Latest News Archive May 2011

The Central Bank of Solomon Islands Annual Report 2010 says the liberalization of the country's telecommunications industry in 2009 has greatly improved general availability and coverage of telecommunications services in the country.

Western Tourism Operators have called on the National Government through the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to close-down the Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau (SIVB).

The Opposition Leader Dr Derek Sikua has described Prime Minister Danny Philip's statement of being disappointed at Australia's exclusion of Solomon Islands from its discussion of a new pacific solution for processing asylum seekers as embarrassing.

Health workers throughout the region are raising their voices in warning about the dangers of tobacco smoking.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock will present a white paper to cabinet seeking a new arrangement to import cattle into the country under the National Cattle Rehabilitation Project.

European Union releases 9 million (Euros) for increasing the trade capacity of Pacific ACP countries

Prime Minister Danny Philip has said that Solomon Islands offer to assist Australia with its asylum-seekers processing centre, was in response to reports that there were difficulties with the Australian Government's proposal to have it done in East Timor.

Press Release - Apia, Samoa - A memorandum of understanding has been signed between the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Program (SPREP) and the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (5C's).

It has been revealed that the Solomon Islands government is seriously exploring the possibility of hosting an asylum-seeker processing centre.

Solomon Airlines will start flying the country's national colours again on its international route soon as it prepares to take delivery of a new A-320 aircraft.

The opportunity for Pacific musicians to share and display their musical talent has returned.

Solomon Islands key parties yesterday marked a historic development for the Solo Enviro Beautification (SEB).

The Solomon Islands Truth and Reconciliation Commission is planning to hold a third thematic public hearing for ex-combatants in either the Western or Choiseul Province soon.

Local scouts and coastwatchers of World War II will be honoured with a monument soon in the heart of Honiara city.

Solomon Islands can eradicate tropical diseases if people are responsible enough to look after themselves.

MANILA, 31 May 2011 - The World Health Organization (WHO) today called on governments to pass and enforce national laws that will prevent premature deaths from tobacco-related diseases.

The Minister of Tourism and Culture Hon. Samuel Manetoali will be visiting tourism establishments in Gizo, Western province, today.

More resources and better coordinated approach needed to address culture sector, says former Tuvalu PM

Minister for Communications and Aviation, Andrew Hanaria announced the appointment of Mr Bernard Hill, a senior executive of a Hong Kong based Consultancy Company, as the next Telecommunications Commissioner.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade confirms that the former Solomon Islands High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea, Bernard Bata'anisia, has been recalled and subsequently suspended.

A former New Zealand MP says steps taken to reform State Owned Enterprises (SOE) will have huge benefits to the ordinary people of Solomon Islands.

Dr Derek Sikua's legal Counsel has clarified that the constant adjournment of his client's petition trial can be blamed on both parties and not only on Dr Sikua.

Leaders of the six provinces who participated in the recent Provincial Speakers and Clerks Attachment will observe the next National Parliament meeting that should resume mid this year.

Empowered communities in Rotuma, an isolated island located to the North of Fiji, are strong stewards of their environment caring for their biodiversity and undertaking programs to conserve nature on the island.

An Auditor General's report which contained 118 recommendations included a key finding that the National Referral Hospital lack adequate system.

Wednesday 18th May, 2011 Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) Suva, Fiji

People living in low lying islands in the country need to be considered for relocation before the devastating effects of climate change becomes too late to address.

The Solomon Islands government is seriously pursuing initiatives that should see greater returns from the exploitation of its rich tuna resources.

Inspirational Solomon Islands Futsal captain, Elliot Ragomo, has won two awards at the OFC Futsal Champions that ended last Friday in Suva, Fiji.

An influential group of New Zealand business people, led by New Zealand MP John Hayes, is to visit Honiara this week to develop business opportunities between New Zealand and the Solomon Islands.

Wednesday 19th May, 2011 Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) Suva, Fiji

If you are not a Solomon Islander, you may have wondered about the name 'Kurukuru' as used by the Solomon Islands National Futsal Team. Kurukuru is actually a Solomon Islands term for the Pigeon bird.

