Latest News Archive July 2010

Chief Electoral Officer Polycarp Haununu, has urged people who have registered to vote in the Solomon Islands General Elections to be prompt to polling stations.

Police in Buala last week, conducted an operation targeting illegal liquor outlets in various districts of Isabel Province.

As we draw nearer to August Fourth, security has been beefed up for the whole of Solomon Islands.

Five franchise routes have been awarded to three ship operators, allowing the first scheduled voyages of ships to remote areas of Solomon Islands, under the Domestic Maritime Support Project.

The Solomon Islands has been experiencing inconsistent weather patterns in the recent weeks.

Australia's High Commissioner to the Solomon Islands, Mr Frank Ingruber, yesterday, met with the visiting Australian surgical team at the National Referral Hospital.

Voters in North New Georgia, Western Province, will undergo a special seven-day 'how to vote' awareness program this week.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has advised the Electoral Commission that the Solomon Islands National Election day, Wednesday 4 August, will be declared a national public holiday.

A Solomon Islands academic says he's not optimistic that next week's election will produce a government that will deliver more to rural people.

Yesterday was an exciting day for 2009 Solo Icon winner, Jeddy Dyer, who departed for Australia to record his debut album at Woodhead Studios on Queensland's Gold Coast.

Promoting women into leadership does not mean women are taking over men's role.

The Solomon Islands Government has confirmed that the caretaker Prime Minister, Dr. Derek Sikua will not be attending next week's Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Summit to be held in Vanuatu.

The Solomon Islands Former attorney-general Julian Moti is likely stand trial on child sex charges next year

Over sixty local observers have been briefed by the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission in preparation for the upcoming National General Election.

The Solomon Islands Postal Corporation in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock,(MAL) Solomon Islands Government has released a set of four postal stamps.

Chief Electoral Officer, Mr Polycarp Haununu, has issued a warning to candidates to respect electoral laws and keep their campaigns peaceful and fair in the week leading up to the National General Election.

The Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) is committed to kicking of the National Soccer League this year.

The two (2) Solomon Islands referees appointed for the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Futsal Championship, Rex Kamusu and Silas Leti, have passed a physical fitness ahead of the kick off of the championship in Fiji next month.

Press Release - The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) has commenced a study with a view to establishing a regional Climate Change Fund or other mechanism.

As excitement builds in Solomon Islands in the lead up to the 2010 Solo Icon semi final, excitement is also building for the 2009 Solo Icon winner, Jeddy Dyer, who will travel to Australia this week to record his first album.

The Office of the Public Service Commission has rejected a newspaper story that has suggested an extension to the contract of Government Permanent Secretaries for another six months.

The partnership between RAMSI and the Solomon Islands is in good shape after seven years of working together to rebuild the nation.

The SPOL (South Pacific Oil Limited) Board Chairman, Mr. Joses Tuhanuku has announced the sacking of SPOL's Managing Director, Mr. Mike Hemmer, after his Board met yesterday to decide on Mr. Hemmer's future with the company.

The Asian Development Bank says there's need for the Solomon Islands Government to take immediate action to boost sustainable economic growth.

The Electoral Commission has assured the people of Temotu Vatud that their polling day will be the same as the rest of the country - Wednesday 4 August.

Prime Minister Derek Sikua has won a defamation case he lodged against the Island Sun Newspaper at the High Court.

The fate of the Managing Director of South Pacific Oil (SPO), Mike Hemmer, will be decided today by the SPO Board of Directors.

There will be up to 70 international observers in Solomon Islands for the August 4 elections.

Police say they are planning to ban the sale of alcohol in the country during the National General Elections on August 4.

Care-taker Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua has officially opened the Solomon Islands Mission to Fiji with the unveiling of a plaque, in Suva, yesterday morning.

One of Fiji's oldest and main newspapers, Fiji Times, is being put on the market by its owner, News Ltd.

There is rice shortage in Honiara, along with most of the other main provincial centres in the Solomon Islands, as the election looms.

The Pacific Small Island Developing States has met at a briefing with the UN Secretary General's Advisory Group on Climate Change Finance.

The Electoral Commission has been alerted to an error in the list of the record 508 candidates.

The Solomon Islands Democratic Party spokesman, Mathew Wale, has urged Solomon Islanders to "bravely confront the issue of Land reform in the country to move the nation forward."

Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua and the National Government of Solomon Islands have congratulated Rennell Bellona Province and its people on the occasion marking the Province's Second Appointed Day.

The Solomon Islands Electoral Commission has confirmed that a record 508 candidates will contest the upcoming National General Elections on 4th August 2010.

Child sex charges have been reinstated against former Solomon Islands attorney-general Julian Moti following a ruling by Queensland's Court of Appeal.

Police are appealing to the public for information on an eight year old boy who has been missing since Monday afternoon from the Fishing Village area in East Honiara.

The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) with the support of the RAMSI Participating Police Force (PPF) and RAMSI Military has already commenced security preparations ahead of the National General Election which will be held on 4 August 2010.

PRESS RELEASE - 15th July 2010 - As the Pacific Islands Forum prepares to celebrate its 40th anniversary next year, a stock take of its achievements will be undertaken to reflect on its current and future directions.

Press Release - The Pacific Islands Roundtable for Nature Conservation calls upon Pacific Island countries to commit to investing in natural solutions to reduce the impacts of environmental and climate change as a matter of urgency.

