Latest News Archive September 2012

The Solomon Islands Acting Prime Minister Hon. Manasseh Maelanga has rejected claims that Caucus is more powerful than the Cabinet in the current NCRA government.

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo has used his address to the UN General Assembly to call on developed nations to do more to tackle climate change.

The International Council of Tourism Partners (ICTP) announced that the Solomon Islands national carrier, Solomon Airlines Limited, is now an associate member.

The Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Hon. Gordon Darcy Lilo has thanked the United Nations member states for their confidence in electing Solomon Islands to the Executive Board of UN Women.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved more than US$17 million dollars for the US$60 million Broadband for Development Project, which will build a submarine cable system.

A Cook Islands newspaper has printed a cartoon mocking the huge outcry by Solomon Islanders over the Royal couples outfit for a State banquet dinner hosted by the Governor General.

The Fifth Regional Meeting of Heads of Agriculture and Forestry Services (HOAFS) began this week in Nadi, Fiji with a challenge to address the strategic threat of rising food insecurity faced by the region's agriculture and forestry services.

The Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) is likely to still be in Solomon Islands for at least another four years.

The Solomon Islands Western Province member for Ward 10, Irrigila on Vella Lavella, Richard Tekefono, says the Western Province Premier, George Lilo has to prove that he has the number to continue to lead the government.

The Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Hon. Gordon Darcy Lilo yesterday attended the opening of the 67th United Nation General Assembly in New York, together with other member States.

A United Kingdom grandmother will be travelling thousands of miles to give away scholarships to Solomon Islands youngsters in memory of her late husband who use to work in Malaita.

It will take 50 years for gender balance to be achieved in Asia-Pacific national legislatures if the increase in women's participation in parliaments remains at the current pace, says a UN Development Programme (UNDP) study released this week.

The Solomon Island Government and the World Bank have together signed a new USD$3m project in Honiara this week.

The Solomon Islands Minister for Environment, Hon. Moffat Fugui, says the country will have to change its attitude towards preparing for any future Disasters.

The Solomon Islands Government is now looking at ways to try and engage young people in the much familiar area of agriculture.

The Solomon Islands 2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup preparations will kick into high gear on October 10 when they play a polished Australian side in a one-off international friendly in Brisbane.

Amidst much controvery over the Island Wear of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to the Island Feast hosted by the Solomon Islands Governor General, the Government House has now released a statement explaining the issue.

[Monday 24th September 2012, Suva, FIJI] Pacific regional organisations are enhancing communications and visibility under the Strengthening Pacific Economic Integration through Trade (SPEITT) Project.

Known as the "Tree of Life", the Coconut will once more come to the forefront of food security as the Government moves to revamp the once thriving Solomon Islands industry.

The World Bank and Solomon Islands will today sign a Grant Agreement worth more than 2.7 million US dollars to support Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change Adaptation in the country.

The only woman in the Solomon Islands National Parliament, Mrs. Vika Lusibaea says having reserved seats for women may not be necessary if women can get the support from men.

Members of the Western Provincial Executive in Solomon Islands have called for the immediate resignation of its Premier, George Solingi Lilo amid serious allegations against his office.

Young leaders said they need to be included in efforts for good governance and leadership in the Pacific, as the Commonwealth Pacific Youth Leadership and Integrity Conference closed at the Commonwealth Youth Programme Regional Centre in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

It's a little bit like a whirlwind has swept through Honiara, Solomon Islands leaving just a puff of dust behind.

The Solomon Islands Minister for Lands has announced that a site has been earmarked for the University of the South Pacific's fourth campus.

The Solomon Islands Finance Minister says the 2012 Budget is under pressure from a lower growth in taxation revenue than was estimated in the original budget.

The Solomon Islands Ministry of Health and Medical Services Social Welfare Division has opened a help-line service for victims of violence in Honiara.

In this age of international travel and trade on a larger scale than ever before, as people and commodities move around the world, organisms that present risks to plants travel with them.

Seven candidates are eyeing the upcoming by-election for ward 16-Dunde/Nusa Roviana, in the Western Provincial Government in Solomon Islands.

New Zealand and Solomon Islands officials will begin meetings today to look at how New Zealand's Aid Program will be run over the next three years and evaluate progress made over the past year.

On the eve of the United Nations International Day of Peace, peacebuilders from Fiji, Papua New Guinea (including Bougainville), Solomon Islands and Tonga gathered for the Strengthening Capacities for Peace and Development (CPAD) third workshop on "Sharing and Exploring Pacific Approaches to Dialogue".

The European Union remains Solomon Islands single largest multilateral development corporation partner.

What are some of the best approaches to ensuring that all community resources are recognized and mobilized for disaster risk reduction and management? How can equal participation of men and women be encouraged in this exercise? What are the most effective ways of linking local level projects to the national level?

A youngster from the Solomon Islands has taken on the future king of England in a show of football prowess - and won.

World Vision hosted the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge who learnt about the organization's work in Burns Creek, a troubled community on the outskirts of Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands.

Cook Islands local designer Ellena Tavioni and her label TAV, made fashion history for the Pacific, as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge wore her beautiful handcrafted designs to the Island feast by the Solomon Islands Governor General.

[17 September 2012, Suva, Fiji] Work is now underway at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat to prepare for a review of the Pacific Plan.

The Duchess of Cambridge was every bit an island princess yesterday in Honiara, Solomon Islands when she was crowned with a headdress of fresh flowers made of frangipani and bougainvillea.

The United Nations World Health Organisation office in Solomon Islands has been upgraded to a WHO Representative Office.

