Economy Archive February 2010

The Government is said to have given in to a demand that the Solomon Islands High Commissioner in Canberra be removed or lose the 10 bed patients referral program between Solomon Islands and the Saint Vincent Hospital in Sydney.

The Malaita provincial government is seeking help from the Israeli government to support the province's development plan.

The Solomon Islands Electoral Commission invites people in Malaita to its second public Information and Awareness Day this Saturday 27th February in Auki Town.

The historical and the first Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) Presidential Summit concluded yesterday with the adoption of the Koror Declaration.

The results of the third annual People's Survey, which documents the opinions of over 5000 Solomon Islanders on the living conditions and services throughout their country, were released yesterday.

Mr Alfred Boge, a security guard working at the Pacific Casino Hotel, was awarded a Governor-General's Commendation for Brave Conduct in the 2009 Australian Bravery Awards.

The Central Islands Provincial Assembly has passed a resolution for the provincial executive to find an investor to establish a fish cannery in the province by 2011.

The Media Association of Solomon Islands (MASI) today denounced an interdiction on a Radio Journalist from covering a farewell gathering hosted for the visiting New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister last Thursday.

Solomon Telekom Company Limited has apologized to the general public and Breeze Mobile customers for the unsatisfactory mobile service that had been experienced in recent months.

The Government is well in advance into talks with a reputable Korean global fishing company to invest in a new cannery here.

The people of North-East Guadalcanal say they plan to boycott the upcoming National Elections unless the road in their area is repaired or a new one built.

The Prime Minister says Solomon Islands must receive maximum benefits from its tuna resources.

Ombudsman Joe Porowai calls on public service providers in Honiara not to fear the investigation being carried out by his office.

Solomon Islands will be the first pacific country to visit the European Union after the December Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen, Denmark, last year.

Construction of the new Japanese-funded Gizo hospital facility is ready to begin after a groundbreaking ceremony in the Western Provincial capital on Friday.

The High Court has dismissed the appeal of the Russell Islands Plantation Estates Limited, RIPEL, against the Solomon Islands National Union of Workers, SINUW.

The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RISPF) EOD team successfully destroyed a WW2 naval torpedo early this week, discovered dangerously close to Veuru village on West Guadalcanal.

OUR Party has pledged to direct public investment in tourism, agriculture, and fisheries to support the efforts of the private sector under a reformed fiscal strategy.

Geologists from New Zealand based Geologists and Nuclear Sciences, GNS, will in the next six months visit Solomon Islands and five other Pacific countries to collect data in an earthquake study in the region.

Deputy Prime Minister Fred Fono will officiate at the new Gizo hospital ground breaking ceremony tomorrow.

The European Union has launched and allocated new funding to various Civil Society groups in Solomon Islands.

New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully arrives in Honiara today for a two-day visit.

Leaders and People of Temotu Province have demanded members of the current parliament to pass the Political Parties (Registration and Administration) Bill and the Constitutional Amendment Bill without any form of obstruction.

Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI) provided a submission on the 2008 and 2009 Parliamentary Entitlements Regulations (PER) to the Parliamentary Entitlements Commission (PEC) on Tuesday last week followed by a verbal presentation on Friday.

Solomon Islands Government-Sponsored students studying at the University of the South Pacific (USP) in Suva are still in Honiara after their flights, planned for the weekend was delayed.

The Commission of Inquiry into land dealings on Guadalcanal has acknowledged the significance of a 57 year old report on land tenure system in Solomon Islands.

Participants at a recent three day conference on Federal Constitution are unhappy with the absence of Guadalcanal's eight Parliamentarians.

A young man, believed to be from Temotu Province, was found dead at the Panatina Sports Oval, East of Honiara, yesterday morning.

The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat has paid FJ$20,000.00 from the Regional Natural Disaster Relief Fund to the victims of a series of earthquakes which struck the Western Province of Solomon Islands on 4th January 2010.

The Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) will be implementing its cost sharing scholarship arrangement with students receiving in-country awards at the SICHE School of Education and the USP (SI Campus) starting this year 2010.

A United Nations conference that's attracted more than 200 government ministers and high level delegates from across the Pacific to Vanuatu this week has been told that the region is "hooked" on aid.

Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Keiran Walshe concluded a four day visit to the Solomon Islands by taking part in the official inspection of RSIPF officers at Parade yesterday. It was followed up with a visit to Honiara City Police Station.

Australian High Commissioner, HE Mr Frank Ingruber meet with Dr. Rajiv Gupta, Director, Kilu'ufi Hospital and Mr Walter Baekalia, Malaita Provincial Liaison Officer - Honiara yesterday and handed over a gift of medical equipment for the Kilu'ufi Hospital.

The public is once again putting pressure on responsible authorities to address escalating youth unemployment, said to be linked to rising crime rate in the capital.

The national parliament will resume for its last meeting 11th March 2010.

Temotu Province has recorded a big drop in Malaria cases for 2009.

The government says little attention by stakeholders to the copra industry is resulting in the slow rate of reform and rehabilitation of the industry in Solomon Islands.

Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua today articulates his deepest appreciation for the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) for funding a new multi-million dollar Office Complex for members of parliament in Solomon Islands.

The Kolombangara Island Biodiversity Conservation Association, is rallying support from around Kolombangara Island in the Western province, campaigning to end all logging operations on the Island.

New houses for Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) officers became a step closer today, following the announcement that tenders are now being sought for the construction of 84 new police houses.

A Papua New Guinea newspaper has published an editorial criticising the PNG High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, H.E Aiwa Olmi, for his handling of a traffic accident by his deputy, Peter Mirino.

Police have charged a 28 year old man from Kiu village, West Are'are in Malaita province, for allegedly defrauding the Community Sector Programs Auki Road Maintenance account with one of the commercial banks.

Solomon Islands and Portugal have recently established bilateral cooperation for development between the two countries.

Police say they have arrested and charged two persons yesterday in relation to prostitution carried out in the country.

The Solomon Islands Bar Association has called for new laws on trust accounts.

The Solomon Islands Water Authority, SIWA, has launched its operation to crack down on illegal users.

A total of 153 unplaced pre-service students are calling for explanations from the Ministry of Education over what they claim to be inconsistencies in the selection and awarding of scholarships for 2010.

Transparency Solomon Islands says the recent accident involving deputy PNG high commissioner and his wife is not a big issue to the anti-corruption body.

The Royal Solomon Islands Police Patrol Boat Auki has intercepted and seized two Foreign Long-Line Fishing vessels that were allegedly fishing without license in Solomon Islands' territorial waters on Saturday 30 January 2010.

Papua New Guinea's High Commissioner to Solomon Islands Aiwa Olmi says the accident early Saturday morning involving his Deputy High Commissioner and his wife would be looked at once a report comes to hand.

The Anti-Money Laundering Commission will be reviewing the Money Laundering and Proceed of Crime Amendment Bill with stakeholders starting tomorrow.

The long awaited Constituency Boundaries Commission report has been handed to the Minister for Home Affairs, Hon. James Tora, on Friday.