Latest News Archive December 2010

The Western Province President of the Solomon Islands National Teachers Association has expressed disappointment over the nonpayment of Teachers Traveling allowances.

A former fisheries officer says that the Ministry of Fisheries should "demonstrate its seriousness in combating corruption by conducting an official investigation into allegations leveled against some of its officers."

The Solomon Islands police are still searching for the four locals who helped a Sri Lankan escape deportation at the Honiara International Airport last week.

Police are appealing to communities of the Burns Creek area to look out for a 15 year old boy who has been missing since Wednesday 22nd December 2010.

Munda Airport in the Western Province is set to be upgraded to an international standard airport, making it the second for the Solomon Islands.

Hundreds of patients suffering from flu like symptoms are unhappy with the level of response by health authorities in the past few weeks.

It seems like everyone you speak to in Honiara suffer from aching throats, dripping noses, chills and fever.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES (27 December 2010) - The Government of Sweden is extending an additional SEK35,000,000 (about $5 million equivalent) to an Asian Development Bank (ADB)-administered trust fund which is helping combat the spread of HIV/AIDS in Asia and the Pacific.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - The Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) are helping five Pacific countries manage their marine resources in the Coral Triangle.

Police are investigating an incident in which a foreign national escaped deportation with the help of knife wielding locals.

Fisheries Permanent Secretary Dr Christian Ramofafia says his ministry is doing all it can to confiscate marine resources which are illegally harvested.

The Bugotu Landowners Association, BLA, says the decision by government to award Sumitomo the license to develop Nickel on Isabel could "hamper the little progress that has been made in the partnership between landowners and the government."

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will help Solomon Islands upgrade its land, sea, and air transport infrastructure to support economic activities and social service delivery.

PRESS STATEMENT - Monday, 20 December 2010 - The Pacific Islands Forum and European Union last week launched the "Joint Pacific-EU Initiative on Climate Change".

Two new eco-friendly guest bungalows have been officially opened at the Wilderness Lodge on Gatokae Island in Western Province, with support from a grant of SBD $770,000 provided by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) under the Enterprise Challenge Fund (ECF).

A government official in Solomon Islands says a local police officer may be appointed as a caretaker police commissioner until a permanent replacement is found for outgoing commissioner Peter Marshall.

www.sendmoneypacific.org has re-launched this week, to provide even more information on the costs involved in sending money back to the Pacific from Australia and New Zealand.

Isabel Province has a new Premier.

The government has reduced a SBD$2.5 million dollars fine imposed on a Taiwanese fishing boat found guilty of fishing illegally in the country's waters.

Solomon Islands would consider a request from neighboring Vanuatu for nurses.

Prime Minister Danny Philip says he is confident that "Melanesian countries have now entered a new era of MSG solidarity."

The governments of Solomon Islands and Fiji have jointly signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, which will pave the way for the two countries to assist each other in various areas.

Representatives of 16 community groups gathered at the Australian High Commission on 9 December for a handover of project funding for small community development projects spread across all provinces of Solomon Islands.

The Public Solicitor has hit back at the government's ultimatum over the Cavanaugh-Lusibaea issue saying the government should allow the criminal justice system to take its natural course without interference.

Vanuatu has handed over the Chairmanship of the Melanesian Spearhead Group to Fiji.

The Solomon Islands government is seeking a formal explanation from the Public Solicitor's Office for the sudden departure of Lusibaea's lawyer from Honiara last week.

The Solomon Islands Member of Parliament, Hon. Jimmy Lusibaea was refused bail yesterday following his court application.

The Solomon Islands Australian High Commissioner, His Excellency, Frank Ingruber, has opened an income generation project for Women and Disabled persons in the Wagina Community in Choiseul Province.

Another lawyer from the Public Solicitor's Office will be appearing for jailed former Fisheries Minister Jimmy Lusibaea at his bail application hearing today morning.

As the price for cigarette soars, now more than SBD$30 a packet, smokers are now venting their frustration on the only producers of tobacco in the country, saying they had a hand in the price hike.

Mr. Denton Rarawa, the Governor of the CBSI says the decision by the Central Bank to relax Exchange Control requirements on certain foreign exchange transactions through the commercial banks, will reduce the cost of doing business in Solomon Islands.

