Economy Archive April 2008

Living the laid back lifestyle and being content with what is offered is known for the happy-going Solomon Islanders.

The Secretary General of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, Sir John Kaputin, has joined world leaders in pleading for an urgent action to address the growing global food shortage crisis.

Frustrated workers of the Wings Shipping Company are complaining of waiting too long for their redundancy package payment.

A representative of the "Women with Disability Group" Mrs. Cyrene Aonima has just arrived from a one week workshop in Samoa on 'The Pacific Disability Forum'.

Locals in the Solomons are blaming outside influence for rapid changes in character and respect for one another in the country, particularly among the younger generation.

RAMSI Assistant Special Coordinator Masi Lomaloma today thanked the Marshall Islands for its valuable contribution to the work of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands.

Escalating social problems in the Solomons is continuously blamed on the young generation without much care on reasons behind their actions.

Prime Minister, Dr Derek Sikua has taken delivery of the report by the Commission of Inquiry into the April 2006 Riot.

Cancellation of Solomon Airlines domestic services has continued at an alarming rate.

Catching sleep after partying hard out is the next thing on anyone's mind, but to find one snoring away in the midst of the hustle and bustle of a busy Honiara street is a funny sight.

Blame it on potholes, the pedestrians, lack of space for vehicles to maneuver on the roads are the many excuses given by drivers who find themselves bang smack into another vehicle, something or to some extent someone.

There is nothing like walking through Honiara to come across a young man standing around the busy street with an owl.

Government is putting in place a number of measures in efforts to save the country's forests from over exploitation and total destruction.

In an effort to bolster small scale tourism operators, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism provided a short training course to the women of Kakabona, in West Honiara.

People in Honiara, Solomon Islands, are now feeling the pinch of what seems to be a general rise in the price of goods due to the dual effects of high fuel prices and a global food shortage.

Twenty more police officers have completed Save the Children's innovative Child-Friendly Policing training this week.

The Solomon Islands Planned Parenthood Association received some reproductive health equipment and supplies on behalf of the people of Gizo in the Western Province.

The Solomon Islands government has increased the legal minimum wage rate for employees in all sectors in the country after a period of twelve years.

A number of Honiara School Principals have called on the Solomon Islands National Teachers Association to assist them deal with the involvement of some of their young female students in prostitution activities now on the rise in Honiara.

A dawn service was today held at the Central Police Station in Honiara marking the Gallipoli campaign by the allied forces of Australia and New Zealand.

A swimming exercise turned tragic for a Solomon Islands student studying at the University of the South Pacific who drowned in the university pool.

Two migratory Tuna species are seriously under threat of being extinct in the Pacific Ocean, a recent survey by World Conservation Union (WCU) revealed.

An American Veteran arrived in the Solomon Islands on Monday 21st of April to visit World War II battlefields.

The Minister of Environment, Hon. Gordon Darcy Lilo, calls on the Distance Fishing Nations (DFNs) to use sustainable fishing methods when fishing in the high seas.

The Green Peace launched a report yesterday detailing the impact of logging in the country.

One of Greenpeace's campaigning vessels, MV Esparanza visited Honiara yesterday, with message 'Our Ocean, Our Forest, Our Future stacked to its side.

The United Nations in Solomon Islands today launched its Joint Presence - collaboration among the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Untied Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

The Lepi Primary School in Isabel has formed a sister school relationship with a primary school in Australia, following a visit to the island by the Minister for Police, the Hon Sam Manetoali, and Professor Cindy Davids of Macquarie University in Sydney.

A new Malaria tablet, called Coartem, will be introduced in Solomon Islands this year by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services.

With more then 85 per cent of lands in the Solomon Islands under customary ownership, many landowners have had difficulties in using it as collateral when seeking capital. The problem is the fact that, despite having huge amounts of land, many lack some sort of legal recognition as they are often not registered.

Over 60 Honiara youth came together recently to discuss what it is that RAMSI does in partnership with the people and government of Solomon Islands.