Solomon Islands much loved Kurukuru Futsal Team will return home today to a heroes welcome. Hundreds have made the trip to Henderson Intentional Airport to greet these young brave hearts. Hundreds more are expected to line the streets as they parade through town with the winning trophy.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES (19 May 2011) - One of the world's most diverse and threatened marine ecosystems - the Coral Triangle - is getting Asian Development Bank (ADB) support to improve management of its rich resources and to provide job alternatives for people living in the coastal communities.

Netherlands newly appointed Ambassador to Solomon Islands has presented his Letter of Credence to the Governor General Sir Frank Kabui.

Gold and copper explorer Solomon Gold (SOLG) unveiled further positive results from its wholly-owned Fauro Island Project drilling programme in the Solomon Islands.

The Kurukuru have booked a meeting with Tahiti in the grand final of the OFC Futsal Championship after sweeping aside Vanuatu 13-1 in the second semi-final this evening.

The Kurukuru have sent a warning to their semi-final rivals with a clinical dismantling of underdogs Tuvalu in the final match of Group B at the OFC Futsal Championship.

Solomon Islands is on the verge of losing a Japanese International Cooperation Agency funding of more than SBD$250 million dollars to improve water and sanitation in Honiara because a particular landowning party refused to sign the agreement.

The Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Hon. Connelly Sandakabatu, has launched a new Pacific-wide initiative to help increase agricultural exports and increase foreign earnings for the country.

Seven-years since the Pacific Island countries requested for its set up - the Pacific Invasives Learning Network (PILN) will be showcased at a South-South Cooperation meeting in Korea from 18-20 May.

Press Release: Nature Conservation

The Kurukuru have joined Vanuatu in making it through to the semi-finals of the OFC Futsal Championship after eventually edging out a determined Tahiti outfit 1-0.

The Government of the Republic of China (ROC), Taiwan, has formally handed over funds totaling SB$1.85 million (US$234,000) towards the National Parliament Office Complex Solar project.

Solomon Islands are in the process of closing its waters to foreign purse seiners this month. The decision to do so has been described by many in the fishing industry as "bold and decisive."

In response to the challenges and opportunities of this digital age, many public sector organisations are embracing the concept of e-government-government using information and communication technology (ICT) to improve their service delivery, strengthen accountability, and increase transparency.

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission team led by Mr. Hoe Ee Khor visited Honiara during May 3-13, 2011, and is so far satisfied with its second review under the Standby Credit Facility arrangement with the Solomon Islands.

Solomon Islands Kurukuru has sounded the alarm at the start of the 2011 Oceanic Football Confederation (OFC) Futsal Championship at the Vodafone Arena in Suva, Fiji, beating New Caledonia 13-5.

Unconfirmed reports state that a group of heavily armed bandits raided the Fauro Mine Site and stole very expensive equipments and gold samples.

Press Statement - Monday 16 May 2011 The Forum Trade Ministers' Meeting (FTMM) will be held in Vava'u, Kingdom of Tonga on 18-19 May 2011.

A strong 6.5-magnitude earthquake struck the Western Solomons, beneath the sea off Papua New Guinea, prompting a local tsunami alert, US seismologists say.

Guadalcanal Province Premier Anthony Veke says his government will not accept any proposal to extend town boundaries of Honiara without the consent of its people.

Tax-payers will be footing a monthly bill of SBD$56,000 for vehicle rentals following a private arrangement agreed upon by the Prime Minister's Office and East Fataleka MP, Steve Abana.

Prime Minister Danny Philip has warned that it is in the best interest of Axiom Kolosori and Bungusule and both its overseas and local shareholders to follow the directives of the government.

Today is International Migratory Birds Day, and the Pacific is the place where some of the longest and most spectacular bird migrations take place, although many Pacific islanders these days may not be aware of migrant birds.

