The attack happened at Kakaza village on the southern part of Choisuel on Monday and villagers are still searching for her body along the river where she was swimming at the time of her disappearance.

One villager stated that rivers around Choiseul are infested with crocodiles and has supported calls to the government for the lifting on the ban imposed on crocodile hunting as an alternative to decreasing the high number of crocodiles.

Meanwhile a large crocodile was spotted along the waters near the children's park area in west of Honiara over the weekend, the sighting prompted police to warn the public of wandering into the area in which the crocodile was seen.

The men's and women's national basketball team played six games each against the NSW senior state league teams. Waige Turueke (pictured on the right with team mate Mose)contributed a significant record averaging 33 points per game which resulted in the men's team winning five games and conceding one loss. The women's team lost two games and won four games.

"Waige Turueke averaged 33 points per game and was the top player throughout the games. On court he's an effective player. He rebounds, defends and shoots crucial baskets for the team", says national coach Ryan Burns.Coach Burns stated that Waige Turueke stood tall by shooting five 3 pointers in a row to beat the NSW state league champions Grafton in the 3rd quarter and eventually winning the game 64-56 at fulltime.

Coach Burns said Anthony Prince played a strong game along with Davidson Toliliu who was also consistent through the games. Allen was injured in the 3rd game which gave the opportunity for the young players to fill in.

"Moses Au filled in for Allen and had a good test of big matches" said coach Burns.Burns reminded the players that the tour is only part of their preparations for the SPG in Apia, Samoa.

"The work is not finished we are still preparing and the tour was good to show the weaknesses in the team", says Burns.In the women's team Natala Pongi was consistent and played very well as she had showed throughout the league in Honiara. Jesse Konofilia was also impressive displaying her experience which was much needed in the women's camp.

Torrential rain during the weekend has severely affected food gardens and fruit trees on the areas where more than 80 villages have been affected by the weekend floods, when floods rose 8-10 meters to overwhelm most of the river bank villages Sunday afternoon.

Most of the affected communities are situated along the two main rivers of Mbokokimbo and Monga rivers.

In both areas, more than 3000 people are forced to move to higher grounds when the flood ran over river banks and into villages. Floods have also destroyed pig pens and poultry houses. No casualties have yet been reported.

A local elder of Tupa village near the Mbokokimbo River, Mr Warren George, has yesterday, called on responsible authorities to immediately send assessments teams to the areas so that some form of relief assistance can be given to the affected communities.

Mr George said most of the villages on the Mbokokimbo delta have virtually all their food gardens ravaged by the flood.

“More than 95 percent of our food gardens are totally destroyed. What makes the situation all more difficult is the fact that even fruit trees like bananas that usually support us in these situations are also being destroyed.”

“The flood has also washed away the coconuts seeds from our plantations. It is only fortunate that the rain finally stopped and the flood receded,” said Mr George.
Mr George has also called on the Parliament Members and Provincial Members from the areas to visit and assist in providing relief assistance to the areas.

“The people are suffering and they need immediate assistance from somebody, especially our politicians,” he said.

The Solomon Islands Meteorogical Service said the heavy rains were the result of a trough caused by the meeting of moderate southeasterly trade winds from the different islands, and the weather has also affected other islands in the country, notably Makira and Temotu provinces.

Climate Section Officer of the Meteorological Service, Mr Lloyd Tahani said rainfall at the Henderson Station for the past week rose 175% to 165 mm, compared to 24 mm for the same week last year.

He said the climate condition experienced during the period from Friday 22nd to Wednesday 27th June 2007 was an ‘unusual condition’ from the normal climate condition during the month of June.

A representative from the Disaster Office said relief assistance would be given to the flood victims when the assessment team produces a report on their findings.

"It is amazing to note that the import duties were reduced very early this year, it is unclear to me why the Government chose to do such a thing"The Government has already signed up to the Pacific Island Countries Trade Agreement, commonly known as PICTA, and part of the condition in PICTA is a reduction in import duties by an agreed percentage.

"Currently the Solomon Islands has put its import duties at 10%, by way of comparison Fiji has its import duties at approximately 40%, if we were to reduce our rates to comply with PICTA we would be one of the biggest losers in the Pacific Region" said the local economist.

"We might as well import goods for free"The local economist went on to say that the government must re-look at its rates because not only is the Solomon Islands foregoing huge amounts of money, it is also setting itself up for huge disappointments when PICTA comes into effect.

"I think whoever was assigned to set up the import duty has a responsibility to explain to the public why he chose to peg the rate at 10%"It is a huge risk and I must reiterate that the Solomon Islands will loose out if PICTA was implemented tomorrow, but as it is we still have time to reverse the situation"

The Police were reportedly acting on a complaint lodged by an unknown source stating that certain people within the Judiciary are working against the lifting of the suspension order of Moti as Attorney General. An application for a search warrant was then given to the Police by the high court to search the Solicitor General's office. At 4.30 pm on Friday the 22nd of June, Police raided the office of Ranjit Hewagama and took away a computer, letters and files.

On the same evening, Ranjit Hewagama's lawyer lodged an injunction with the High Court to challenge the Police action. Ken Averre, Mr. Hewagama's lawyer, argued that the items confiscated were privileged documents and should never be taken. Furthermore, the documents were never mentioned in the search warrant.

Mr Avere requested to the courts that the items remain in the High Court premises and not with the Police. The court, after hearing Ranjit's application, then ordered the Police to return the computer, letters and the files to be stored in the High Court premises. The hearing was then adjourned for the next morning. The following morning on Saturday the 23rd of June, Ranjit turned up with his lawyer while the Police failed to bring their legal representative.

Since the court can not proceed without a lawyer for the Police, the hearing was then adjourned to Wednesday 27th June. A source close to the hearing stated that the Police are playing a delaying tactic. Calls made to the Director of Public Prosecution about the raid revealed that Mr.

Talasasa was not aware of the proceedings. Mr Talasasa stated that the proceedings were news to him and he would be sending an officer to the high court immediately.A reliable source stated that an unknown person raised a complaint with the Police stating that there are people within the judiciary conspiring to prevent Moti from assuming the role of AG.

The source said that to conspire would involve more than one person and the raid on Ranjit's office, a member of the Judiciary Legal Services Commission, is obviously targeting the Commission. The drama only revealed that the Sogavare-led government is determined, regardless of the civil societies protests that Moti will assume the role of Attorney General as soon as the suspended order is lifted.

It is understood that the Acting AG's term will lapse at the end of the month and the government has no intention of extending the Acting AG's term in office and is looking forward to the appointment of Moti as AG.

The Sogavare-led government is intending to introduce an Amendment Bill to change parts of the International Facilitation Act 2003 in next month's session of Parliament.

The Facilitating Act which provides the over-arching framework for RAMSI's operation in the country has recently been the center of debate. The Parliament, if allowed to debate the Amendments, may interfere with the work of the Forum team that is currently reviewing the work of RAMSI.

This will also confirm or dispel speculations amongst observers and political commentators that the Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and his supporters only have one ultimate goal; to get rid of RAMSI. The goal could also be the fundamental underlying reason for the Government's current stand-off with Australia.

When the Sogavare-led Government announced its intentions to introduce the amendments in a joint consultative meeting in Honiara last week with representatives of the Pacific Forum and RAMSI which caused an uneasy feeling amongst the representatives of the Forum and RAMSI.

The Pacific Forum Consultative Group meeting, second of its kind since February, is known as the Enhanced Consultative Mechanisms (ECM) between SIG and RAMSI. It was established and mandated by the Pacific Forum leaders at their meeting in Nadi last October to undertake a review of RAMSI.The Forum in that meeting agreed to set up the ECM to review RAMSI following stand-offs between the Sogavare-led government and Australia.

Since the Sogavare-led Government came into power in April last year and given the fact that the mission is largely financed by the Australian Government, there has been a period of uneasiness between the two countries to which there are direct implications on RAMSI.

The Chair of the meeting, PNG High Commissioner to Solomon Islands Mr Parai Tamei, in a joint-press conference, told local media that the ECM meeting was successful because it was conducted in a cordial, constructive and serious manner to address issues of interest to the region in as far as they relate to the operations of RAMSI in the Solomon Islands.

He says the scheme has been talked about within Government circles for close to 20 years now and although attempts have been made in the past, the current arrangement is the most feasible.

Mr Hou says this includes the option for the participating banks to be part of the scheme and the provision of 10-million dollars to back the guarantee scheme.He says additional features include a minimum amount of SBD$50-thousand dollars which is ten times more than the previous one and a maximum of one million dollars which is four times more than the old scheme.

He says the scheme will also guarantee 80 percent of the unsecured portion of the loan while the remaining 20 percent will be a trust between the participating banks and the applicant. Mr Hou says that under the new scheme, there will be no re-financing of the loan and no interest rate subsidy.

He says the decision whether or not a loan application will be financed solely lies on the participating banks, not the Central Bank or the government, which ensures that only feasible business plans get funded.

"I want to do well this year, I want to be successful this time and I want to be a gold medalist."

He told SIFF in an email message that he is looking forward to joining the boys.

"I am looking forward to joining the boys. And I am looking forward to doing well at this year's games. I am doing my very best to be in good form and be ready for this challenge.

The prolific player who spent a good part of playing career abroad in New Zealand and Australia says he would very much want to come home early to be with the squad but is being offered a window of opportunity to train with Melbourne Victory.

"I think it is a great opportunity for me to get to the A-Leagues biggest supporting club by trialing with them and it goes on till July when the windows are closed.

Maybe I will try and sort things out in the coming days and week and hopefully will know what I will do," he adds.

The delegation consisting of Auluta Basin and East Fataleka Resource Owners Association which also included the High Council of Chiefs and Central Trust Board members were pleased with the outcome of talks with the government.

The group held discussions with the Prime Minister, the Minister of Lands and the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock on separate occasions.

Group Spokesperson Philip Bara said the high-level discussions were made to inform the government of landowners’ readiness by surrendering customary land in preparation towards the acquisition hearings and registration of customary land.

“We assured the government that we want a smooth running of the Malaita Oil Palm project and to fulfill the many dreams and vision of our traditional leaders and the ruling government of the day,” Mr Bara said.

Chief Bara said landowners are worried about further delays in the project and urged the government to properly fund the project.

“Our coming here is to protect and defend this palm oil project because this project will give benefit for everyone and the national government,” he said. “We do not want corrupt practices to be involved in the process.

Land mobilization took place 3 years ago and has resolved many land disputes in the region.

Mr Bara said this was achieved as a result of the introduction of the Customary Land Recording Act and the group wants the government to reactivate the Customary Land Recognition Act of 2000 to empower traditional leaders to advance the project.
The delegation thanked the Grand Coalition Government, especially Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare for the generous support towards the consultative mission.

“We particularly appreciate the Prime Minister for his positive response to our discussion,” Bara said. “We believe Mr Sogavare’s door is open to accept people to hold talks on important issues rather than going out in the media”.