Staff at Henderson International airport say they are more confident about their ability to identify a bomb hidden in a passenger's bag following a workshop held by RAMSI.

An Australian scientist, Professor Ken Collerson, has said there is great prospect of the presence of mineral diamond on Malaita.

Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding paves the way for better health in Solomon Islands.

Home Affairs Minister, James Tora, is seeking the government's approval to build at least five Care Centres in Solomon Islands.

Students are seen roaming everywhere in the heart of the capital city on Fridays, still in their school uniform.

Solomon Islands economy expects to grow this year and the years ahead.

The Solomon Islands National Teacher Association (SINTA) is planning to launch a counselling programme in schools, as part of its fight to curb the alleged involvement of youths in prostitution, which is reported to be on the increase.

The MP for Central Honiara, Nelson Ne'e, has blamed the high level of unemployment and rising cost of living and poor wages as the main underlying causes of the current rise in prostitution in Honiara.

There are still no signs of authorities in Honiara investigating the alleged Asian organized prostitution ring while at the same time the number of Asian girls brought into the country as part of the prostitution racket has gone up.

The Solomon Islands Government has begun implementing a sector wide approach for the health sector to markedly improve health service delivery and achieve the Millenium Development Goals for health.

A five-days Reconciliation and Unity city wide crusade started last night at the Art Gallery in Honiara.

Healing the sick is a miracle that Christians believe comes from having faith in God, as is the case with a gifted healer in the western part of Guadalcanal.

An open market was officially opened at the Kakabona Police Post area, West of Guadalcanal.

Solomon Islands will be represented at the Pacific Disability Forum in Samoa next week.

Nominations for Mayor of Honiara City Council is likely to be opened Monday next week.

The current Solomon Islands Government profess to be concerned about the development of the rural areas of the Solomon Islands.

To call for rain is next to impossible.

The Honiara City Council Mayor, Alfred Maetia has been ousted in a no confidence motion.

A two day Credit Union Legal and Compliance Workshop was held at the Quality Inn Conference Room in Honiara.

Diversion is a way of dealing with young people who get into trouble with the law - it is a means of restoring them back to normal life without suffering undue punishment and having to go to jail.

People in the northern part of Guadalcanal welcomes the completion of three new bridges nearby Tenaru 1 and 2.

The Prime Minister, Dr Derek Sikua, says creating a peaceful and prosperous society in Solomon Islands is his government's vision and mission. Dr Sikua was making the remarks during the closing of the National Parliament.

Marriage ceremony for the people of Lord Howe is colourful as the bride steps out covered in "keauna", better known as turmeric.

Virivirikana was said to be a medium of communication with "pota", the spirits, especially utilized in the making of peace or war.

Marriage is a sacred ceremony across all cultures, performed in many different ways.

Betel nut chewing contributes to the degradation of coral reefs, was a message among others that stood out at the launch of the Pacific year of reefs 2008.

Public Service Minister Milner Tozaka in thanking the previous government for re-establishing the Institute of Public Administration and Management, IPAM says the Sikua government is committed to improving public servant skills.

The country's only female pilot, Elizabeth Ramoni, has resigned from the national air carrier, the Solomon Islands Airlines.

The Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) is extremely concerned by the enacting in Parliament of the Mines and Minerals Act Amendment on Wednesday 9th April. The Amendment was drafted with absolutely no consultation with private sector organizations or mining sector firms.

Land, Housing and Survey Minister Martin Maga has re-iterated government's policy to set up land reform centres in the nine provinces.

Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI) is concerned at the involvement of politicians in assessing the export value of logs.

Traditional wartime tales is common in the Solomons, and a 'varikana' in the Western Province was an ancient fighter in the tribal fighting era.

Young people in Honiara can now access improved STI and HIV services at the Rove and Kukum clinics run by Honiara City Council.

A group of women from Honiara are currently in Gizo to deliver clothing bales to tsunami victims in the Western Solomons.