The caretaker Foreign Minister in Solomon Islands, William Haomae, is confident the leaders of the Melanesian Spearhead Group will be able to resolve the rift with Fiji at a planned special summit meeting.

Malaita Premier Richard Irosaea has urged people of the province to "think carefully before choosing their leaders in the coming August 4th general elections."

The Electoral Commission is inviting local and international organizations to participate in the upcoming National General Election as election observers.

Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua is leaving Honiara this weekend for Fiji to attend the highly criticized 'Engaging Fiji' meeting of Commodore Frank Bainimarama.

Fiji's military-led government has declared Australia's High Commissioner to the country as persona non-grata making Ms. Sarah Roberts the second envoy from Australia to be expelled from the country and among a growing list of people the country has expelled since the 2006 military coup.

Former Central Bank Governor turned politician Rick Hou is taking on 14 other candidates in the race for the Small Malaita parliamentary seat in the 2010 national general elections.

A total of 340 candidates have been confirmed to contest 31 constituencies, according to figures released by the Electoral Commission since the close of withdrawal of nomination by candidates.

Australia has updated its travel warning for visitors to Solomon Islands in the lead-up to the 04 August 2010 poll.

PRESS RELEASE - 13th July 2010m - Five years after it was endorsed by Pacific Islands Forum Leaders, the Pacific Plan has recorded some successes but there remains challenges.

Solomon Islands Foreign Affairs Minister, William Haomae, says the issues surrounding the opening of a processing centre for asylum seekers in the country are quite complex.

The Solomon Islands Community in Adelaide, South Australia, has celebrated the Solomon Islands 32nd Independence Day on the 10th July, 2010.

The Solomon Islands Reform Democratic Party has announced that it proposes to set up rural development agencies which will govern each constituency in the handling of rural development funds.

PRESS RELEASE - 12th July 2010 - The issue of climate change will remain for a long time as a top priority for the Smaller Island States (SIS) in the Pacific region.

The Minister of Police and National Security, James Tora, has appealed to Solomon Islanders to "support electoral officials and the Police in the various activities prior to and including the time of the national general election."

The United Nations, UN, will facilitate the coordination of international election observers during the 2010 National Parliament Election in Solomon Islands.

Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua says the Coalition for National Unity and Rural Advancement Government has delivered its pledge to address the bona fide demands of Guadalcanal Province during its term in power.

The position of candidates on the ballot paper for the National General Election has been drawn by Returning Officers across the country yesterday.

Australia's Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, is under increasing pressure to find a country within the region that would be willing to host a regional processing centre for asylum seekers.

Press Release - SeaWeb is the newest member to sign the Pacific Islands Roundtable for Nature Conservation charter in Samoa this week.

It was a low key event as Solomon Islanders celebrated its 32nd Independence Anniversary at the Lawson Tama Stadium.

The Electoral Commission is advising intending candidates to submit their nominations by 4.30pm today or miss out on standing in the upcoming National General Election.

Press Release - "Climate Solutions: Invest in Biodiversity" is the theme of the thirteenth gathering of the Pacific Islands Round Table for Nature Conservation that opened in Samoa this morning.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - Many countries in Asia and the Pacific are well-suited to solar power initiatives, and incentives and low-cost financing mechanisms should be made available to help the region make the transition possible, Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Haruhiko Kuroda said yesterday.

Gold developer Allied Gold has signed a AU$35 million loan agreement with the International Finance Corporation to underpin the AU$150 million redevelopment of its Gold Ridge mine, in the Solomon Islands.

RAMSI's Special Coordinator has paid tribute to the hundreds of Tongans and Samoans who have helped rebuild Solomon Islands since the Regional Assistance Mission was first deployed in 2003.

Hillary Clinton, the Secretary of State of the United States of America, has congratulated the Solomon Islands on its Independence Day.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - Hundreds of policymakers, development experts and representatives from the public and private sectors will meet in the Philippines this week to explore new opportunities to boost investment in Asia and the Pacific's agriculture sector.

Fiji will expand its protection of its borders into marinas and the waterfront where officials will be allowed to board and search vessels.

The Chief Executive Officer of the National Provident Fund, Tony Makabo says the Fund is ready to inject $100 million into the premier fishing and processing company in the country, Soltai.

The Solomon Islands Democratic Party plans to establish a national university at Fote in the central district of Malaita Province.

The third international Christian gathering of 'Awakening the Nation' officially opened yesterday afternoon in Honiara.

The Electoral Commission is advising intending candidates for the upcoming National General Election that the close of nominations is now Thursday 8 July.

A man who claimed to be a traditional healer was imprisoned for eight years after pleading guilty to four counts of rape.

The National Provident Fund earned more than 72 million dollars in the financial year which ended 30th June 2010.

Deputy Prime Minister Fred Fono has officially launched the Festival of Pacific Arts in Honiara last night.

Report by the Pacific Freedom Forum as published on their website on Wednesday, June 30, 2010.

The Electoral Commission has kicked off its provincial grassroots awareness program to increase voter awareness ahead of the upcoming National General Election starting in Auki, Malaita Province the national games.

Employment in the Solomon Islands construction industry will be given a strong boost with the announcement of the successful tender for the construction of 84 new houses for the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force.

The National Provident Fund, NPF, has declared a dividend of five percent to its members.