Latest News Archive April 2012

The official launch of the Scientology Volunteer Ministers Goodwill Tour Solomon Islands, signals the launch of a month of free seminars on the 19 subjects of the Scientology Handbook.

Australia and Solomon Islands will take up seats on the United Nation's Women Executive Board from January 2013.

The National Festival Arts Committee says it remains positive about Honiara's security situation for the upcoming festival despite increased rates of violent thefts in Honiara this month.

Families of four victims attacked in Point Cruz this month met with representatives of the perpetrators in a reconciliation ceremony to stop further retaliations in Honiara.

MANILA, 23 APRIL 2012 - The World Health Organization is closing in on its goal of eliminating measles in the Western Pacific Region by the end of this year.

The Russell Islands Plantation Estate Limited are now threatening to sue the Solomon Islands Government for 324 million Solomon dollars or around 44 million US dollars in compensation.

Australia's Defence Minister Stephen Smith says an exit plan is being developed for the defence contingent of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands.

The Papua New Guinea High Commission in Solomon Islands has launched its first ever Employment Training Program in Honiara yesterday.

Objectives on biodiversity, fisheries and climate change outcomes should be integrated when designating Marine Protected Areas (MPA) for the so-called Coral Triangle, according to a report by a consortium studying methods to protect the region.

About 30 people, representing 10 Pacific Island Countries (PICs) and regional organisations, are currently attending a meeting to discuss a Pacific Regional Policy Framework that will facilitate PICs' access to support under REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation) funding possibilities.

The Royal Solomon Islands Police have formally charged a 22-year old man following the fatal stabbing last Saturday.

Today the little city of Gladstone officially welcomes its four soldiers who have returned after deployment in the Solomon Islands.

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) is pleased to share the findings of a gender stocktake conducted in six Pacific Islands countries in 2009-2010.

Opposition Leader Dr Derek Sikua has questioned why relevant authorities are not taking appropriate actions against the two Asian business associates for continuing to export seaweed despite the cancellation of their work and residential permits.

The Ministry of Rural Development has clarified that Taiwanese Embassy never paid 5.5 million dollars to the Solomon Islands Government for outstanding projects as claimed.

Solomon Islands Opposition Leader Dr Derek Sikua has condemned what he terms as the brutal murder of a young Solomon Islands Government diplomat and the injury of four others in Honiara last Saturday.

Pacifical is a global company jointly set up by the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) countries in 2011 of which Solomon Islands is a member.

In the male-dominated society like that of Solomon Islands, men make the decisions and women tend to the children and prepare food.

Construction of the new Gizo Correctional Centre and staff housing has officially commenced with a ceremony on the site last Friday.

PFF Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS- The Pacific Freedom Forum condemns the brutal attack by uniformed Police officers on Papua New Guinea journalist Mark Kayok on the evening of Saturday 21 April, in Port Moresby.

Solomon Islands Archbishop of the Church of Melanesia, David Vunagi, has said the safety of the general public in Honiara is no longer guaranteed.

The development of future local footballers is the focus of a week-long FIFA and OFC grassroots course taking place in the Solomon Islands capital of Honiara last week.

Politics and controversy aside, Chris Tafoa has a lot in common with athlete Zola Budd.

A Foreign Affairs official has died after a fatal stabbing incident in the early hours of Saturday morning in front of the Honiara Central Market.

Fifty five Solomon Islands students graduated from courses in hospitality, tourism, hairdressing and children services from the Australia Pacific Technical College (APTC) at a special ceremony in Honiara on Friday.

PFF Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS--Independent journalism and jobs for journalists in Palau face the axe if a proposed telecommunications bill before the country's senate becomes law, says regional media monitoring network the Pacific Freedom Forum.

An Australian academic has criticized Australia and New Zealand aid programmes in the Pacific, saying they are chiefly responsible for appalling social outcomes, particularly in Melanesia.

A 31-man training squad for the OFC Nations Cup has been revealed by hosts the Solomon Islands and there is no shortage of well-known names amongst the line-up.

VANUATU, 17 April 2012 - The World Health Organization and the Vanuatu Ministry of Health recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding to formalize the development of the Pacific Open Learning Health Net (POLHN) in the country.

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a man found just outside the Metal Sheet Products Limited gate in the Ranadi Industrial area.

Imagine a coconut tree surviving in a bottle small enough to hide in the palm of your hand. Amazing, isn't it? Yet this is not Aladdin's cave and no genie's magic but an advancement of science that has made possible the preservation and maintenance of clean, pure varieties of our traditional staple food crops.

