Latest News Archive August 2010

Parliament member for Ulawa-Ugi constituency James Tora has been sworn-in as Minister for Police, National Security and Correctional Services at Government House yesterday afternoon.

Press Release - Come the end of October, the second Pacific nation to hold a seat on the Bureau for the Convention for Biological Diversity, passes this privilege on.

Press Release - The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme has published the first in a series of newsletters that chronicles the progress of solid waste management in the Pacific islands.

Prime Minister Danny Philip has hailed New Zealand for its ongoing cooperation and assistance programs to Solomon Islands.

Tongan authorities will conduct their own investigations into the recent shooting and death of a former police officer from Guadalcanal Province, according to laws of the Kingdom of Tonga.

With the tagline "Mifala lo hia nao", telecommunication operator Bemobile has officially announced the launch of its new network in the country.

Prime Minister Danny Philip today says rumors that the Opposition group is planning to unseat him through a motion of no confidence are "nothing more than a figment of imagination that merely reflects political adventurism."

Wednesday 25 August, Noumea, SPC - For all the beauty and extraordinary richness of the Pacific, the region also holds some sad records.

Tonga has so far not responded to Solomons' requests to waive immunity for the soldiers although Fonokalafi and Tongan solicitor general 'Aminiasi Kefu flew to Honiara last week to meet with Solomon's attorney general Gabriel Suri.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon has commended Solomon Islands for holding successful parliamentary elections.

Just days after winning the majority to form government, the Philip led government has suffered a blow with Snyder Rini choosing to switch his allegiance to the Opposition group.

On Tuesday the 31st of August, 2010, the current Miss Solomon Islands 2009, Rabobo Toma, in collaboration with the Henderson Hammerheads Rugby Club will host a Trivia Night at the King Solomons Bamboo Bar.

The country's newly elected Prime Minister paid a moving tribute to his mother, who suffers from polio and is bed-ridden in their home village of Lokuru on Rendova Island.

The funeral arrangements for the Late Steve Laore are being taken care of by a committee which usually organizes funeral arrangements for MPs and senior government officers.

The Police Commissioner says there were no suspicious circumstances involved in the death of the MP for Shortlands, Steve Laore, at the Pacific Casino Hotel on Wednesday night.

Prime Minister Honorable Danny Philip and members of his coalition group today expressed their deep sadness over the untimely passing away of the Member of Parliament for Shortland Islands, the late Steve Laore.

The country's new Prime Minister assures the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands of his support and continued presence in the country.

Newly elected Prime Minister Hon Danny Philip is pleased with the peaceful public behavior during his election yesterday.

Newly elected Prime Minister Hon Danny Philip today said he will make Ministerial appointments in a few days.

Press Release - Tourists holidaying in Palau since November last year have helped raise over a million dollars for the protected areas of the territory. Palau now has 1.3 million USD from a Green fee tax that began on 1 November 2009, all of which will help conservation efforts in Palau.

Solomon Islands Governor General, Sir Frank Kabui, has declared Hon. Danny Philip, MP for Rendova Tetepare, as Prime Minister of Solomon Islands.

Prime Minister candidate for Pacific Casino's camp says the departure of Manasseh Sogavare to Heritage Park hotel camp is "not a threat but rather a concern."

The Prime Ministerial election, scheduled to begin sometime after 9.30am this morning, is still too close to call with both camps claiming to have the numerical advantage.

Directors of Public Health will meet to discuss practical ways to effectively implement Adolescent Health and Development (AHD) programme activities in 10 Pacific countries. Key to this effective implementation is mainstreaming AHD issues-ensuring that they are addressed in activities in all sectors and at all levels.

The coalition group camping at Heritage Park Hotel says the country's economy has "for so long relied heavily on the forestry sector and there is a great need to spread out to other sectors of the economy."

Police request for a ban on the sale of alcohol during the Prime Minister's Election period has been approved by the responsible authorities.

As the election of the country's Prime Minister nears, and with memories of the 2006 Prime Ministerial election still fresh, police have taken extra measures to beef up their presence in and around Honiara.

Press Release - A three day meeting has brought the Pacific region closer together as the 14 island countries prepare to face the world at the 10th Conference of the Parties for the Convention on Biological Diversity in October.

The Attorney General says he expects to get a response from the government of Tonga by Tuesday this week on whether they agree to wave immunity to two of its soldiers serving with RAMSI.

People of Ghaobata, Malango, Bahomea and Vulolo have expressed disappointment in the candidacy of Fataleka MP-elect Steve Abana as a candidate for next week's Prime Minister elections.

The government House has received two nominations for the Prime Minister's elections at the close of nominations on Friday afternoon.

The Police Commissioner says he is pleased to have met with two Tongan senior officials who arrived after a shooting incident which resulted in the death of a man at Titinge in Honiara.

