employee denies charge
FORMER employee of the Central Bank of Solomon Island Tommy Qazobatu has pleaded not guilty to stealing more than SBD$800,000 from the bank in 2013. When arraigned in court yesterday he denied the charge and a pre-trial conference is set for February 28. Mr Qazobatu was alleged of stealing more than SBD$800,000 when he was an employee of the CBSI between the months of February and March, 2013. Chief Magistrate John Numapo, after the accused entered a not-guilty plea, adjourned the case for the next 14 days for the prosecutionRead More