Unearthing stories that matters |
By Charley Piringi Hyperchem Pharmacy (Solomon) Ltd has categorically denied any involvement or knowledge of Aiyaz Mohammed Musa Umarji’s alleged methamphetamine dealings. Umarji, who’s family owns 70% share in Hyperchem Solomons, was jailed for four years recently in New Zealand, over illegal importation of drugs. Director of Hyperchem Solomon, Ken…
A pair of Chinese scam artists wanted to turn a radiation-soaked Pacific atoll into afuture metropolis. They ended up in an American jail instead. How they got there is anuntold tale of international bribery and grifting that stretched to the very center of theUnited Nations. By Aubrey Belford, Kevin G.…
BY AUBREY BELFORD (OCCRP), ABC An Australian-owned mobile phone operator in the Pacific Islands has likely been used by private spy firms to track people on the other side of the world and steal their data, according to an expert cyber security analysis. Digicel Pacific’s network resources have been exploited…
A Palauan newspaper publisher entered into a media deal with a company thatturned out to have connections to Chinese security services. The deal fell through, but it highlights China’s efforts to influence the Pacific states — including Palau, a U.S. ally and one of the few countries to recognise Taiwan.…
by Charley Piringi Illegal gold mining activities in the Central Guadalcanal region of the Solomon Islands is affecting the health of a local river and traditional Indigenous ways of life. “Eat like a king, and sleep like a rat!” This is a common phrase in the Central Guadalcanal region in the…
by Charley Piringi A mining operation in Solomon Islands owes millions in unpaid taxes and royalties, according to a former senior government figure, with a report showing that the mining companies had not paid taxes or royalties on one-third of their exports over the last five years. According to a summary of…
by Charley Piringi AUD5.2 MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF GOLD ILLEGAL DEAL Nearly 80 Kilograms of gold worth around AUD 5.2 million (SBD30 million) dollars has been exported out from the Solomon Islands by Asians through local gold dealers license, Primo Kenny and Jeremy Rex of Guadalcanal. More than 20 kg…
by Ofani Eremae Villagers fight to reclaim stolen logs from Gov’t & Asian logger AT Korona logging base on San Jorge island in Solomon Islands’ Isabel province, the logging machinery lay quiet. Except for the movement of three local security guards, the silence in this once bustling log pond was deafening.…
The last pockets of bauxite-rich soil in Rennell are being dug up and shipped out, leaving residents with little land for agriculture. The bauxite mining operation in West Rennell has been dubbed “messed up” by the Solomon Island’s highest mining official. Ministry of Mines Director Nicholas Biliki told SIBC News that…
Questions are circulating about whether BMC mining was granted its license fairly and whether it should be paying taxes on all the bauxite it’s exporting. More than 100 shipments of bauxite have been exported from Rennell Atoll since Bintang Mining Company (SI) Ltd (BMC) began operations there in 2013, landowner…
