Economy Archive December 2009

Police will launch a security operation today and will continue into the weekend to coincide with the New Year celebrations.

Security operation for the Christmas period was very successful with police observing quiet and peaceful celebrations across Honiara and surrounding communities.

An enquiry into the Solomon Islands National Referral Hospital has called for urgent action by the Government to improve services that are described as a national disgrace.

Negotiations between the RSIPF and community leaders in the Naha area continued yesterday after members of the Participating Police Force were forced to use teargas in the early hours of Saturday morning when two groups throwing rocks at each other started attacking the police and military.

The Auditor General, Edward Ronia says the Government's financial system has three major flaws that continue to affect service delivery.

Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua has clarified the Government's decision last week to award a new Mobile Telecommunications License to mobile service provider, beMobile Company.

Provincial Police in Western Province are still searching for a crocodile reported to have snatched a seven-year-old boy around the Vona Vona lagoon, near Savanga village last Tuesday afternoon around 3pm.

The Evaluation Committee of Solomon Islands decided on Friday 11 December 2009 to award the country's first new entrant telecom licence to bemobile.

The Report of the Auditor-General was tabled in Parliament yesterday with the AG citing common problems which included widespread failure to comply with mandatory procedures, the use of funds for purposes for which they are not authorized and the lack of accurate and relevant reporting on activities.

The Provincial Feedback, which was expected to commence early December 2009, was postponed for next year as Government's slow revenue gain and financial constraints have been major factors in delaying the progress of the remaining activities of the Constitutional Reform programme for this year.

The RSIPF yesterday arrested and charged three men for intentionally closing down the water source supply at Kongulae area over the weekend around 2pm.

Today, the Solomon Islands Government and Government of New Zealand signed a new three year funding arrangement of SBD165, 000,000 to improve the quality of basic education and to ensure all Solomon Islands children can go to school.

Australia commends the Solomon Islands Government for their commitment to addressing violence against women in Solomon Islands.

Finance and Treasury Minister, Snyder Rini, has unveiled the government's budget, estimated at $1.997 billion. This is an overall increase of $43.9 million or 2.2 per cent on the 2009 Budget.

In the Solomon Islands, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) recently launched a $3 million project to benefit communities on the islands of Malaita and Guadalcanal, improving livelihood opportunities, building youth resiliency, and motivating the increased participation of youth.

With the Christmas and New Year holiday season fast approaching, the Australian High Commission today reminded Solomon Islanders planning to visit Australia to apply for visas well in advance of their intended travel date.

Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua last night has praised the Republic of China, Taiwan for its growing investment in Solomon Islands.

Today marks the United Nations World Anti-Corruption Day.

The Government is prepared to carry out a mass education and awareness campaign on a new set of public service regulations starting in early 2010.

The 9-year-old boy, who went missing on Saturday afternoon at Betikama river bank, was found early yesterday morning by a man at the river bend near the Lunga River car wash area.

The Solomon Islands Government is delighted to announce that it has yesterday opened the Solomon Islands telecommunications market to competition.

The Solomon Islands government plans an education and information campaign on a new set of rules for public servants.

Corruption, in all its forms, is the target of a new week-long comic series launched today by RAMSI and the Solomon Islands Government, in partnership with Transparency Solomon Islands.

Failure in Copenhagen is not an option in seeking a legally binding international agreement when world leaders meet next week to discuss a new climate change deal, said Collin Beck, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Solomon Islands to the United Nations.

Commissioner of Police Peter Marshall confirmed that Hon Mark Kemakeza, MP representing the Nggella Constituency of Central Islands Province and younger brother of Sir Allan Kemakeza, appeared at a mention hearing at Honiara Magistrate's Court yesterday .

An operation by the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force Liquor Licensing Squad, supported by General Duty officers and CID detectives, struck at the heart of a black market trade of illegal made homebrew, known locally as Kwaso, at Honiara's Central Market.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, Mr Shadrach Fanega, today issued an update on the government's finances in response to public concerns.

The Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) today welcomed the new Code of Conduct as a milestone in the rebuilding of Solomon Islands public service.

Walking long distances to source fresh, clean water is a thing of the past for the people of Sanivele village on the Guadalcanal Plains, thanks to help from the Australian Government Aid Program.

A partnership of government and international development agencies today announced a $24 million grant package which aims to improve access to markets, health and education services among rural and urban households in Solomon Islands through an expansion of the Solomon Islands Road Improvement Project (SIRIP).

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 yesterday morning.

Solomon Gold plans to start a thorough exploration of Fauro Island in the north of Solomon Islands for gold copper porphyries and large scale epithermal gold ore bodies after it was granted a three-year prospecting licence for the tenement covering a 70 square kilometres area.