Latest News Archive November 2010

Thirty nine people who were arrested yesterday by the police for disturbances in town are mostly young people who are not connected to the Fisheries Minister Jimmy Lusibaea's family, says Police Commissioner Marshall.

The title of Miss South Pacific 2010 was won by Cook Islands in the weekend.

Hundreds of Solomon Islanders working under New Zealand's seasonal work scheme could be affected by the comparatively higher airfares to New Zealand.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) says it needs more time to complete its mandate.

Transport officials support SPC's efforts towards developing a regional Framework for Action on Transport Services

Police will be stepping up security in Honiara tomorrow when the Fisheries Minister, Jimmy Lusibaea, is expected to appear in court for sentencing.

Press Release - MANILA, 25 November 2010-The World Health Organization (WHO) today welcomed a statement by Pope Benedict XVI that the use of condoms is acceptable in halting the spread of AIDS.

A former senior police officer, who had recently left the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force under the voluntary early retirement scheme, has questioned the huge tax deducted from the $3 million dollar scheme.

Solomon Islands joined other countries in the World today to officially launch the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence.

The Taiwanese Embassy has released $1.2 million dollars for various government projects and three projects in the Western Province.

Sandalwood has the potential to contribute to the improvement of living standards in Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs), but for this to happen, there must be critical assessment, research and improved management practices.

North Malaita MP and Fisheries Minister, Jimmy Lusibaea, will be sentenced next Tuesday.

The Parliamentary Opposition has issued a call to the government to extend the term of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, TRC.

Former Speaker of Parliament and a long-time politician, Sir Peter Kenilorea says anti-corruption agencies need to have the necessary power to take matters to the courts.

Broken bridges on Guadalcanal will be restored soon under a donor funded project supervised by Ministry of Infrastructure Development.

Police have beefed up security in Honiara as sentencing of Jimmy Lusibaea nears.

Recently appointed special envoy, Patterson Oti, is in Fiji to discuss the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) reconciliation ceremony scheduled for next month.

PRESS STATEMENT - Tuesday, 23 November 2010 - The Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Tuiloma Neroni Slade welcomed the release today of the 2010 Pacific Plan Annual Progress Report.

PRESS RELEASE - 22nd November 2010 - "For too long, women in our region have not been effectively engaged in decision-making institutions and processes, both at national and local levels.

Solomon Islands is set to gain substantially after the government successfully negotiated an increase in fisheries access fees with its bilateral partners.

The NCRA government has dropped certain special allowances of its political appointees.

A two-week CETC Business Improvement Course for Micro-Entrepreneurs, which was held at the CETC Campus in Narere from 1-12 November, was attended by eighteen participants from SPC member countries.

The FINANCIAL -- The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on November 17 completed the first review of Solomon Islands' economic performance under a program supported by an 18-month Standby Credit Facility (SCF).

The official funeral service of the late Member of Parliament for Baegu-Asifola, Honorable Toswel Kaua will take place this morning at the St. Barnabas Cathedral in Honiara.

The Land Resources Division (LRD) of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) will organise a regional workshop on Sandalwood Resource Development, Research and Trade in the Pacific and Asian Region from 22 to 25 November 2010 in Port Vila, Vanuatu.

The Opposition is calling on the National Coalition for Rural Advancement Government to come clean on the number of its political appointees following the establishment of the Bureau of Social and Economic Reform.

Press Release - The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) has issued a draft report on the future of funding for climate change in the Pacific region. This report is now being circulated for review comments, the link to this report is as below.

The ruling National Coalition for Rural Advancement (NCRA) Government today describes as "Worthless and Empty" claims by the Opposition leader that the government's solidarity has been threatened by a recent logging action taken by Forestry officials.

Fisheries Minister and Member of Parliament for North Malaita, Jimmy Lusibaea has been remanded in police custody after pleading guilty to unlawfully wounding a person and assaulting a police officer.

A Taiwanese fishing vessel is currently under investigation by the police, customs, immigration, quarantine and the Ministry of Fisheries.

Press Statement - 16 November 2010 - The first meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum Reference Group to Address Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) was held on 16 November 2010 at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in Suva.

An academic who's just been honored for his research on Pacific migration says Australia and New Zealand must consider creating new opportunities for Melanesians to live and work in their countries.

The National Police Intelligence Unit and Police from Guadalcanal are currently investigating the death of a 40 year old man at Tetere, on Thursday afternoon.

Australian-based Solomon Gold announced further encouraging assay results from recent surface sampling on its Fauro Island project in the Solomon Islands.

