Latest News Archive October 2010

Guadalcanal province has revealed its plan to build its new provincial centre and headquarters at Doma, just west of the capital, Honiara.

The Solomon Island's National Telecommunications Commissioner, Nick Williams, has announced the government's intention to offer a third mobile license before the end of 2010.

Senior Officials from the Governments of Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea have successfully ended the "4th Joint Border Meeting" in Gizo, Western Province yesterday.

About 700 households in East Malaita Constituency will soon use solar energy to light up their homes and get away from the burden of finding money to buy kerosene fuel.

Deputy Opposition Leader, Mathew Wale has commended Ruth Townsend for exposing the alleged corruption in the Commission of Inquiry into Land Dealings on Guadalcanal.

Wednesday, 27 October 2010 - Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), 27 October 2010 - Inaccessibility to readily available online information and communication technology (ICT) resources is not an issue for the Pacific Islands region anymore.

Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Noumea, Tuesday 26 October 2010 - A major study of the future of Pacific Island fisheries indicates that, without concerted strategic action now, fisheries across the region face collapse within the next 25 years.

Fishermen in the eastern region of Gao Bugotu constituency in Isabel Province have boosted their fish supplies to the Honiara market following increased assistance from the Rural Constituency Development Fund (RCDF).

A former Bank Officer serving a prison term for false pretence has pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering relating to the same case.

Transparency International has released the results of the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2010.

The Solomon Islands High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea describes the 4th Papua New Guinea - Solomon Islands Joint Border Committee as "useful and necessary for the two countries."

The Fiji Organic Association (FOA), established in 2006, is a non-profit organisation that provides guidance on organic farming practices in Fiji.

Solomon Islands has lost close to SBD$10.5 million dollars in revenue through exemptions and remissions in September this year.

The World Bank Group approved an additional funding of US$3 million for the Solomon Islands Rural Development Program (RDP).

Solomon Gold (SOLG) has raised £15.1 million through a share placing to fund its Solomon Islands exploration programme, but fears of dilution sent its shares lower.

Transparency International (TI) will launch the 2010 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 10am today in Berlin. Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI) will be launching the data tomorrow, Wednesday 27 October.

Press Release - 24 October 2010 Nagoya, Japan - Indigenous knowledge should be protected and communities which possess it must be adequately compensated if such knowledge is used for commercial purposes.

New Zealand champions Waitakere United have beaten Tahiti's AS Tefana 3-1 in Group B to complete an intriguing opening round of 2011 O-League action.

More than 300 Chiefs and Community leaders of Gao Bugotu Constituency in Isabel Province have successfully concluded a historic three days Constituency Congress Wednesday last week at Lepi Village.

Press Release - 23 October Nagoya Japan - Palau joins other nations in declaring its water as sanctuary for marine mammals, covering whales, dolphins and dugongs.

Member of Parliament for Aoke Langalanga Mathew Wale has lashed out at Fiji's Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, describing him as someone "who wants countries of the MSG to bow down to his demands."

The Solomon Islands National Teachers Association, SINTA, has called for more budgetary support for teachers' housing.

Press Release - The Pacific region is home to more endemic species than anywhere in the world, all of which is potentially under threat from invasive species. The region is working together with partners to protect Pacific biodiversity from this risk.

Minister of Finance and supervising minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Gordon Darcy Lilo, calls on PACER Plus officials to "consider the differences in levels of development between negotiating partners."

The 2011 O-League kicks off this weekend with some intriguing match-ups for fans to enjoy across the Pacific.

Solomon Islands have made significant progress in its international debt repayments over the last few years and are continuing this year.

Prime Minister Danny Philip says his government is determined to see the country adopt a Federal Constitution.

Solomon Islands will host the 4th Solomon Islands / Papua New Guinea Joint Border Committee and the 9th Solomon Islands / Papua New Guinea Senior Officials Bilateral Consultation in Gizo next week.

WASHINGTON, 19 October, 2010-The World Bank today announced a new strategy of support for Tonga to reduce the impact of economic shocks on the country and assist with longer term growth and development opportunities.

The World Bank's recent review of economies in East Asia and the Pacific Region indicates that Solomon Islands have recorded a strong growth of nearly 7 % on average per annum between 2003 through to 2008.

The Premier of Guadalcanal Province, Steven Panga, has told the 4th annual premier's meeting that the control and management of land is a social concern and a challenge to his province.

The Danny Philip-led government is working towards the introduction of a new Social Profiling Bill in Solomon Islands.

The first of an annual Non-State Actors Dialogue on PACER Plus has concluded in Honiara, Solomon Islands today with agreement on the need to more fully engage NSA's in consultations on the proposed trade agreement both at the national and Regional levels.

The Minister for Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening Bradley Tovosia cautions Provincial Premiers that the communiqué produced by the end of the week must contain issues that are achievable.

The increase in the Determined Value of Log Exports from an average of US$83.00 to an average of US$90.00 is not good enough, says Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI) Executive Officer, Mr. Fox Qwaina.

Food Secure Pacific Working Group to begin implementing the Food Security Regional Framework

Prime Minister Danny Philip has reaffirmed the country's commitment to the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands, RAMSI.

PRESS RELEASE - 17th October 2010 - The joint review of progress of implementation of the PALM 5 commitments between the Pacific Islands Forum and Japan was held in Tokyo, Japan on 16th October 2010.

