Politics Archive October 2016

News that the Indonesian government is upping the ante against supporters of West Papua comes as no surprise, a well-placed senior government source said.

Indonesia's Defence Minister, Ryamizard Ryacudu, has called on the Solomon Islands, and other Pacific states who spoke out about rights abuses in West Papua, to refrain from interferring in the internal affairs of Indonesia.

Solomon Islands are seeking to host the Melanesian Youth Parliament in 2017.

Solomon Islands Women’s volleyball team is questioning the impartiality of refs at the Oceania Volleyball World Qualifying and Zonal Championship, held at the Vodafone Arena in Suva, Fiji.

The Solomon Islands Police Commissioner says his police force is ready to stand on its own.

The Ministry of Finance and Treasury (MoFT) has described the front-page article in the Island Sun newspaper on Monday 17th October regarding the alleged sacking of the Accountant General and the purported delays in payments as a “deliberate attempt to distort the truth and to mislead the Public.”

Solomon Islands’ Minister of Culture & Tourism, the Hon. Bartholomew Parapolo has underlined the priority his government is placing on tourism development and the efforts being taken to facilitate growth at the recent South Pacific Tourism Organisation Council of Ministers of Tourism meeting in the Cooks Islands.

The Solomon Islands Court of Appeal (COA) has ruled that the Parliamentary Entitlements Commission (PEC) acted within its powers when it granted Tax Free Salary status to Members of Parliament (MPs).

The annual G’day Solomon Islands Fun Run is on again this Saturday 22 October and it’s expected to be the biggest yet with over 4,000 participants already registered.

New research investigating barriers for female electoral candidates in the Solomon Islands has revealed that voters are willing to vote for a woman if they are perceived to be able to contribute financial resources to the community; and have a track record of community service.

The Court of Appeal overturned a High Court ruling that declared the decision made last year by the Parliamentary Entitlements Committee, which has MPs sitting on it, unconstitutional.

With the increasing popularity of the Jadelle contraceptive in the Solomon Islands, an expert has warned that several known side effects should be considered.

Prime Minister Hon Manasseh Sogavare has lauded the Mota Lava Treaty as providing a good opportunity for Solomon Islands and Vanuatu to address the relationship of their two maritime border provinces- Temotu Province in Solomon Islands and Torba Province of Vanuatu.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development (MEHRD) Dr Franco Rodie attended the TAFE Directors Australia annual convention in Melbourne Australia as a special overseas guest.

Solomon Islands and Vanuatu have signed a Maritime Border Treaty on Friday ending 33 years of negotiations over the common border of the two nations south of the Solomon Islands and north of Vanuatu.

Solomon Islands Nationals can now travel visa free to all EU member states following the signing of the SI-EU Short Stay Visa Waiver Agreement which facilitates this visa free travel to Europe.

Australia and Solomon Islands share a common goal of promoting stability, growth and human development in Solomon Islands, a partnership that will continue to deliver results in the year ahead.

Prime Minister Hon Manasseh Sogavare has left for Port Vila to sign a historic Maritime Boundary Treaty with his Ni-Vanuatu counterpart, Prime Minister Charlot Salwai.