CBSI: Sharp decline in log exports
By EDDIE OSIFELO SOLOMON Islands is seeing a sharp decline in its log exports. The decline began in 2020, and this year saw a huge drop in the volume of log export. In 2020, log export was 2.34 million cubic…
Eddie Osifelo
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Government to pay Levers $50m in 3 instalments
By EDDIE OSIFELO Government will pay Levers Solomon Ltd (LSL) $50 million, as had been ordered by the Court, in three instalments. Permanent secretary to the Ministry of Finance, McKinnie Dentana told the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) this in parliament…
$544M LOAN FOR TOWERS
First 38, of 163, to be completed before PG23 By EDDIE OSIFELO GOVERNMENT yesterday confirmed it will obtain a loan of US$66 million ($544.3 million) from China to fund 163 telecommunication towers it plans to build across the country. “It’s…
PM writes reference letter for thief, looter
By EDDIE OSIFELO PRIME Minister Manasseh Sogavare wrote a character reference letter to support a Dion Kingi Paul, who pleaded guilty to stealing by looting wheels during flooding in Queensland, Australia, early this year. Courier Mail crime reporter, Patrick Billings…
Government fines Win-Win over gold smuggling
By EDDIE OSIFELO THE Government has charged Win Win mining company an administration fine after it tried to evade customs at the Honiara International Airport by smuggling 1.7 kilograms or $700,000 of pure gold in 2019. According to Section 214…
Ete slams Government policy on UXO
By EDDIE OSIFELO MEMBER of Parliament for East Honiara, Douglas Ete has described the government’s policy on Unexploded Ordinances (UXO) as trying to look for a “pin in a haystack”. Ete made this scathing comment in Parliament last week after…
Riot torn businesses to receive payments soon
By EDDIE OSIFELO ABOUT 162 businesses affected by the looting and burning down during the riots last November are expected to receive their payments soon. About $125 million is allocated under the 2022 National Budget to meet the cost. This…
Tovosia: We will be careful in handling deep-sea mining
By EDDIE OSIFELO THE Government will be very careful in handling the issue of deep-sea mining in the country, Mines minister Tovosia says. THE Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification will be guided by the following international obligations and…
Solomon Islands joins global voice on seas treaty
By EDDIE OSIFELO Solomon Islands has joined the global call to have the United Nations Inter-Governmental Conference to conclude its work on the “BBNJ” Treaty, also known as the “Treaty of the High Seas” this year. The BBNJ is an…
MINING ROW BREWS UP ON SAN JORGE
By EDDIE OSIFELO ANOTHER row over resources is brewing on the resource-rich island of San Jorge in Isabel Province. This time, it’s over minerals. It comes as the long-running legal battle over the island’s rare tubi trees between resource owners…