Peter Clement and his wife Kerrie simply could not ignore the plight of the people of Kukudu in the western province of the Solomon Islands when the couple spent five weeks there as part of a voluntary medical mission in 2009.

The Government of the Republic China has formally handed over funds totaling SB$1.85 million (US$234,000) towards the Solomon Islands National Parliament Office Complex Solar project.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES -ADB today marked the start of a worldwide Decade of Action for Road Safety with a call for governments to tackle Asia and the Pacific's disproportionately high rate of road fatalities and serious injuries.

he Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and the University of Guam (UOG) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to enhance their collaboration.

PRESS RELEASE (32/11) 10th May 2011

Land disputes are seen as major obstacles to development in many Pacific Island states, particularly in the larger Melanesian nations like Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Fiji.

The European Union (EU) has contributed ?3 million over five years to the newly formed International Network for Edible Aroids (INEA), and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) is one of the project's implementing agencies. INEA is a consortium of scientists and growers from all over the world.

PRESS STATEMENT - Friday 6th May 2011 - The Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Tuiloma Neroni Slade warmly welcomes United States President Obama's decision to seek Senate consent to ratify the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty protocols.

Solomon Islands Forestry Minister, Bradley Tovosia, says that illegal logging remains a big concern in the country.

The Bugotu Landowners Association, B-L-A, calls on the NCRA Government to immediately appoint a Commissioner to investigate the events surrounding the International Tender, the awarding and subsequent cancellation of a Letter Of Intend to Sumimoto Minerals and Mines.

Transparency Solomon Islands, TSI, has praised the government for taking an important step in building transparency and accountability in the fast growing extractive industry.

PRESS STATEMENT from the office of New Zealand Foreign Minister, Hon. Murray McCully - Wednesday 4th May 2011 - Foreign Minister, Murray McCully, says a Pacific regional counter-terrorism exercise is being hosted in New Zealand this week.

HA NOI, VIET NAM - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of the Republic of Korea today signed an agreement to extend and expand Korea's support for ADB development projects in Asia and the Pacific.

The Solomon Islands Ministry of Women, Youth and Children Affairs in collaboration with the Commonwealth Youth Programme Pacific Centre conducted a workshop in preparation for a series of upcoming Provincial Youth Mainstreaming Summits.

The Solomon Islands Truth and Reconciliation Commission has continued collecting evidence about the country's ethnic conflict, with a two-day hearing in Buma village on Malaita Province.

For four Year 11 teenagers from the Solomon Islands, leaving their home country for the first time and spending a week in Lismore, Australia, comes as a big culture shock.

Solomon Islands quarantine officials say more border control is needed to prevent a potentially harmful cocoa pest from entering its borders.

HA NOI, VIET NAM - Climate change will create unprecedented challenges in the Asia-Pacific region in coming years, intensifying existing pressures on water and food supplies, while exacerbating weather related disasters, a panel of experts stressed today.

Broader social protection will help the poor and vulnerable in Asia and the Pacific to break the cycle of poverty and enhance the quality of the region's economic growth through better employment opportunities, increased productivity, and protection against economic shocks, a panel of experts said today.

The Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) has announced the appointment of Miss Caroline Kanoko as the first female Manager to head the newly established National Financial Inclusion Unit (NFIU) at the bank.

Zurich, April 29th 2011 - A summit of environmental leaders and politicians has called for an urgent move towards a global green economy in order to achieve sustainable development over the next half century.

The Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands, RAMSI says it is prepared to make further inquiries into the pornographic film allegedly involving one of its soldiers and a local teenage female.

The European Union office in Honiara has called for Non-State Actors in Development in Solomon Islands to submit proposals for grant awards this year.

Solomon Islands Government official, Alfred Sasako, says the suspension of the prospecting license for Australian nickel mining company, Axiom still remains.

Wednesday 27 April 2011, Nuku´alofa, Tonga - Threats originating from cybercrime or computer-related crime are just as real to Pacific Island nations as any other country in the world and therefore need to be addressed through appropriate national cybercrime policies and legislation