Economy Archive May 2010

Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua has said Solomon Islands faces many challenges in its desire to develop its tourism industry, one of which is "its inability to maintain its domestic airports to recognized international standards."

The highly acclaimed National Geographic Society is coming to the Solomon Islands to film the unique ecology of Tetepare Island in the Western province.

A Honiara lawyer will serve considerable time in prison after he was found guilty of conversion charges.

Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua has apologized to the Governor General for announcing the general election date ahead of the Governor's official proclamation.

Over three days this week, the RSIPF Maritime Unit has undertaken law enforcement training at RSIPV AOLA.

The European Union says Solomon Islands' qualification for extra funding of almost $160 million dollars reflects EU's increasing trust in its commitment to essential reforms.

Head of the National Union of Workers, SINUW, wants private companies and employers to ensure they have anti-sexual harassment policies in their workplaces.

The country's leading private sector union the National Union of Workers, SINUW, has been requested to produce documents to help the office of Registrar of Trade Unions deliberate on an application by the Russell Islands Plantations Estate Limited, RIPEL, for the cancellation or suspension of the union.

The Solomon Islands Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, William Haomae and Papua New Guinea's Minister of Justice Ano Pala have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on PNG's Judicial Assistance to Solomon Islands.

Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua has praised Papua New Guinea Investors for injecting millions of dollars into the Solomon Islands economy over the last seven years.

The Asian Development Bank's Board of Directors have approved the administration of two additional cofinancing grants from the Australian and New Zealand Governments to help restore essential transport links between Honiara and West Guadalcanal.

Providing greater opportunities for women to be representatives on public boards, councils and commissions in Solomon Islands is the key driver behind a new database of women's resumés, launched in Honiara today.

Three provinces and Honiara City are yet complete the feedback phase of the Constitutional Reform Programme.

The High Court has sentenced a former Samoan RAMSI officer to serve three and a half years in jail for the death of a young woman in 2008.

The High Court will pass judgment today on a former Samoan RAMSI Officer responsible for the death of a young woman at Tasahe area in 2008.

Prostitution is here to stay, says Police Commissioner Peter Marshall.

The Russell Islands Plantations Estate Limited, RIPEL, has filed an application, calling on the Registrar of Trade Unions to suspend or terminate the Solomon Islands National Union of Workers, SINUW from its register.

Auki Police have arrested and charged a 41 year old man caught with live ammunitions rounds in his residence at Durukou village, West Kwaraea in Malaita Province.

Following recent exposure on local television One News, a group of young girls residing at the Botanical Gardens in Honiara have disbanded and relocated - some to an empty land area located on a stony hill next to the Gardens.

Prime Minister Derek Sikua will officially open Solomon Islands High commission Chancery building in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea on Friday.

The Auditor General's Office is currently undertaking interim audits of all Provincial Governments.

The Central Bank Governor says the bank's annual report for 2009 indicates a widening deficit in the country's balance of payment.

Malaita Premier Richard Irosaea has thanked the government of Israel for allowing its National Day to be celebrated in Auki.

Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, John Ta'aru, has confirmed that former members of parliament are slowly returning government vehicles.

Vanuatu's Foreign Minister, Joe Natuman, has pledged his country's ongoing support to the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI).

The number of Malaria cases per year in Solomon Islands has dropped - according to the Director of Vector-borne disease control program, Albinio Bobogari.

The tribal communities of Bahomea, Malango, Ghaobata and Vulolo in Central Guadalcanal have been congratulated for allowing the use of their renewable energy resources for the greater benefit of Solomon Islands.

The Solomon Islands Governor of the Central Bank of Solomon Islands, Denton Rarawa, has said that the country needs and deserves leaders of integrity, courage and vision.

European Investment Bank has agreed to provide technical assistance for renewable energy development to the Solomon Islands government.

For the past three years women and children in South Choiseul, Solomon Islands, walk an hour everyday to fecth water for their families.

This Saturday, people of Malaita will be able to hear the update of the economic stimulus package being pursued by their provincial government.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is promoting enhanced opportunities for women in the Solomon Islands economy by conducting a special information and training session on the use of the new, modernized Companies Act.

Participants attending the regional workshop on peace building, of which Solomon Islands were a part of, have formed a virtual community to continue working together on local, national and regional peace building initiatives.

The Solomon Islands Government in the past two days hosted the 70th University of the South Pacific (USP) Council Meeting in Honiara.

Solomon Islands Our Telekom says that their mobile service should soon improve once work begins on the second and third phases of the new 3G network.

Pacific Islands media should undergo regular training on peace and conflict prevention, says an academic attending a Pacific regional workshop on peace building in Nadi, Fiji.

Solomon Islands Minister for Health, the Hon. Clay Forau, opened the newly refurbished Accident and Emergency Department (A&E) during a ceremony on Friday 7th May at the National Referral Hospital (NRH).

A private sector representative may not quite be the person one would expect to find at a peace building workshop.

Permanent Representative of Republic of Cyprus to the United Nations, Ambassador Minas Hadjimichael and the Permanent Representative of the Solomon Islands to the United Nations Mr Collin D. Beck signed, on 5 May, an agreement for the establishment of diplomatic relations between Cyprus and the Solomon Islands.

A Solomon Islands Government Delegation left Solomon Islands for Papua New Guinea over the weekend on a study visit to the Papua New Guinea/Indonesian Border.

The Solomon Islands has recently established diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates.

The Solomon Islands police and the City Council says that the Wednesday's operation to stop the trade of salt fish at the Honiara main-market was not a failure as stated in the media.

One Television's new current affairs program, Footprints, is this year's recipient of RAMSI's Media Encouragement Award.

Solomon Islands Chief Justice, Sir Albert Palmer opened, the new Malaita Magistrates' Court in Auki yesterday.

The Director General of the United Nation Educational Social and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Ms Irina Bokova has arrived for a two day visit to Solomon Islands.

Human remains were found yesterday by construction workers at the St. John's School compound in Honiara.

With the ever increasing criticisms stemming from the general public, the care-taker deputy prime minister Fred Fono released a statement explaining the distribution of the Rural Constituency Developments Funds, RCDF, from the Republic of China.

Solomon Islanders who are eligible to vote in the coming national elections have until tomorrow to ensure that their names are on the voters' list.

The former member of Parliament for North-West Guadalcanal, Siriako Usa, says he welcomes the High Court's order for him to produce documents to show how he spent public funds meant for the constituency.

The Media Association of Solomon Islands, MASI, has congratulated Island Sun newspaper on the launch of its new website.

The Prime Minister has defended the government against criticisms in the media which were linked to the recent pay increases to members of Parliament in the 2010 Parliamentary Entitlements Regulation.