Police says the public can expect some inconvenience around the National Parliament grounds during election of a new Prime Minister next week.

With less than eight hours remaining before the close of nomination for a new prime minister, the groups vying to form the next government have yet to name their candidates.

PRESS RELEASE - 18th August 2010 - Last week's successful Pacific Investment Summit in Sydney, Australia, has been applauded for its work to secure new investment for Pacific island countries.

The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force investigation into the incident that occurred at Titinge on 12 August 2010 is progressing well with a dedicated team of detectives investigating the incident.

The deadline for the Prime Ministers' nomination lapses tomorrow afternoon, yet there are no nominations from the various camps.

Manasseh Sogavare, the former Opposition Leader and current Leader of OUR Party, says members of the ninth Parliament are repeating the weakness of past parliaments in the formation of a new government.

PRESS RELEASE - 17th August 2010 - The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and other stakeholders have begun work towards the implementation of the Pacific Regional Strategy on Disability after it was endorsed at the 41st Pacific Islands Forum held in Port Vila, Vanuatu 3 - 6 August.

While Solomon Islands is only two days away from the close of nominations for the country's future Prime Minister, latest information trickling out from the main camps still has not offered the clearest of direction on a political coalition.

The Royal Solomon Islands Police Commissioner Peter Marshall says he is satisfied with the progress of the investigations into the rock throwing and shooting incident at Titinge last week in which a man in his late thirties died.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide loan assistance to the Republic of the Marshall Islands to help to achieve long-term fiscal sustainability and to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the public sector.

The Solomon Islands Attorney General, Gabriel Suri, says he is yet to receive a response from the Tongan Government on two requests he made through his Tongan counterpart following last week's incident.

Newly elected members will meet in parliament on Wednesday 25th August to elect a new prime minister.

As taken from a post by Beth Buczynski for care2.com

A leading women's organisation in the country has appealed to newly elected members of Parliament to show integrity and good judgment and act with responsibility and accountability in the process of electing a new prime minister and forming government.

Lobbying between the different political camps to elect a new prime minister continues with two major camps now emerging.

RAMSI Special Coordinator, Graeme Wilson, presented traditional gifts or chupu, to the family and community of the Solomon Islands man who died in an incident involving RAMSI security forces, on Thursday 12 August.

The Solomon Islands have claimed their third consecutive OFC Futsal Championship at Suva's Vodafone Arena on Saturday, finishing above runners-up Fiji and New Zealand who took third.

Family of the late Harry Lolongo who had been gun down by RAMSI personnel on Thursday morning will be looking into possible demands that will be submitted to RAMSI after the funeral.

Here is the final list of results following the National Election held on 4th August 2010.

PRESS RELEASE - 13th August 2010 - The Pacific Region promises great opportunities for investment despite the many disadvantages present in the countries.

The Solomon Islands were in a confident mood at the OFC Futsal Championship today playing with a 'fifth attacker' for much of the game against Tahiti.

Australian music producer, Kelvin Fahey, will arrive in Honiara today ahead of the Solo Icon Grand Final on Sunday 15 August.

RAMSI Special Coordinator, Graeme Wilson, today expressed his deepest regret at the tragic death of a Solomon Islands man in a fatal shooting by RAMSI security forces on the outskirts of Honiara yesterday.

As lobbying continue to escalate, all the major camps now claim that they have the numbers needed to form the new government.

Police attended at an incident in the early hours of yesterday morning at the location of Titinge Village where there were reports of a disturbance between two parties.

PRESS RELEASE - 12th August 2010 - The failure to disseminate the reports of baseline achievements in literacy and numeracy in Forum island countries remains one of the challenges facing education authorities in the region.

The Royal Solomon Island Police Force has confirmed that there has been one death as a result of an incident at Titinge in the early hours of this morning.

Kurukuru captain Elliot Ragomo may have been out of action on day four of the OFC Futsal Championship but the Solomon Islands still poured on the goals beating Vanuatu 8-3.

Police are urging public drivers to take more precautions to help prevent accidents, after a car was in flamed at China Town area yesterday afternoon.

The Independent Democratic Party has dismissed media reports alleging Marovo MP Snyder Rini as its preferred candidate for prime minister.

PRESS RELEASE - 11th August 2010 - The Forum Education Ministers' Meeting (FEdMM) has provided a very effective platform for leveraging donors and development partners' reactions to the development needs of education in the region.

The European Union (EU) and SPC have signed a Contribution Agreement worth ?4.4 million for a project entitled 'Deep Sea Minerals in the Pacific Islands Region: A Legal and Fiscal Framework for Sustainable Resource Management'.

Leader of the Ownership, Unity and Responsibility, OUR political party - East Choiseul MP elect, Manasseh Sogavare says he is disappointed that some senior members of his party were not re-elected to Parliament.

Forty eight results have been announced so far, meaning only two are still to be decided.

With election results nearing its completion political factions within the country are now camping in an effort to garner and retain support.

SOLOMON ISLANDS ELECTION 2010 INTERNATIONAL ELECTION OBSERVERS STATEMENT Pacific Islands Forum, Australia and New Zealand 8 August 2010

A four goal haul from Micah Lea'alafa has guided the Solomon Islands to an 8-4 victory over New Zealand at the OFC Futsal Championship in Suva yesterday evening.

The new Member of Parliament for the North Malaita constituency, Jimmy "Rasta" Lusibaea says his win in the elections is a slap in the face of people, including the 'outside world', who have continuously labeled him as an ex-militant.

Care-taker Planning Minister Steve Abana has been re-elected in the Fataleka Constituency on Malaita following the elections last Wednesday.

The Solomon Islands have shown why they are the favourites at the OFC Futsal Championship Fiji 2010 after an emphatic 9-2 win against New Caledonia on Saturday.

Former Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua of the C-NURA Government has won his seat with a huge majority over his closest rival Alfred Lovanitilia.

The long-awaited multimillion dollar Auki wharf and market project funded by the Japanese Government will begin at the end of this month, a top government official announced on Sunday.

The Electoral Commission has received advice from the Attorney General that the count for Lau Mbaelelea Constituency must proceed until completed.

PRESS RELEASE - 6th August 2010 - The Republic of the Marshall Islands today signed the Memorandum of Understanding for the Pacific Petroleum Project, the fifth Pacific Island Country to sign after the Cook Islands, Nauru, Niue and Tuvalu.

Another high profile candidate has failed to retain his seat.

The final result for Western Province introduces a new young Member of Parliament for West New Georgia, Silas Kerry Vaqara Tausinga.

As celebrations continue at the Riverside community following the announcement of new Small Malaita Member of Parliament, Rick Hou, the hype goes right across the ocean to Fiji.

Another former Member of Parliament bows out in the 2010 national election.

Solomon Islands have 12 new Members of Parliament and lost six big names as counting continue into day 3 of the 2010 national election results.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Fred Fono is the latest high profile candidate to lose his seat.

As results come in the Police have had to send in reinforcements to the Temotu provincial capital Lata after supporters of a certain candidate ransacked shops and properties.

Longtime MP and a former Prime Minister Francis Billy Hilly has lost his seat to new comer Charles Sigoto.

Choiseul province has confirmed its new members of parliament after a long counting day yesterday.

Election security officials for Ndei Island, Lau/MBaelelea Constituency, have been found after losing their way to the remote polling station in bad weather and strong currents.

Former Opposition Leader and the Leader of the OUR Party, Manasseh Sogavare, has retained his seat.

41st PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM - PRESS RELEASE - 4th August 2010 - The 8th meeting of the Pacific ACP Leaders was held in Port Vila, Republic of Vanuatu Tuesday 3rd August to discuss the progress of European Union assistance through the European Development Fund (EDF) to the region as well as trade issues.

Three former MPs from the previous House have retained their seat. Job Tausinga, Seth Gukuna and Varian Lonamei have won comfortably as results slowly come in.

Still no confirmed results apart from North New Georgia Constituency in the Western Province where Job Tausinga has won comfortably for his seventh term in Parliament. Below is a small update of progress so far.

Results are slowly trickling in with a few constituencies already starting the count. Below is a quick rundown on those constituencies being counted.

The Solomon Islands Electoral Commission has deferred the date for election in Ontong Java to Monday 9 August 2010.

The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force, with strong support from the Participating Police Force and RAMSI Military, continues to conduct mobile patrols and maintain a highly visible presence in and around Honiara.

RAMSI's Participating Police Force (PPF) has assisted the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission deliver ballot papers to Malaita Province in time for yesterday's poll.

The 2010 National General Elections has been described by many poll managers as being quiet and peaceful.

PORT VILA, VANUATU - PRESS RELEASE - 3rd August 2010 - The Chair of the 41st Pacific Islands Forum and Prime Minister of the Republic of Vanuatu, Hon. Edward Natapei, MP, has called for the removal of barriers and elements in the region that deny democracy and good governance.

PRESS RELEASE - 3rd August 2010 - Leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum Smaller Islands States (SIS) held their 19th meeting in Port Vila, Vanuatu today with climate change issues dominating the meeting.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - Stronger than expected economic growth in resource rich Timor-Leste has resulted in an upgrade of the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) forecast of economic growth in the Pacific region, according to the latest edition of ADB's Pacific Economic Monitor.

Honiara Lawyer Charles Ashley may loose his legal licence after being referred to a disciplinary committee by the Solomon Islands Honourable Chief Justice.

Several members of the Royal Solomon Island Police Force (RSIPF) with investigators from various government agencies participated in a joint Integrity symposium, held at Kitano Mendana Hotel last week.