Politics Archive October 2007

Tuhanuku Urges Police Head to Listen to Locals' Critics

The Chief Executive Officer of the Transparency Solomon Islands, Joses Tuhanuku, urged the Commissioner of Police to listen to criticisms and comments from people in Solomon Islands.

TSI Executive Officer Responds to Charges

The Executive Officer of the Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI) said decisions to press charges on views raised in the media is a right not to be disputed.

Senior Police Officer Attacks Civilian

An attack on a civilian by a senior police officer stirred public reaction in Honiara.

PM Considers Defamation Charges on TSI Exec Officer

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare is seriously considering pressing charges of defamation of character against the Executive Officer of Transparency Solomon Islands.

Solomons Laws Do Not Recognise Same-Sex Marriage: Oti

Solomon Islands Laws does not recognise same-sex marriage.

Govt Appoints First Female For Top PS Post

The government has appointed the first female as Secretary to Cabinet.

Gov't Appreciates Forum's Understanding on Review

The Pacific Islands forum has taken note of the intention of the Solomon Islands government to review the Facilitation of the International Assistance Act.

Four Permanent Secretaries Takes Oath

A swearing-in ceremony of four Permanent Secretaries took place at the Government House.

Gov't to Pursue Review of Facilitation Act

Review of the Facilitation of International Assistance Act, (FIAA) will be pursued, states Foreign Affairs Minister, Patteson Oti.

Changes to Facilitation Act May Destroy RAMSI: Downer

Australian Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, stated in an interview with Radio Australia that the Solomon Islands government could destroy RAMSI if it tampers with the Facilitation Act.

Magistrates Dismiss Robbery Charge on Sir Allan

The Honiara Magistrates Court has dismissed a robbery charge against former Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Sir Allan Kemakeza.

Combined Gov't Delegation Trip to Taiwan

A government delegation leaves Honiara for Taiwan today.

G-Province Premier Denies Allegations

Guadalcanal Premier, Joash Salani, has refuted statements made recently by the Province's former deputy Premier, Stephen Panga.

Trial of Former PM Continues

The trial of former Prime Minister, Sir Allan Kemakeza, on allegations made against him by a local law firm Sol-Law, continued this morning at the magistrates' court.

Opposition Should Retract Negative Statements: Kengava

The recently sworn in Minister for Rural Development and Indigenous Affairs, Clement Kengava, has lashed out at recent media statements made by the opposition Leader, Fred Fono.

MPs Should Carry Out Own Survey on RAMSI: Fono

The Opposition is calling on members of parliament to carry out surveys in their own constituencies on whether the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands should remain.

Sogavare's Leadership Not Under Any Threat: Ne'e

Recent media reports have speculated that the leadership of the Prime Minister is under threat after he decided to boycott the Forum Leaders meeting in Tonga.

Kemakeza Case Goes Before the Courts

Today, at the magistrate court, was the much awaited trial of former Prime Minister, Sir Allen Kemakeza.

Fono Deplores Government's Boycott of Forum Meet

Parliamentary Opposition Leader, Fred Fono, has deplored the government's decision not to attend the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders summit currently underway in Tonga.

Oti Boycotts Forum Leaders Retreat

Foreign Affairs Minister, Patteson Oti, will not be present during the Plenary Session and the Leaders Retreat of the 38th Pacific Forum Leaders meeting beginning today and Wednesday.

Constitutional Congress Closes for the Year

The official closing of the Constitutional Review Congress took place last week with a function at the Honiara hotel.

Equal Participation for Taiwan: Pacific Allies

The second Taiwan-Pacific Allies Summit concluded late last Friday evening with the signing of a declaration.

Sogavare Explains Absence from Forum Meet

Manasseh Sogavare says his government decided not to attend the Forum Leaders meeting in Tonga because discrepancies emerging from the Forum Review of RAMSI needs to be sorted out first.

MPs Acquitted by High Court

Two high profile cases involving Charles Dausabea and Nelson Ne'e, both of whom are Parliamentarians, have been acquitted by the High Court.

NCW Response Ludicrous: Caucus

The chairman of Government Caucus, Nelson Ne'e, has described the media statement by the National Council of Women in response to his comments on the survey by RAMSI as ludicrous.

Public Reaction to PM's Skip of Pacific Leaders Meet

The Prime Minister's non-attendance of the Pacific Leaders Meeting in Tonga next week has raised mixed reaction from the general public in the capital, Honiara.

PM Sogavare Explains Absence in Pacific Leaders Forum

Solomon Islands Prime Minister says his decision to skip the Pacific Islands Forum Meeting in Tonga is made to avoid a clash with the Taiwan-Pacific Allies Summit in Marshall Islands.

Prime Minister Should Attend Forum Meet: Huni'ehu

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare's decision not to attend the Forum meeting in Nukualofa, Tonga, next week has raised criticisms.

PM Sogavare Boycotts Pacific Leaders Meeting

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare is reportedly boycotting this year's Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) leaders summit.

New Justice and Legal Affairs Minister Sworn-In

A new Minister for Justice and Legal Affairs has been appointed.

We Are Not Out to Destroy RAMSI: Oti

Foreign Affairs Minister, Patterson Oti, has rejected claims by his Australian counterpart, Alexander Downer, that he wants to destroy the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands.

Kemakeza Testifies at Riot Inquiry

Suspicion of Chinese involvement in the election of Snyder Rini as Prime Minister sparked last year's April riots, the Commission of Inquiry was informed.

RAMSI Survey Questionable - Caucus

The Chairman of Government Caucus, Nelson Ne'e said the report on the 'People's Survey 2007' "contained some illogical findings".

Downer: 'Think of the Ordinary People'

Solomon Islands Government needs to think about the interests of the ordinary people of the Solomons, not just about their own personal interests.

Oti's Claim Untrue: Hooton

Claims by the Minister of Foreign Affairs that the Australian Government had his multiple entry visa cancelled in response to fears of international terrorism has been dismissed as "untrue".

Opposition MPs Not Switching

The Parliamentary Opposition has flatly denied a claim by the Finance and Treasury Minister, Gordon Darcy Lilo, that some of his MPs intend to switch to the government.

Lilo Orders Investigation into Peoples Survey

The Peoples Survey is under scrutiny with the Finance Minister, Gordon Lilo, odering a full investigation into the involvement of the Ministry of Finance & Treasury's Statistics Division.

Oti Speaks on RAMSI at the UN Meet

The Sogavare Government has initiated a parliamentary review of the legislative basis for the continued presence of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands.

Constitutional Congress Meets Today

The Constitutional Congress holds its second meeting today to look at specific sections of the Draft Federal Constitution.

Foreign Minister Oti Meets Fiji's Prime Minister

Foreign Minister Patteson Oti met with Commodore Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, Prime Minister of Fiji, in New York.