Latest News Archive March 2009

PDL Toll, the logistics company supporting RAMSI, has become the first major corporate supporter of the Great Australian Bike Ride participant Ross Andrewartha.

Economic growth in the Pacific will slow to 3%, down from a record 5.1% in 2008, as the impact of the global economic crisis and falling commodity prices takes it's toll on the region, says the ADB in a major new report.

Government is confident that it will bring about fundamental changes to the current political landscape, to ensure that there is greater stability in the future.

The Government today has announced a boost in foreign investment, two years after the Foreign Investment Act 2005 came into force.

Royal Solomon Islands Police Forensic unit and National Investigation unit officers in Honiara are investigating the accidental death of a four year old boy late yesterday afternoon at Burns Creek area.

Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau (SIVB) is confident that the country's tourism industry will weather the challenges of the current economic crisis and looming recession.

Minister for Communication and Aviation Varian Lonamei has said the Government is encouraging competition in the aviation industry to improve international air links to Solomon Islands.

Saturday night saw 110 people test their wits against Quiz Master Peter Baldwin and official Adjudicator Eric "The Hard Man" Muir as they battled to prove who were the smartest 8 people in Honiara (at least for a few hours).

New Zealand's Peter Marshall has been appointed as Solomon Islands' new Police Commissioner.

RAMSI's new Special Coordinator, Graeme Wilson, launched his program of provincial consultations with a visit to Auki, Malaita Province, last week.

The recently selected National Women's volleyball squad has been undergoing hard training at the multipurpose hall since the 19th of March.

A small bleeding and sweating statue of Jesus is being deemed a miracle in Papua New Guinea as many flock to see the sight for themselves.

A man in his late twenties was today charged for punching Hon. Johnson Koli in the face as he walked out of the parliament recently.

Since August 2000 the Makira weather station in the Makira-Ulawa Province was closed due to land disputes at its current location.

Koloale's dream of featuring in the Oceania League final was finally realized on a wet Saturday afternoon as they beat Fiji soccer giants Ba by the narrowest of margin, 1-0 at Lawson Tama Stadium.

The Solomon Islands Government is moving on to establish economic cooperation with four Asian Nations.

The Australian High Commission is pleased to announce its support for the Mage Kindergarten and Sulagwalu Water Projects through the Direct Aid Program (DAP).

Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua vows that his ruling government is determined to eliminate political instability which has plagued the nation for more than 30 years.

Press Statement - The first meeting of the Pacific Plan Action Committee (PPAC) for 2009 convenes 31 March-1 April at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in Suva, Fiji.

The government has indicated that the new Integrity Bill will not go after "wholesale changes," as was the case for Papua New Guinea's OLIPPAC.

Land owners of the eastern side of Guadalcanal are planning to set up a road block, frustrated with the inaction of Gold Ridge Management to look at their grievances, one of which is the removal of the current General Manager.

A dead body was found yesterday afternoon, by members of the public, at the Lungga River.

The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) is renewing its commitment to actively pursue known criminals for serious offences including murder and arson.

Preparations are underway for Pacific Partnership 2009, the fourth in a series of annual U.S. Pacific Fleet humanitarian civic assistance missions. The mission will visit the Solomon Islands in August.

Scientists have discovered more than 50 new animal species in Papua New Guinea in an expedition in the country.

Police and immigration authorities in Solomon Islands are investigating an Australian national who has become embroiled in the media allegations against the Gold Ridge Mining Limited.

Former City Councilor, Mr. John Seti Iromea, has landed himself in court over the burning of the Burns Creek Community centre.

Three Theme Committees of the Constitutional Congress have resumed a weeklong meeting to finalize the framework of the proposed Federal Government System.

The Local Organizing Committee (LOC) chairperson Noel Wagapu this morning acknowledged two SIFF partners, Our Telekom and DJ Graphics for providing Polo and T-shirts to the committee.

Former Central Bank governor Rick Hou has cautioned that the global recession and its effect on the country might be worse than the government had initially anticipated.

On the theme ' We Simply Must Stop TB', the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, through its national TB program today marked World TB Day.

A Consultative meeting was held recently by the National Olympics Committee of Solomon Islands, NOCSI, to relook at the NOCSI constitution, with the aim to make it more relevant for the times.

Solomon Islands are one of the first countries, within the Pacific region, to formally launch the Pacific Year of Climate Change.