Eight of the country's Provincial Premiers have arrived in the Isabel Provincial capital, Buala for the annual Premier's conference which officially opens today.

PRESS RELEASE - 13th October 2010 - The Chief Executives of the Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific (CROP) have agreed to renew efforts to work closer together to address regional climate change issues.

Solomon Islands are exploring the possibility of engaging in large scale export of cassava to the Canadian market.

Bank South Pacific, BSP, will be going green today morning right across the South Pacific Region.

The First Lady's Charity is once again starting its annual awareness, promotion and fundraising events in aid of Pink Ribbon Day.

Isabel Province says it is ready to host the Premier's Conference in Buala next week.

PRESS RELEASE - Port Moresby, 12th October 2010 - The children of the Pacific region must be the ultimate and primary beneficiary of whatever regional and national efforts to deliver quality education and training services.

The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) is disappointed with Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI) for not qualifying the publication of the Parliamentary Entitlement Regulations (PER).

President Ma Ying-jeou said Tuesday that Taiwan's "Lamp for Africa " solar lighting project will be expanded to benefit rural residents of the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific.

PRESS RELEASE - Port Moresby, 12th October 2010 - The Government of Papua New Guinea has announced 20 full scholarships for each year, for the next five years, for youths and students in the Pacific region to study at institutions in the country.

The Minister for Finance and Treasury, Hon Gordon Darcy Lilo, has today announced that the government has agreed to increase the determined value of log exports.

The government says it has no intentions of recalling the country's Ambassador in New York Collin Beck.

Deputy Prime Minister Manasseh Maelanga today calls on people for sensitivity and fairness when commenting on land issues on Guadalcanal.

The National Referral Hospital has denied any knowledge of any baby born at the hospital with parts of it resembling a snake.

Westpac this week celebrates a quarter of a century of serving the Solomon Islands Community with a cocktail function for customers, employees, government officials and visiting new regional General Manager of Westpac Pacific, Greg Pawson.

Prime Minister Danny Philip was among more than 200 foreign dignitaries who on Sunday attended the Republic of China 99th anniversary celebrations in Taipei.

Press Release - "The Pacific Voyage" will be the central theme of Pacific islands attending the World's biggest biodiversity conference this year.

PRESS RELEASE - 10th October 2010 - Port Moresby, 10th October 2010 - The Pacific Education Development Framework (PEDF) captures the major challenges in education in the region and provides strategies to consider in order to address these challenges.

The Government Policy Statement has acknowledged the fact that the country is receiving very little in return for the extraction of its fish stock.

Transparency Solomon Islands, TSI, commends the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, Danny Phillip for promising to reform the Rural Constituency Development Fund, RCDF.

The head of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands says he appreciates comments made by the Prime Minister Danny Phillip during the launch of his government's policy statement.

Fisheries and Marine Resources Minister Jimmy Lusibaea has thanked donor partners who helped in building the fisheries sector for Solomon Islanders to enjoy the sustainable use of their resources.

Australian Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs, the Hon Richard Marles MP, concluded his first visit to Solomon Islands today.

Former East-Central Guadalcanal M-P Nollen Leni has decided against continuing his appeal case against Levers Solomons Limited, L-S-L.

The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force says that the Solomon Islands Public Employees Union (SIPEU) may have misunderstood a police statement released earlier in relation to the Voluntary Early Retirement Scheme (VERS).

The National Coalition for Reform and Advancement Government has finally launched its policy statement.

Press Release - 6th October 2010 - Practitioners across the Pacific and abroad will now have the opportunity to connect with, share and learn from each other on how to better address development needs with the launch today of the Pacific Solution Exchange Development Effectiveness Community (PSE_DEC).

Top Solomon Islands tennis player, Michael Leong bowed out of the 29th Commonwealth Games in New Delhi gracefully knowing that he has done his country proud.

5 October 2010 - Amnesty International is today calling on the government of Fiji to drop Public Emergency Regulations (PER)-related charges against the country's former prime minister after he was accused of failing to seek permission to hold a public meeting.

Solomon Airlines announced today that it has finally purchased all the required materials for the Refurbishment and Upgrade of the first of their two (2) Twin Otters registered as H4-NNP and will be commencing soon to undertake the works locally and by their own LOCAL engineers.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - The Government of Australia has agreed to extend an untied A$1 million grant for an Asian Development Bank (ADB) administered fund targeted at narrowing gender gaps in Asia and the Pacific.

Detectives from the National Criminal Investigation Division, with the support of Forensic officers, are investigating the circumstance surrounding the death of a 16 year old girl over the weekend.

Solomon Islands have booked a place in the semi-finals of the OFC Women's Nations Cup in Auckland, New Zealand.

The Member of Parliament for North New Georgia Vona Vona, Hon. Silas Tausinga, has suggested that the government confirm from the Libyan government its offer to build a Futsal stadium for Solomon Islands.

People in six provinces will go to the polls on December 6 to choose their Provincial assembly members.

Solomon Islands will introduce laws to pardon serious crimes - including murder - committed during the years of ethnic unrest that sparked a major Australian-led peacekeeping mission.

Australia's new Parliamentary Secretary for the Pacific, Richard Marles, will visit the Solomon Islands soon, in a familiarization trip of the region.