Unearthing stories that matters |
by Ronald Toito’ona Former Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has dismissed speculation that his recent defection from the Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT) as finance minister was motivated by personal ambition to reclaim the country’s top political post. Responding to a direct question during a press conference today, on…
by Ronald Toito’ona Former Infrastructure Minister Manasseh Maelanga has dismissed claims of political opportunism, saying his group’s exit from the GNUT government was driven by failed leadership and national interest. “We are not grasshopping,” Maelanga declared during a press conference in Honiara today. “We are senior leaders. If you look…
by Ronald Toito’ona Manasseh Sogavare and Manasseh Maelanga took to a media conference today to tell the nation why they deserted the Jeremiah Manele-led Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT) in a move that shocked the nation, Monday. “The GNUT coalition started its journey on a very shaky ground…
by Georgina Maka’a Solomon Islanders may soon see the formation of a new coalition government. This follows the resignation of 10 government MPs — five ministers and five backbenchers — this afternoon. The group is being led by Finance and Treasury Minister Manasseh Sogavare, who is also the parliamentary wing…
How a shipment of nickel ore destined for China was diverted to Indonesia and sold there instead. by Charley Piringi On the remote shores of East Choiseul, 55,000 metric tonnes of nickel ore worth millions of dollars were loaded into a bulk carrier destined for China in February this year. Solomon…
Leaders of Papua New Guinea and would-be nation Bougainville are holding moderated talks this week in Port Moresby to clarify the province’s pathway to independence. Bougainville, an autonomous region in Papua New Guinea’s east, has long sought independence, even declaring as much without success in 1975. In 2019, 98 per…
by Ednal Palmer WEST Honiara Member of Parliament Namson Tran has been cleared of election bribery allegations filed through an election petition after last April’s national General Elections. Solomon Islands High Court Judge and Chief Justice Sir Albert Palmer struck out the election petition case today on the basis that the…
by Georgina Maka’a Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele today confirmed Sir Jimmie Rodgers, who holds the position of Secretary to Prime Minister (SPM), has been reassigned on special duties. Dr Melchoir Mataki, currently the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of National Planning and Development Coordination, is the new SPM. Manele, who…
by Christopher Chevalier and Clive Moore This month marks the 25th anniversary of the death of Solomon Mamaloni, one of the foremost founding fathers of the nation. ‘Solo’, as he was popularly known, was only 56 years old when he died on 11 January 2000 at Central Hospital in Honiara.…
A major donor-funded water plant in the capital of Solomon Islands was supposed to fix a clean water crisis. But people involved in the project said it was doomed by the Asian Development Bank’s insistence on taking the lowest bid. KEY POINTS: by Charley Piringi (In-depth Solomons), Ofani Eremae (In-depth…
