Politics Archive October 2008

The Government has defended its plan to sign a bilateral cooperation agreement with Iran pointing out that Iran has diplomatic relations with 102 countries, including Australia and New Zealand.

The Prime Minister and his Cabinet Ministers went to the RAMSI Base at Guadalcanal Beach Resort yesterday to meet with the Heads of RAMSI and the Participating Police Force (PPF).

RAMSI Special Coordinator Tim George and Participating Police Force (PPF) Commander Denis McDermott today welcomed the Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Dr Derek Sikua, and his Cabinet to RAMSI headquarters at the Guadalcanal Beach Resort (GBR).

A second meeting of the Guadalcanal Peace and Reconciliation Committee is rescheduled to kick-off early next month.

The Solomon Islands government has come under fire over its moves to strengthen bilateral ties with Iran, a country branded by the United States as a member of the "axis of evil."

The Honiara Magistrates Court yesterday acquitted Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua of traffic-related charges.

At least six Malaysian logging companies, mostly family based, are reported to be supporting the formation of the National Alliance Party of Solomon Islands (NAPSI), led by Honiara businessman, Bobo Dettke.

Minister of Environment Gordon Darcy Lilo is calling on Deputy Opposition Leader Japhet Waipora to avoid making irresponsible calls to the Prime Minister to remove ministers.

The Environment and Conservation Minister, Gordon Darcy Lilo, has totally denied having sent anyone to ask RIPEL Chairman Patrick Wong for corrupt payments totaling $3 Million.

The Acting Police Commissioner Walter Kola has denied rumours that the recent stabbing at the Honiara Central Market could spark a reoccurrence of the Guadalcanal ethnic tension.

Solomon Islands has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC), and the International Organisation for Migration to implement a Border Strengthening Program in Solomon Islands.

The Prime Minister's drink-driving case ended late yesterday afternoon at the Magistrate Court.

The Minister for Public Service, Milner Tozaka and his Permanent Secretary Ishmael Avui has left for the Caribbean nation of Barbados, for a Commonwealth minister's forum on public sector development.

Yesterday the Prime Minister admitted in court that he had used abusive language to police officers on the 3rd of February, 2006.

The Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Fred Fono held a press conference yesterday to defend the governments much touted rural development policy.

Prime Minister, Dr. Derek Sikua, this morning appeared before the Magistrate Court in relation to a traffic-related offence he was charged for.

The second phase of the intra - reconciliation program was successfully completed recently throughout the four regions of Malaita Province.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was said to have not been offended by Dr. Derek Sikua's absence during his address to the recent United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Solomon Islands Foreign Affairs Minister, William Haomae has described a media report that Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua had snubbed Rudd as fabricated lies.

Members of Parliment, including eight Government Ministers who obtained loans of SBD$50 thousand from a Honiara businessman, may soon be investigated under the Leadership Code Commission Act for misconduct in office.

The Prime Minister, Dr Derek Sikua, has denied that there is a split in the CNURA Government Camp.

Preparatory work is well under way for an eventual formal reconciliation conference between Malaita and Guadalcanal led by their respective premiers.

The Leader of Opposition, Hon. Manasseh Sogavare, in a press statement calls on the Prime Minister to remain firm on the stance he took to discipline senior Ministers who joined the new Political party, SNAP.

Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua says he will attend the hearing of allegations against him for a traffic offense at the Magistrates Court in Honiara on October 21.

Some government ministers who took loans from a private businessman have been given an ultimatum to pay up their loans or join the business person's new political party. The new political party, Solomons National Alliance Party (SNAP), has been formed to compete in the upcoming general elections in 2010.

The Chairman of the Leadership Code Commission Emmanual Kouhota has warned that "corruption is not only increasing but that people who are involved in corruption are also getting smarter and smarter."

Solomon Islands will need to have a highly modified federal system.

The Ministry of Finance is reported by the Office of the Auditor General to have committed extensive breaches of normal procedures and financial instructions in the disbursement of a SBD$9-Million Fisheries Project in 2007.

The Solomon Islands Government has signed the Contract Agreement and Tender Documents for the construction of the New Solomon Islands High Commission Chancery Building Complex in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

A candidate in the recent East Honiara bye-election, Yukio Sato, has claimed that a Police Sergeant, serving with Guadalcanal Province, had written him a letter asking for one thousand five hundred dollars in return for political support.

The Former Chairman of the Solomon Islands National Peace Council, Mr Paul Tovua, has again joined police and RAMSI officials on the Weather Coast to talk with the community about finding the best way to bring several suspects to justice.