Carols in the Islands prove to be a hit once again, with thousands braving the heat to enjoy fun and games at the Lawson Tama stadium.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has funded a new electronic Companies Registry (Company Haus), which will enable online registration of companies in the Solomon Islands and contribute towards the Government of Solomon Islands efforts to improve efficiency of doing business in the country.

PRESS RELEASE - 10th December 2010 - Creative, cultural and innovative industries offer unique opportunities for sustainable economic development in Pacific island countries, but initiatives to promote their development must be included in National Development Plans, says the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.

Yet another Member of Parliament (MP) has been arrested and charged.

The National Parliament is again opening up its doors for the public today, to mark its 2010 Open Day.

Vanuatu's Prime Minister, Sato Kilman, has pulled out of next week's planned meeting of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) in Solomon Islands.

Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. said Wednesday it has obtained the right to explore three potential nickel mining sites in the Solomon Islands.

Roadmap developed for new regional programme on climate protection through forest conservation

Oceania champions Hekari United were not prepared to renounce their attacking instincts, their coach said, after the Papua New Guinean club crashed out of the first round of the Club World Cup.

Solomon Islands' lead negotiator at the climate change summit in Cancun says he's worried that the United States will not give the climate adaptation money it promised to vulnerable nations.

Press Release - Cancun, Mexico - Tuvalu's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Enele Sopoaga has urged the climate change Adaptation Fund Board to provide greater capacity building for islands that are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

The sacked Solomon Islands forestry minister Bodo Detke looks set to take on a new ministerial position following a reconciliation ceremony with the Prime Minister yesterday.

Australia's Federal Justice Minister, Brendan O'Connor, has praised the Solomon Islands government for strengthening laws to stamp out money laundering.

The Solomon Islands government, through the ministry of Fisheries and Marine resources, has signed a development agreement with the Western Solomon Fishing Venture (WSFV) Limited.

Five Solomon Islanders reported missing near the Santa Cruz Island group have been rescued following an overnight dash by the Australian Air Force.

Results of the Provincial elections held yesterday are expected to trickle in as polling stations start counting this morning.

PRESS RELEASE - 6th December 2010 - Remittances are an important source of household income and foreign exchange for many developing countries, providing income directly to households to improve living standards.

PRESS RELEASE - 6th December 2010 - A project management unit (PMU) has been established at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in Suva, Fiji to manage and monitor the multi-million dollar PALM 5 Pacific Environment Community (PEC) Fund negotiated by Pacific Islands Forum Leaders with the Government of Japan in 2009.

A senior member of the Royal Solomon Islands Police has been remanded in custody late yesterday on incest charges.

Fisheries Minister and MP for North Malaita, Jimmy Lusibaea, has lodged an appeal challenging his sentence.

As speculations rise on the future of the Danny Philip led National Coalition for Rural Advancement (NCRA) government, a senior member of the NCRA government says "the government is still solid and stable as ever."

The Office of the Prime Minister today distanced itself from the confrontation between former Forestry Minister Bodo Detke and some logging interests in the country.

Press Release - UNEP Report finds Copenhagen Accord pledges will not reach targets of 2 degrees or less.

Press Release - The power utility of Vanuatu (UNELCO) has set itself a goal of generating 33% of its electricity from renewable energy by 2013.

Premier of Malaita Province has said that the case of Member of Parliament for North Malaita and Fisheries Minister Jimmy Lusibaea has left more questions than answers.

The Government is now claiming that the former Minister for Forest, Bodo Detke, was fully aware of his removal as Minister because he was present at the Caucus meeting at the time.

Fiji's leader Commodore Frank Bainimarama is standing by his word that he will not attend the Melanesian Spearhead Group MSG reconciliation ceremony scheduled for this month in Honiara.

Chairman of Mr Lusibaea's Voluntary Advisory Committee Exly Taloiburi says the sentencing handed down this morning was very unfortunate.

By Makereta Komai, Climate Pasifika Media Team 29 NOVEMBER 2010 CANCUN ---- Reason and creativity, values of the Mayan goddess Ixchel, is what UN climate chief hopes will inspire climate negotiators to reach an 'acceptable' deal in Cancun in the coming 12 days.

The National Coalition for Rural Advancement Government Caucus has yesterday resolved to sack the government's Forestry Minister Bodo Detke.

The government has reaffirmed its commitment to support Jimmy Lusibaea's legal team who will be seeking to appeal the High Court's two year nine month sentence handed down yesterday by Justice David Cameron.