Two election petitions stand to be withdrawn after the High Court granted leave to the petitioners yesterday.

Hon. Toswel Kaua, MP for Baegu/Asifola, passed away early this morning at the National Referral Hospital.

Wednesday 10 November 2010, Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) - Development and implementation of maritime law in the Pacific is critical to ensuring that Pacific countries continue to have access to safe shipping, employment and uninterrupted international sea trade.

Press Release - 18,000 people from around the world gathered recently in Nagoya, Japan at the 10th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP10.

Police have killed a large crocodile in response to numerous sightings reported by the public over the last few days.

Prime Minister Danny Philip says Solomon Islands will host a special Melanesian Spearhead Group, MSG meeting in December.

Press Release - A key organisation which provides funds to address environmental issues has urged Pacific countries to speed up the implementation of projects.

The Minister for Police and National Security has told a meeting in Qatar today that the Solomon Islands government through cabinet has fully endorsed the country's position to submit its application to be a member of INTERPOL in 2011.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is to help Palau carry out broad reforms to improve the sustainability and cost effectiveness of its water and sanitation services.

A two-day workshop on decentralizing government powers to provincial governments has opened this morning in Honiara.

An international "Doing Business" report says Solomon Islands have improved ten places this year.

The much awaited 2009 National Population and Housing Census results point to an increased population of approximately 100,000 people bringing the total population to just over half a million.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - Asia and the Pacific must work harder to address air pollution alongside broader efforts to counter climate change, and a new Clean Air Scorecard developed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will help the region do that.

The Central Bank of the Solomon Islands says it will maintain a moderate accommodative monetary policy position to allow for growth in the economy.

The Australian High Commission has presented 2010 Solo Icon winner, Mr Joshua Bshaller Pa'ahanua, with his first prize.

Finance Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo has lashed out at accusations leveled against him by Mathew Wale MP, claiming he had interfered with the independence of State Owned Enterprises (SOE).

Prime Minister Danny Philip has thanked Bemobile Solomon Islands for its decision to mobilize its resources around the country.

The Solomon Islands national U-17 team training squad players for the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) U-17 championship are stepping up their performance as they approach axing time only 2 weeks from now.

Malaita Premier Richard Namo Irosae has called on certain movements within the province to refrain from promoting the cargo cult mentality "that Malaitans will be receiving millions of dollars from Israel."

Solomon Islands Finance Minister, Gordon Darcy Lilo, says the recently-elected government of Prime Minister Danny Philip is committed to serious reforms that will create opportunities and benefits for all Solomon Islanders.

Deputy Opposition Leader Matthew Wale says granting blanket forgiveness to perpetrators of the ethnic tension is meaningless, disrespectful and offensive to victims of the conflict.

The current water problem faced by Honiara township is the responsibility of every line ministry and organisation and cannot be entirely blamed on the Solomon Islands Water Authority alone.

Opposition Leader, Steve Abana, has urged individuals and informal Malaita Movements to move away from the "Cargo Cult" mentality as development talks between Malaita and Israel representatives continues in Auki.

A 23 year old woman of Samabula in Suva who allegedly smashed a beer bottle on a senior cultural officer from the Solomon Islands has had her plea deferred.

WASHINGTON, 2 November, 2010-The World Bank today approved financing totaling US$11.8 million to support the reconstruction of vital infrastructure in Samoa following the devastating tsunami that hit the country in September 2009.

The Minister of Finance and Treasury, Gordon Darcy Lilo, stated in an interview yesterday that he plans to remove duty exemptions granted to Bemobile by the previous government.

Police have arrested and charged a male juvenile in relation to an indecent assault incident on a 12 year-old girl near the Karaina community at White River over the weekend.

25 October Nagoya Japan - Nations comprising of the Western Indian Ocean are inspired by the small island countries' Micronesian Challenge initiative which seeks to effectively conserve 30 percent of near shores resources and 20 percent of terrestrial resources by 2020.

The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) Band today will receive several instruments formerly played by members of Australian Army Bands. In a restructuring of the Australian Army, some Australian Army Bands were disbanded, and their instruments deployed to other Military and Police Bands.

Taiwan has released the remaining Rural Constituency Micro Project and Millennium Development Funding for 2010 to the Solomon Islands Government.

A Police investigation into allegations of fraud and misuse of public funds is currently underway.

Press Release - "The loss of biodiversity is killing us, it's killing the rest of life and we're going to kill ourselves. If we continue down this path, we're going to make ourselves a world that will be very difficult to live in" - Pulitzer Prize winner Professor O E Wilson