A total of 83 government sponsored students in overseas institutions have had their scholarships terminated at the end of semester one 2019 for poor academic performance. 35 students were from USP Laucala campus, while 30 were from Fiji National University, 17 from institutions in Philippines and only one from PNG based institutions. From UNITECH/Auckland a government sponsored student was sent back because of visa issues. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development said this is the lowest number compared to previous years. Dr. Franco Rodie said in previous years, between 100 to 200 students were often terminated at the end of each semester because of under-performance. He said MEHRD is pleased with the success rate of SIG sponsored students in semester one and they encouraged students to continue to study hard. Recently, a number of the students being sent home from institutions in Fiji were seen binge drinking on board a...

PERMANENT Secretary of the Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services (MPNSCS), Ms. Karen Galokale has highlighted the value of the ongoing dialogue on border security management between Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea this week. Opening the 8 th SI-PNG Joint Border Committee (JBC) meeting Monday this week on the famous Kennedy Island in Gizo, Ms. Galokale said the 8 th JBC provides a vital opportunity for officials to discuss issues relating to the two countries security, bilateral relations and development partnership. She said the gathering in Gizo this week is not only a symbol of the two Governments’ mandate but a symbol of our desire to expand and express our two countries’ national interests in relation to border management . The meeting which is currently underway at Gizo Hotel followed on from the 7 th JBC held in Kokopo, East New Britain Province of Papua New Guinea in 2016. Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea shared a common maritim...

PREMIER of Western Province Hon. David Gina has called on the Solomon Islands-PNG Joint Border Committee (JBC) to prioritize reconciliation and reparation for border residents before any border management plans can meaningfully implemented. Premier Gina (Pic: Director, GCU) Premier Gina who was Chief Guest made the call at the start of the 8 th Joint Border Committee meeting in Gizo which formally began in Gizo, Western Province today (Wednesday 28 August). More than 40 officials from security agencies from both Solomon Islands and PNG are gathering in Gizo this week to review and discuss further improvements to existing agreements and arrangements relating to border management between the two countries. Premier Gina said the JBC is a bi-annual event that has now reached its 8 th gathering in Gizo this week but previous resolutions or outcomes were only made at the diplomatic or official level which makes his people wonder whether the implementation resolutions wo...

SOLOMON Islands and Papua New Guinea governments are having joint border talks in the western province. From Western Province, Director Government Communication Unit, Mr. George Herming said border issues between Solomon Islands government and PNG are in the interests of both countries. He said this was highlighted in the speech of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Police, Correctional Service and National Security, Ms. Karen Galokale. (Audio) Director GCU, George Herming report from Gizo, Western Province

THE National Training Unit (NTU) in the Education Ministry is calling on students studying in higher Education Institutions to send in their academic transcripts and confirmation of registration. A statement from MEHRD says after the July holidays, students are expected to send to NTU these documents. MEHRD says this is important so that NTU can monitor and evaluate their progress from the previous trimester. MEHRD says every government sponsored students are obliged to provide details of their academic transcript and registration details before NTU can pay their allowances. The statement says students that have not sent in their transcripts and registration detail will expect to have their allowances delayed. Based on the documents, NTU will make decisions whether to terminate scholarships or not. Under-performers will have their scholarship terminated. It is understood a number of SIG sponsored students in higher education institutions overseas have had their scholarshi...

THE people of Aola, East Central Guadalcanal will soon have access to better health care closer to home, thanks to a partnership between the community and Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS), the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the World Health Organization (WHO).         Members of the Aola Clinic Committee met with (from right, in front) Dr Joel Denty, Guadalcanal Provincial Health Director, Mrs Michelle Kim from KOICA (centre), WHO Representative to the Solomon Islands Dr Sevil Huseynova (left), technical officers from WHO, and project manager Kramer Ausenco. Members of the Aola Clinic Committee met with representatives of the three organizations last week to discuss plans for the refurbishment of the Aola Area Health Centre, which serves a catchment area of around 10,000 people. Improvements will include a completely renovated clinic building – including a confidential space for survivors of domestic violence - running wat...

THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Temotu Vatud, Hon. Freda Tuki has denied signing a statement pledging her support for Taiwan. She said she has not signed any document and she was quite shocked to see her name appear in the list of Pro-Taiwan MPs.  Tuki said at this point in time, she wants to remain neutral in her position.  She says as an MP and Minister, she would rather have government full fill its 100 days policy  that directly affect the people of Solomon Islands, than bicker over China and Taiwan. Ms. Tuki said her stand will only be made known once the fact finding mission compiled their report and Caucus meet to deliberate on this issue. She said proper consultations must be done before any decision is made. However she is of the opinion this should not be an immediate priority for government.  She said government should be left alone to focus on full filling it's 100 days policy. But as Minister, she said, her decision ...

THE next phase of the Kukum Highway Project is expected to continue in October 2019. This was reaffirmed by Japan’s Vice-Minister for  Foreign Affairs, Mr. Norikazu Suzuki when he paid a courtesy visit to  Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare recently. Mr. Suzuki said the Japanese government will continue with the second phase of the Kukum Highway project while at the same time, expressed his hope for a smooth process in dealing with land issues. Suzuki says his government is also keen to continue the work to upgrade the Henderson International airport and hopes the issues of land are dealt with smoothly. During their meeting, Mr. Suzuki reaffirms Japan’s relationship with the Solomon Islands and said Japan will continue to support Solomon Islands in its development plans. ENDS///

A housing scheme is being developed by the national government for public officers. Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said more than a thousand houses will be constructed for public officers and the government is contemplating funds from the International Finance Cooperation, IFC. Prime Minister Sogavare says while in Tuvalu, he has held talks with the IFC group and the public housing scheme was one of the issues discussed. Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare (Photo: GCU)   (Audio) Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare "We are connecting the loop holes now. The financing aspect of it, if it come's from IFC it will be very interesting. We already have an investor coming here to construct the more than 1000 houses for public officers", Sogavare said. Sogavare was speaking to journalists upon his arrival from Tuvalu. Since 2014 there has been a nine percent growth in the recruitment of public officers. Currently, almost 20 thousand officers are e...

SOLOMON Islands Opposition Leader, Mathew Wale says he is shocked by a statement issued by 15 Members of Parliament on their stand on the China/Taiwan issue. This week a statement was issued by 15 MPs of the DCGA government, pledging their support for Taiwan. However, Opposition Leader, Mathew Wale says the revelations clearly undermine the purpose of establishing a by-partisan task force. He said it appears the bi-partisan task force was merely a political gimmick by the Prime Minister to manage MPs in his government who prefer China. Wale said the PM's political gimmickry also demonstrated he is willing to recklessly spend public money on the bi partisan task force while more pressing needs such as shortage of medicine in rural clinics and the Kongulai water source treatment continue to cry out for scarce resources.  The Opposition Leader added that reliable sources within Government confirmed the whole bi partisan task force exercise will cost the government a...

BY GEORGINA KEKEA OPPOSITION leader, Mathew Wale has commended Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare for his stand on the West Papua issue at the Pacific Islands Forum Meeting currently underway in Tuvalu. In a tweet message via his personal account, Opposition Leader Mathew Wale, said, ‘Well done’ PM Sogavare! This is in response to a tweet by PIANGO (Pacific Islands Association of Non-Government Organization) quoting PM Sogavare as saying ‘It is time to stop the violence against West Papua. It was only when parliament met earlier this month (August) Mr. Wale has made a call on Prime Minister Sogavare to join the government of Vanuatu in pushing for the review of the earlier resolution made by the Pacific Forum on the issue of West Papua.  Wale said Prime Minister Sogavare should join the government of Vanuatu in championing the push at the regional level and to take a strong stand on the issue against Indonesia. It is understood, Sogavare has told the pac...

BY GEORGINA KEKEA THE water crisis in Honiara have been raised in parliament with questions being bombarded at the Mines Minister, Bradley Tovosia.  Being head of the Ministry responsible for Solomon Water, Tovosia was being questioned on what government is doing to address the water 'turbidity' issue in Honiara when parliament last met. In response, Tovosia said his Ministry will work together with Solomon Water to ensure a treatment plant is installed at Lunga River. However, Mr. Wale says this is a medium term plan and asked what the immediate plan of the government is when water is switched off. He said $10m was understood to be the amount of money needed by Solomon Water to install a treatment plant at Kongulai and he questioned what government will do to assist Solomon Water. Solomon Water volunteer and his counterpart Josh Torenn testing Honiara’s main water supply at the Kongulai water source (Photo DFAT) From his response, it was clearly ev...