Unearthing stories that matters |
The Panguna mine made a fortune but left war and pollution in its wake. A new lawsuit backed by anonymous investors is now seeking billions in compensation – and raising concerns about who stands to benefit. by Aubrey Belford (OCCRP) High in the forested mountains of Papua New Guinea’s Bougainville…
by Lamantha Lano The 17 member countries of the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) were called on to see the critical need for sustainable fisheries management, Solomon Islands Deputy Prime Minister Bradley Tovosia says. Speaking yesterday at the opening of the 23rd Annual Ministerial Forum Fisheries Committee (FFC) and the 5th…
by Gina Maka’a Solomon Islands has lost millions of dollars in log export revenue over the last 15 years due to lack of monitoring and compliance checks, the nation’s top forestry administrator has admitted. To address the issue, Richard Raomae, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Forestry and Research, said…
by Charley Piringi The Rennell landowners are questioning the government again about the status of their royalty payments for the 33 bauxite shipments worth millions and their compensation claims for the Kangava Bay oil spill in 2018. Furthermore, Penrose Palmer, a Land Acquisition Officer who falsified documents for land acquired…
by Charley Piringi Royalty Payments for six shipments of nickel from Isabel province made last year are withheld at the Central Bank of Solomon Islands. The shipments were from Kolosori and Suma Mining tenements, with three shipments from each, owned by Pacific Nickle and Solomon Islands Resources Company Ltd respectively. …
Combatting IUU fishing to promote sustainable fisheries across the Pacific is a key outcome of Operation Tui Moana 2024 (OPTM24), which came to a close today. The two- week long Operation saw the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) and its Members, the Pacific Quadrilateral Defence Coordination Group (Pacific QUADs) and partners, safeguarding the…
by Charley Piringi Resource owners have demanded that the Mineral Resources Bill 2023 be deferred to allow for further consultations and review before it is tabled in parliament. They made their stand known during a three-day consultation held in Honiara this week on the proposed mining legislation. The bill had…
by Charley Piringi “The name ‘Win-Win’ was all in the philosophy that both win. The company wins, and the landowner wins,” Sailosi Nakelekelevesi, a Fijian national and former Win-Win director, explained. Nakelekelevesi, whose business relationship with Win-Win boss Dan Shi, a Chinese national, later fell apart, was involved in the…
For more than a decade, logging companies have been trying to win the timber rights and approvals to log the pristine forest on Lupa Vangunu, close to the Zaira community. But members from the Dokoso, Sugili and Tavoamai Tribes want to develop a conservation and carbon project that protects the…
Neighbours from the Diocese of the Anglican Church of Melanesia in the Central Province of Solomon Islands in Tulagi island are now benefiting from wider coastal protection against erosion after the construction of a new sea wall. Tulagi island is proving to be increasingly vulnerable due to climate change. When…