As the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge landed on the tiny dirt airstrip in Marau on the southern tip of the main island of Guadalcanal, they were challenged by fearsome spear-carrying warriors, in white war paint and whooping aggressively.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge began their day yesterday by calling on the Solomon Islands' Prime Minister and his Cabinet where they were given a traditional shell money necklace by the politician.

Garlanded with fragrant orchids and carried through the capital in a war canoe built on top of a van, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrived in the Solomon Islands yesterday.

The Duchess of Cambridge had a last-minute change of wardrobe when she ditched plans to wear to the banquet a dress she had brought from London and chose instead one that she had just been given by her Solomon Islands hosts.

The Solomon Islands art industry hit a milestone last night with the handover of one of its exotic and unique art by local business woman, Ms. Ruby Lee, to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at the Heritage Park Hotel in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge landed in the tiny country of Solomon Islands to thousands of fans who came out to greet them at the Henderson International Airport.

Further off in East Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, where Tavanipupu private island resort is situated, the people are tidying up its palm-fringed pathways ahead of a visit by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

The Solomon Islands Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee has concluded its hearing into the 2012 Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2012, ahead of today's commencement of Parliament sitting.

The Solomon Islands Opposition Leader has called on Prime Minister to justify the need for a large delegation to the upcoming United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York next month.

A Solomon Islands academic with the University of Hawai'i has withdrawn from the Government delegation to the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The Solomon Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs this week went before the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee requesting an additional $950,000 dollars.

The Solomon Islands Office of Prime Minister will be requesting parliament for an additional supplementation of more than eight million dollars during the upcoming sitting.

The Central Bank of Solomon Islands has advised the general public that new counterfeit notes or fake money are once again circulating within the economy.

They brought late John Lamani's coffin on the back of a blue cab truck to the Anglican Cathedral in Honiara Solomon Islands.

The Pacific's top-ranked side have indicated they are still likely to be the team to beat in Stage 3 of Oceania qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup with their second successive win of the tournament this evening, a 6-1 success over Solomon Islands in the first match of the second round.

The Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Hon. Gordon Darcy Lilo has expressed condolences on behalf of the Government and people of Solomon Islands to the family of the Solomon Star Publisher, Fr. John Lamani.

The Pacific Climate Change Portal was launched in Noumea at the 23rd Annual Meeting of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme.

The Media Association of Solomon Islands (MASI) is mourning the sudden passing away of the pioneering Publisher and owner of the country's leading daily newspaper, the Solomon Star.

When Solomon Islander Hellen Saohaga finished fifteenth in Saturday's women's shot put - F57/58, she set a personal best and became the second-highest finishing Solomon Islander ever in Olympic and Paralympic competition.

Australia and Solomon Islands are on the look out for bogus recruitment agencies trying to cash in on the Seasonal Workers Scheme.

Last Friday, the Solomon Islands soccer team beat Tahiti 2-0 in Honiara to open the third stage of Oceania qualifying for the 2014 World Cup, while New Zealand grabbed a valuable 2-0 away win over New Caledonia.

The Solomon Islands Opposition leader, Hon. Derek Sikua has confirmed submitting a notice of a Motion of No-Confidence against Prime Minister, Hon. Gordon Darcy Lilo.

Six Pacific Island fisheries officers now have new skills in techniques for determining reef fish age and growth parameters after attending a training course last week at the French Institute of Research for Development (IRD) and Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) in Noumea, New Caledonia.

The Pacific Islands Forum Reference Group to Address Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) has welcomed the adoption by Pacific Island Forum Leaders of the Pacific Leaders' Gender Equality Declaration at their 2012 meeting in Rarotonga, Cook Islands.

The road to Brazil 2014 begins again today with Solomon Islands hosting Oceania champions Tahiti in Honiara and New Zealand travelling to Noumea to take on New Caledonia in a repeat of the OFC Nations Cup semi-finals.

A three-day Pre-Provincial Premiers Conference began in Honiara this week ahead of the Premiers' Conference proper in Makira-Ulawa Province next Month.

The Solomon Islands Government will today hand over Registered Land Titles to 10 tribes within the Auluta Basin area in East Malaita.

Honiara City Lord Mayor maintains his refusal to resign despite being deserted by members his executive. He says resigning is an act of guilt or admission of wrongdoing.

Prince William and Kate will embark on an eight day tour of Asia Pacific beginning next week. The trip is a continuation of the Diamond Jubilee World Tour celebrating the Queen's 60th year of reign.

The final proposal for Solomon Islands' long-awaited Tina River hydro-power scheme is expected to be ready to go to the government in early 2013.

A Solomon Islands delegation from the Price Control Division were in Fiji last week for discussions on current and future cooperation with Fiji's Ministry of Industry and Trade.

The Solomon Islands Government, last Sunday collected the last batch of bech-de-mer from the tiny island of Ontong Java after the people voluntarily surrendered the bags last week to the Ministry of Fisheries.

The Solomon Islands National Parliament will meet for the first time this year on September 14th.

One of the proudest people at this morning's flag bearer ceremony for the six Oceania nations to compete at the 2012 Paralympic Games was Hellen Saohaga, the Solomon Islands' first Paralympian and their only competitor for London.

Solomon Islands looks set to experience the same weather conditions in 2009 where much of the country did not experience much rain, resulting in poor crop harvests.

A programme facilitated by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, SPC, in Solomon Islands is helping 500 young people improve their chances of gaining employment.

Organizers of the upcoming royal visit by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and his wife Catherine, say the program of the visit is close to being finalized.

Rarotonga 29/08/12 - At the 43rd Pacific Islands Forum meeting here in Rarotonga this week, a unique event was witnessed when the Leaders of seven (7) Pacific Island Countries signed and exchanged a total of eight (8) Maritime Boundary Agreements.