The French government has announced that it will compensate victims of nuclear tests carried out by the government in the region and in Algeria.

Honiara City clinics will resume as soon as the outstanding water bill has been paid to the Solomon Islands Water Authority. The City's Deputy Mayor, Alfred Maetia, says the process to release the money for the outstanding bill is underway.

Press Release - Coral reefs are dying living organisms.

The Solomon Islands Students Association (SISA) in Laucala-based University of the South Pacific (USP) is complete with a new office on campus.

The Solomon Islands Government is working on a new Forestry Bill in efforts to reduce the level of logging by 25 percent.

All City Council Clinics in Honiara have been closed, some as far back as Wednesday last week due to a mass disconnection of water by the Solomon Islands Water Authority, SIWA.

The Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands welcomes a new Deputy Special Coordinator, Justin Fepulea'i, a Samoan-New Zealander with significant experience in the Pacific.

On Friday 20 March 2009, the Minister of Police and National Security led a high level delegation down to the Shortland Islands official opened the new Kulitanai Bay Police Station.

The Solomon Islands Government has warmly welcomed the arrival of seven additional doctors from Cuba in light of the critical shortage of specialist doctors in the country.

Press Release - Vote Earth, by turning off your lights for one hour on Saturday March 28 beginning at 8.30 pm local time, wherever you live in the Pacific.

Our Telekom and Solomon Host have signed a two year partnership agreement on Friday, paving the way for strong cooperation between the two organizations.

As those villagers affected by the floods return to some sense of normalcy, the National Disaster Council (NDC) promised that it will continue with its food distribution programme

The worsening global economic crises has had a negative impact on the travel industry worldwide, most, if not all, major Airlines have recorded massive decline in bookings.

The National Transport Fund Bill 2009 has been passed by Parliament into an Act yesterday.

Those seeking information about disasters in Solomon Islands and what to do before, during and after their impacts will have another source to use this year.

"Getting extensions for your programmes will not be easy and students should know better by now that one has to work hard to earn his or her qualifications."

Press Statement - Pacific Islands Forum Education Ministers will gather in Nuku'alofa, Tonga 24 - 26 March to discuss a review of the Forum Basic Education Action Plan (FBEAP) which was endorsed in 2001.

Despite continuous warnings of possible backlash by the international community, the government has decided that dolphin export would continue, but limited to 100 dolphins per annum.

A tsunami warning that had been issued for some islands in the region following an earthquake in Tonga has been cancelled.

Communities on Simbo Island, Western Province were introduced to a series of trainings and activities to be undertaken over the next three years in the area of disaster vulnerability reduction Initiatives.

Lack of playing space in most schools visited in Honiara may well be the reason why children have not been engaged in physical education.

The effect of the February floods has left the people of West Guadalcanal with an unhappy legacy.

The Asian Development Bank A-D-B welcomes the passing of a new Companies Act in the Solomon Islands.

Workers of the Gold Ridge Mining Limited on Central Guadalcanal have issued a 14-days strike notice, demanding the removal of the company's general manager Keith Nielson.

Guadalcanal provincial premier Stephen Panga urges his people to give leaders the respect they deserve.

The Cultural Working Committee, tasked with organizing the 2012 Arts Festival, will be having its first meeting tomorrow, said the Director of Culture Division, Robert Au.

A consultation workshop to review the Solomon Islands National Youth Policy and its Draft Plan of Action was held earlier this week at the Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP)for Honiara youths.

It has been revealed that the Australian Solomons Gold Limited will need a massive USD$100 Million dollars to re-start mining operations.

The Australian Defence Force and the British High Commission have donated over AUD100,000 in gym equipment to the Honiara City Council, to help Honiara 'get fit'.

An underwater volcanic eruption off the coast of Tonga is generating interest with spectacular columns of smoke spewing out of the sea near Nuku'alofa, the country's capital.

Yesterday, the National Parliament passed the Companies Bill 2009 into an Act of Parliament.

Australia is helping Solomon Islands to benefit from renewable energy, by supporting solar energy projects in Malaita.

The National Disaster Council (NDC) through the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) and Guadalcanal Provincial Disaster office will start distributing food relief to Poha, Veraboli, Vura and Tamboko villages today.

The Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Meteorology is organizing a forum to discuss the capture of Indo-Pacific Bottlenose dolphin and its trade from Solomon Islands.

The High Court of the Solomon Islands has issued a final eviction notice to 11 former police officers who still occupy government housing after leaving the force in 2004.

Press Statement - The Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum and Premier of Niue, the Hon Toke Talagi, MP, welcomes the resumption of the political dialogue in Fiji after a meeting of the Political Leaders Forum held in Suva on 13 March.

A 28 year old man from Houta village in Marau, East Guadalcanal was charged with common assault following his arrest in relation to an assault on a Government Minister on 13 March 2009.

Customers in and around Gizo and Noro should expect marked improvement in their mobile service reception in recent days.

Solomon Islands champion club, Koloale, will play against Ba in a crucial deciding match at Lawson Tama in just over a week's time.

The Australian High Commission is pleased to announce its support for the Hope Academy through the Direct Aid Program (DAP).

Human Rights advisor, Imrana Jalal, says that Pacific laws on violence against women (VAW) are outdated and treat women with indifference and that Pacific Island governments need to make a concerted effort to review this legislation so that laws can better protect women.

"Leading is not about dictatorship but more on working side by side with members within your team."

Receiving Fiji's prestigious award for a young Solomon Islander comes as "a real surprise."

Police are searching for a murder suspect believed to be in hiding in Malaita.

In 2008 a UN Competitive Recruitment Examinations in the occupational field Information Technology, Human Rights, Finance, Programme Evaluation, Political Affairs and Environment was held in Honiara.

Leader of Opposition told Parliament that certain members of Parliament have lobbied to get support from the Opposition to support a motion of no confidence in the current leadership.

Parliament expects to pass two legislation this week.

The people of Northeast and East Central Guadalcanal are still waiting for relief supplies after recent heavy torrential rains destroyed their food gardens one month ago.

Tomasi Daunivucu, a Fijian living in a village that sits on north-east edge of Viti Levu, Fiji's main island, reveals the signs of climate change taking place in his village.

The Patron of St. John Ambulance, Sub Prior Professor, Villis Marshall, and the Secretary-General PNG St. John, Douglas Kelson, are currently in the country to make a five days visit to the hospital and the government.

Results on tests on three workers of the Gold Ridge Mining Limited was released today.

The Government's introduction of the Companies Bill 2009 in parliament this week is a significant step for long term economic growth in Solomon Islands.

The Chief of Police has revealed that crime rate in Honiara has dropped in comparison to 2008.

Pacific Islands must have healthy private sectors to assist in addressing the high unemployment rate which is now rife in the Pacific Islands.

Our Telekom has donated three Breeze Mobile Handsets to Solomon Islands Music Federation.

The Coalition of National Unity and Rural Advancement (CUNRA) regime has denied public rumors of a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua.

A Companies Bill is urgently needed to provide a solid and necessary base for the growth of our private sector, said the Minister for Commerce, Employment and Industries, Francis Billy Hilly.

New Zealand will remove the Pacific division of its immigration department following a report that revealed failures in the division.

The Global Financial Crisis is affecting every country in the world. Solomon Islands is not immune to the impacts of this crisis and faces similar economic challenges to those confronting all countries in the world.

The Australian Government has released a series of reports which focus on addressing the problem of violence against women in Melanesia and East Timor.

Press Statement - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 9 March 2009 establishing a framework to foster deeper cooperation to encourage conditions for sustainable growth and facilitate greater economic integration in the Pacific.

The Opposition group has questioned the government on the current status of the much touted Bina Harbour Industrial Seaport in today's parliament meeting.

Our Telekom had committed SBD $14, 480 to D.Fenders Basketball Club following the club's appeal for sponsorship from the company.

"Economic growth continues to be insufficient in the face of a rapidly growing population, putting pressure on limited national resources," said Hon. Billy Hilly, Minister of Commerce, Industries and Employment during the second reading of the Companies Act 2009.

The U.S. Ambassador Leslie Rowe announced the continued U.S. support of the Coral Triangle Initiative at the Senior Officials Meeting and Ministerial Meeting in Port Moresby.

Police officers from the Liquor Licensing Squad arrested a 27-year old woman for the brewing of kwaso at her home at about 11:00am yesterday.

An exemption which has allowed Solomon Islands companies to sell goods to European countries without the proper documentation will expire at the end of this month.