Economy Archive November 2009

The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force has advised that the fatal single-vehicle crash, which resulted in the death of high profile Honiara businessman Rolland Timo, at Mbaranamba on Friday evening "was a tragic accident."

Representatives from RAMSI met today with Honiara City Council (HCC)'s executive group as part of the Mission's efforts to strengthen relationships with all levels of Government in Solomon Islands.

The children of Aenataerau Community, near Malu'u in North Malaita, were pleased to receive reading books, learning materials and sporting goods generously provided by the Australian High Commission and the Participating Police Force (PPF) Guadalcanal Beach Resort (GBR) Social Club.

The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force has proudly welcomed 27 Police new recruits officers who graduated in front of colleagues and family members at Police Headquarters Rove last Friday.

Hundreds of people from across the country have applied to be involved in voter registration which starts early next year.

Solomon Airlines confirmed last week that it has signed a historic agreement to bring a Dash8 aircraft into its Domestic operation from the 7th December and will remain part of its fleet for a longer term.

The Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) has thrown its full support behind White Ribbon Day, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force is urging young people to celebrate the end of their school year and commencement of the long Christmas holidays safely.

The Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) held a meeting yesterday with the Royal Solomon Islands Police to confirm security arrangements for the semi-finals and finals of the Our Telekom Solomon Cup.

The Australian High Commission is pleased to announce its support for 28 community projects in Solomon Islands, totalling SBD 600,000.

Premier of Rennell and Bellona Province, Timothy Johnston says he was disappointed that no additional constituency has been allocated to the Province.

Census enumerators in Malaita province have threatened to stop work over the nonpayment of their imprests and allowances by the national census office in Honiara.

The late Jackson Ofu, Assistant Commissioner of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force, was farewelled with a police guard of honour at his funeral service held in Honiara earlier today.

The Solomon Airlines has sent two of its senior pilots for Dash8 pilot training in Port Moresby.

Malaita Premier Richard Na'amo Irosaea says poverty is the main source of corruption in Solomon Islands and has urged all leaders in the country to unite in the fight to weed poverty and corruption.

Solomon Airlines has sent three flight attendants to Port Moresby for training on the Airlines PNG Dash8 aircraft in preparation for a possible long term arrangement for the Dash8 operations in Solomon Islands.

Two teenagers will stand trial on charges relating to last weekend's soccer riot in Honiara.

The proposed strike action announcement by the Solomon Islands Public Employees Union has ground to a halt following a high court ruling.

Opposition Leader Manasseh Sogavare has expressed regret over Solomon Islands decision to vote in support of a United Nations report which condemns Israel military excursion into the Palestinian territory of Gaza last year.

A leading malaria expert believes malaria could be eliminated from Temotu Province within a few years. The Chairman of the Malaria Reference Group, Sir Richard Feachem, visited Solomon Islands last week to view some of the country's malaria action programs, and said Temotu could soon be malaria-free.

The Police Traffic Centre is investigating the circumstances surrounding a motor accident which occurred at the road junction near the Taj Mahal restaurant at approximately 7:15pm on Sunday afternoon.

Police have so far been encouraged with the behaviour displayed by crowds during the second round of Solomon Cup matches played today at Lawson Reserve, Honiara.

Environment Minister Peter Garrett today departed for Solomon Islands to plan the next phase of action on protecting marine biodiversity and the vulnerable coastal communities whose livelihoods are dependent on maintaining the health of the remarkable Coral Triangle.

Police have made important progress with their investigation in to the burning of the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) office at Lawson Tama on 14 November 2009.

Solomon Islands have caused a massive upset in Dubai edging Uruguay 7-6 in what was an exhilarating start to their FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Dubai 2009 campaign.

The Asian Development Bank is providing a 24 million US dollars grant package which will expand the existing Solomon Islands Road Improvement Project.

Former peace monitors, who claim they helped to disarm militants during the ethnic unrest, are threatening to take their SBD$14 million dollar claim to court if government is not willing to negotiate with them.

Six people have been arrested as the Police Commissioner Peter Marshall has ordered a criminal investigation into the arson attack on the administration building of the Solomon Islands Football Federation, SIFF.

The Foreign Relations Committee Chairman says he presents the RAMSI Inquiry Report to the National parliament "with a sense of gratitude and satisfaction."

RAMSI's Special Coordinator, Graeme Wilson and the Permanent Secretary with responsibility for RAMSI, Paul Tovua, led a delegation to Temotu Province this week.

The Republic of China (Taiwan) has donated SB$27 million today for the construction of a new Office Complex for Members of Parliament.

Food safety is everyone's business, and it is a must that all those involved with food processing either for home consumption or for business observe good food safety practices.

A senior Solomon Islands lawyer and former politician, Andrew Nori, says the prime minister is not being properly advised on serious inconsistencies and contradictions in the Political Parties Registration and Administration Bill 2009.

Police have arrested a 22 year old man at Adaliua settlement in East Honiara for allegedly stabbing his wife at their home shortly after mid-night last Saturday.

A second workshop on corruption and anti-corruption in Solomon Islands has begun in Honiara.

Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua has set down the terms of reference for the Commission of Inquiry, COI, into Land Dealings and Abandoned Properties on Guadalcanal.

Just months after the monopoly license given to Our Telekom was cancelled, government says it will announce the country's new mobile phone operator before the end of this year.

RAMSI's Special Coordinator, Graeme Wilson, and the Permanent Secretary with responsibility for RAMSI, Paul Tovua, visited both islands in Rennell & Bellona Province this week.

Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua has defended his government against critics that he is running a dictator government pushing for a political parties integrity concept too fast without mass education on the reform.

The Republic of China (Taiwan) today formally released an SBD$8 million payment to assist the Solomon Islands government compensate Our Telekom to enable the company relinquish its monopoly license.

A member of the international self-help group Alcoholics Anonymous, AA, is visiting the Solomon Islands next week.

The Inaugural National Youth Parliament started its first parliament meeting yesterday morning in the chambers of the National Parliament house.

Prime Minister, Dr Derek Sikua, has ordered an inquiry into the management and operations of the Civil Aviation Division in the Ministry of Communication and Aviation.

RAMSI Special Coordinator, Graeme Wilson and Participating Police Force (PPF) Commander, Wayne Buchhorn, welcomed the Leader of the Opposition, Manasseh Sogavare to RAMSI headquarters at the Guadalcanal Beach Resort (GBR) this week.

A three year old girl, who was reported missing since Sunday evening, has been found.

The European Union-funded Facilitating Agricultural Commodity Trade, FACT project has engaged a cocoa exporting company Solomon Islands, to support communities and provide an alternative source of livelihood.

Solomon Islands women and the cancers threatening their lives were the focus of attention on Saturday night, when over 400 people came together for the annual Pink Ribbon Dinner at Mendana Hotel in Honiara.

Three men in their thirties, who had spent the past eight days at sea, have been rescued by an Asian fishing boat. They are reportedly in good health and are said to be happy to be back with their families.

A private doctor in Honiara has dismissed fears that the anti-malarial drug Artemedine, which contains the ingredient artemether, is dangerous and is not adequate to treat malaria.

The World Bank has congratulated the Solomon Islands government on recent reforms in the telecommunications sector - to encourage new private market operators and increase competition.