The Opposition group says they are puzzled at the explanation given by the Minister for Commerce and Immigration, Elijah Doromuala, when pressed to explain how Mr. Zhang reentered the country after he was allegedly deported.

Solomon Islands only Telecommunication Company "Our Telekom" has rectified the technical problems to its Fixed NGN network system.

The Wantok Stori film project has announced the team that will begin work with them in the Solomon Islands this week.

The region's leading tuna management control authority in the Pacific believes the latest move by the Solomon Islands to give priority to fishing companies that invest in the country would influence investment and offer more employment for locals.

After a month and a half in the Solomon Islands, I am starting to settle in. The greatest challenge has been the heat and getting used to moving around outside in such hot weather.

The Honiara City Council Litter Campaign Team will continue another intense anti-litter campaign in Honiara.

Solomon Islanders thinking of applying for a scholarship to study in Australia next year have only until the end of April to lodge their application form.

Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) Market Access Specialist Josua Wainiqolo made it clear that SPC will continue to provide assistance through its Land Resources Division to Melanesian countries in improving biosecurity issues and increasing trade in agricultural and forestry products.

For the first time Solomon Island students have graduated from the Airport Fiji Limited Aviation Academy in Nadi.

Solomon Islands will be receiving a 150 member delegation of Guam artists and performers to participate in the 11th Festival of Pacific Arts in Honiara, Solomon Islands this July 1 - 14.

The people of Ontong Java, Malaita Outer Islands, have handed a set of demands to the government on the bechedemer issue.

HONG KONG, 9 APRIL 2012 - A new WHO collaborating centre was named here today to help smokers quit and to reduce the heavy toll of tobacco-related deaths in the Western Pacific Region.

Former Militants of the Isatabu Freedom Movement, IMF, say they are deeply disturbed by the circulation of false rumors of another "ethnic conflict."

Solomon Islands will continue to support Taiwan in its bid to become a recognized member of the international community.

The Solomon Islands government recently spent four million dollars to purchase 22 new vehicles from local suppliers in Honiara.

In 2003, Julie Zinihite was just beginning her pharmacy career and seven years later, in 2010, she became the first Solomon Islands female to be appointed Chief Pharmacist at the National Referral Hospital.

SUVA, 04 APRIL 2012 - As a joint coordinator for the health and nutrition cluster, WHO and UNICEF convened the first cluster meeting to identify the key health and nutrition priorities post-flooding and ensure the coherent and effective response of all agencies, organization and NGOs.

A new documentary capturing the experiences of Solomon Islands women had premiered last Sunday on One Television.

Last week he was stranded on the Solomon Islands as a cyclone approached the region and on returning home safely Gary Barlow decided to tweet his holiday snaps from the trip.

Vanuatu has won the Asia Pacific beach soccer final defeating the Solomon Islands Bilikiki team in a nail biting finish.

Visiting Australian Governor-General, Ms Quentin Bryce, shares her remarks at a Women's Forum held at the National Parliament on Tuesday this week.

Solomon Islands is vulnerable to impacts of climate change but if Kristina Fidali has her way, these challenges will be tackled head on.

The Solomon Islands National Government last Saturday has pledged a total of $2 million dollars to assist Western Province prepare a satellite venue in Gizo for the 11th Festival of Pacific Arts in July.

A rural-based volunteer women's organisation in Solomon Islands is leading the way for women to manage their finances, learn to budget for household items and save for their family's future.

Qantas Wallabies, Will Genia, Radike Samo, Digby Ioane and Ben Tapuai have been selected as Ambassadors for the Pacific in Union program, a new tripartite initiative between Australian Rugby Union, the IRB and the Australian Government.

Fiji is starting recovery preparations after the heavy flooding that hit the country in the last few days.

The Opposition calls on the Government to explain the delay in bringing into the country the British national appointed as the new Police Commissioner of the Solomon Islands.

The weather office in Honiara has cancelled all warnings related to the low pressure system that had formed near Rennell Bellona Islands.

MANILA, 23 MARCH 2012 - A new report by the World Health Organization (WHO) reveals a shockingly high prevalence of areca nut (also called betel) and tobacco chewing in the Western Pacific Region and urges governments and other stakeholders to make people aware of the dangers to health.

Delegates attending the 24th Meeting of the Council of Pacific Arts and Culture currently being held in Honiara were informed of some crucial issues regarding preparations for the eagerly awaited Festival of Pacific Arts in July.

Secretary of the US Navy Ray Mabus has reiterated the ongoing ties of friendship that bind the United States of America and Solomon Islands during a meeting with Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Rick Hou last week.

British pop star Gary Barlow, a member of the famous Take That pop group, is currently in Solomon Islands seeking inspiration for his collaboration with Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber to mark Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee.