Latest News Archive February 2014

The Office of the Prime Minister & Cabinet (OPMC) has strongly refuted claims made by Malaita Ma’asina Forum (MMF) that deputy police commissioner Walter Kola is the top choice for the police commissioner’s (PC) post.

A landmark assessment, spotlighting the strategic findings from the 2013 Solomon Islands and Cruise Surveys will be the key focus of the discussions between government and industry officials, when they meet in Honiara this week.

The Solomon Islands Ministry of Finance and Treasury has rejected speculations that the 2014 Budget is in Crisis.

Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Hon. Gordon Darcy Lilo has announced new actions of the government to improve the establishment and growth of small business enterprises in the country.

A new director has been recruited to lead the Governance Program within the Solomon Islands Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Work has begun to upgrade and rehabilitate the Ringgi Wharf on Kolombangara Island in Western Province, Solomon Islands.

Director of the Department of Trade in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade Barrett Salato has refuted claims by the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) that the department is not providing adequate consultative mechanisms for the private sector in trade negotiation processes.

The Solomon Islands Government has signed a cooperation agreement with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to work towards attracting more investors to the country, and strengthen its private sector to create jobs and improve the livelihoods of its people.

The Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau (SIVB) has signed A Memorandum of Understanding with Solomon Airlines to work in promoting and developing tourism for the Solomon Islands.

A US$1.5 million tourism project recently approved by the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) Board in Geneva has now been finally launched by the Solomon Islands Minister of Tourism and Culture Hon Samuel Manetoali.

A recently discovered secret cache of British Foreign Office documents appears to include a lot of information about New Zealand and parts of the South Pacific.

The new draft policy on Government funded scholarships will shift the focus on training towards preparing Solomon Islanders for jobs that are in demand in the labour market.

A researcher at the Australian National University is warning that Solomon Islands' shift to a new voter registration system could mean some eligible voters miss out.

The Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) church's World Leader, Pastor Ted Wilson yesterday paid a courtesy visit to the Solomon Islands Prime Minister Hon.Gordon Darcy Lilo in Honiara.

The Solomon Islands Government has launched a National Human Resources Development and Training Plan (NHRDTP) that aims to support better employment prospects for the country’s growing youth population.

Solomon Islands has taken another step forward in improving its services to citizens with the official launching of its new Electronic Civil Registration Database System, replacing the previous paper- based system, on Friday 7th February in Honiara.

The Solomon Islands Minister for Education and Human Resources Development, Hon. Dick Ha’amori is in the process of establishing Waimapuru and King George VI National Secondary Schools as independent secondary schools under their own Education Authorities.

Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Hon. Gordon Darcy Lilo was the first Solomon Islander to be issued with the new driver's licence produced by Inland Revenue’s new Transport Management System.

The Solomon Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade (MFAET) has launched its new website last week with the aim of enhancing online access to information about its functions and services.

World Vision has helped to bring clean water and improve sanitation for people of who were affected by a 8.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami that swept through Santa Cruz Islands of Solomon Islands in 2013.

A year after an 8.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami swept through the Solomon Islands’ remotest area, World Vision continues to assist people in the most affected communities.

The fate of New Zealand-registered aircraft that crashed on landing at the Honiara International airport on Sunday 26th January will be determined based on a final report by investigators.

A spokesman for the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands said that an increase in population, far from being a "nightmare," could mean social and economic growth for the country.

Children, parents and teachers in Santa Cruz, Solomon Islands have benefited from a Child Friendly Spaces established by World Vision Solomon Islands following the massive earthquake and tsunami that struck Temotu Province a year ago.

The Solomon Islands Football Federation is casting the net wide in the build-up to the OFC U-19 Championship in May calling together a training squad of 56 young players.

The local radio project has been established by World Vision and the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) to address the lack of access to information and support the recovery efforts of the National Disaster Management Office, Word Vision and other organisations in Temotu Province.

The Republic of China (Taiwan) Government has released a third tranche of the 2013 constituency development funds totaling SB$11.2 million to the Solomon Islands Government last week.

Papua New Guinea’s new High Commissioner to Solomon Islands H.E Fred Yakasa has presented his credentials to Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo in Honiara last week.

Tourism operators in Malaita Province, Solomon Islands have been encouraged to form an Association to make it manageable for key stakeholders to work with them.

Solomon Airlines has announced that it has increased baggage allowances for all its International passengers with effect from Monday 3rd February 2014.

The Solomon Island’s Government in partnership with New Zealand Aid Program has funded a new electronic transport management system which will move the Solomon Islands from a paper- based manual driving and vehicle licensing system to a computerized and automated Driving and Vehicle Licence production system.

A Consultation Workshop on Solomon Islands National Land Use Policy was told that “effective land use planning is critical” for Solomon Islands.

An emergency radio service project that has helped people affected by the earthquake and tsunami in Temotu Province, Solomon Islands last year has successfully reached its end of project time frame.

Orville Richard Burrell famously known as ‘Shaggy’ made a courtesy call to Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Gordon Darcy Lilo yesterday at the Office of the Prime Minister & Cabinet.

A submarine eruption is likely occurring at the submerged volcano of Kavachi in the Western Province.