The country's relations with the international community including the neighbouring Pacific Islands are very important in its development efforts.

Police mediated a reconciliation discussion between two families in relation to an incident where a 20 year old man died from injuries sustained at White River last Saturday night.

Joint effort is being taken to address the issue of young girls visiting foreign fishing boats in Honiara.

The Solomon Islands National Council of Women (NCW), with other stakeholders, met yesterday to discuss the exploitation of young girls by foreign fishing ships.

Asian based Mafia may have entered Solomon Islands through Papua New Guinea setting up a prostitution ring, allegedly involving three Chinese owned nightclubs, a restaurant and one general shop in the centre of Honiara.

The CNURA Government has appointed Mr. John Hauirae, a local private practitioner to the vacant post of legal draftsman.

In an attempt to reduce the country's reliance on the export of round logs, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism is embarking on an ambitious plan to diversify the countries economic base.

The Sikua Government is committed to build a second airstrip on Vanikoro Island, Temotu Province.

Forty Solomon Islands Prison Service officers and RAMSI Law and Justice Program Corrections Advisers participated in an all day working bee at Visale.

The former Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Hon. Patteson Oti has urged the government to remove workers who fail to perform.

A joint team of serious crime investigators and detectives from Honiara City are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a 20 year old male in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Solomon Islands' Parliament passed the country's 2008 budget with minor typical amendments.

The recent arrest of six women, on board foreign fishing vessels, has brought strong rebuke from Honiara residents.

A group of disappointed women matched to the inspector of health and environment office and demanded an explanation as to why they were stopped from selling salted fish at the Honiara main market on Friday.

The Minister for Police and National Security Samuel Manetoali has pledged to use his Ministry's 2008 Budget allocations to provide a safe and secure environment for Solomon Islands.

The National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) has welcomed the announcement by the Prime Minister, Dr. Derek Sikua, to set up a Commission of Inquiry into the management of the tsunami rehabilitation funds and resources in Western and Choiseul Provinces.

Yesterday, the Honiara Police Drug Squad arrested a 49 year old man who was in possession of marijuana weighing at least 300 grams.

Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI) will soon invite applications for the position of Executive officer. TSI has appointed Jean Tafoa as acting Executive Officer pending the appointment of a full time Executive Officer.

Solomon Islands have many plants that are used as medicines, often prescribed by traditional healers for all kinds of sicknesses.

The joint law enforcement operation between Customs, Quarantine, Honiara City Council and Police to tackle criminal activity on the Harbour and Central Markets continued today.

Torrential rain in Honiara caused floods in the main city and to some extent Honiara residential areas.

The people of Guadalcanal are proud new owners of a new ship, which would help in servicing transportation from their port to Honiara.

The apple season in New Zealand has prompted many apple farmers to look to Pacific Islands for much needed labor force.

Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua has told Parliament that infrastructure is the key to development.

Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua has announced in Parliament that Australia and New Zealand are providing nearly 18 million dollars towards last years' disaster victims in Western and Choiseul Provinces to rebuild or repair their homes.

The two new Members of Parliament for East Malaita and Aoke/Langalanga have taken their oaths yesterday morning at the National Parliament of Solomon Islands.

Acting Australian High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, Heidi Bootle, is pleased to announce that applications are now open for the 2009 Australian Leadership Awards (ALA) Scholarships.

Today, the 2nd of April, marks the First Anniversary of the devastating tsunami that struck the Provinces of Western, Choiseul and Shortland. 52 lives were lost during the disaster and hundreds more were left displaced.

Hundreds of people in the Western provincial capital town Gizo turned up for the April 2 candle night service at the JFK stadium last night.

After months of accusations, counter accusation and, most recently, court cases the Solomon Islands Police Force have stepped in to sort out the 'Government vehicle saga.'

Speaking on the floor of Parliament, Minister for Justice and Legal affairs, Hon Toswell Kaua took a swipe at the donors for their lack of flexibility when it comes to providing Aid money for development.