Latest News Archive November 2016

Prime Minister Hon Manasseh Sogavare today commissioned Solomon Islands new High Commissioner to Australia, His Excellency Colin David Beck.

It is now 55 years since the Morning Star flag was flown officially in West Papua for the first time on the 1 December 1961.

The Solomon Islands Australia Football League (SIAFL) Trivia Night was a complete success.

Torrential downpour in the capital Honiara is linked to a tropical low about 600 kilometres west-southwest of Rennell, and is moving southeast.

The Democratic Alliance Party (DAP) has kicked off its preparations for the National General Elections in 2018.

The Democratic Alliance Party (DAP) has proposed to pursue proper and appropriate legislation that would provide a strong regulatory environment that give confidence and trust in public institutions.

Reforms to Solomon Islands’ state-owned enterprises (SOEs) have led to a dramatic improvement in their performance, according to an Asian Development Bank (ADB) report presented in Honiara today.

A taxi fleet owner is calling on the police to investigate suppliers of faulty vehicle parts after receiving numerous complaints from his taxi drivers.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on November 22 approved financing to support the Government of Solomon Islands and Solomon Power to convert electricity networks in five provinces almost entirely to solar power.

Applications for foreign investment licenses and business name registrations can now be lodged online and processed in 24 hours thanks to upgrades to Solomon Islands’ business registry.

Only the very lucky can say that they do what they love and have new adventures almost every day. The rare opportunity to live this sort of life was presented to Clancy Dane when he took on a volunteer position at the Public Solicitor’s Office (PSO) in Honiara on 7 June 2016.

Solomon Power has recently completed construction of a new power house station in Lungga, East of Honiara.

A community initiative by Tonga Police to strengthen its relationship with the local Asian community, brought a New Zealand Police Asian Liaison Officer to Tonga last week.

Minister for Finance and Treasury, Hon Snyder Rini, has expressed excitement about the prospects of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) concept which the Government is working to introduce across the Public Service to complement the existing method of public procurement.

Interpol has passed a resolution to suspend Solomon Islands application to join the international police organization, pending a study reviewing the process established for Interpol membership.

Gold miner St Barbara Gold has decided to retain its Simberi operations, in Papua New Guinea, following a strategic review.

The Solomon Islands and Republic of Kiribati have reached agreement for a new Air Service Agreement (ASA) and Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two countries.

Local cocoa farmers are concerned - and they have good reasons to be - prices have plunged to three-year lows as international buyers continued to weigh supply/demand forces ahead of the crucial harvest season.

Providing health care in rural and remote parts of the Solomon Islands is not without challenges, but the staff of Kirakira Hospital and Kaonasugu clinic in North Makira, with support of the Australian Government, are taking the challenge head-on.

Leader of the Independent Group in Parliament, Hon Derek Sikua has congratulated the Government for urgently putting together a bill for the 2023 Pacific Games which Solomon Islands won the bid to host in May this year.

Australia Day 2016 saw Andrew and Anke MacLean arrive in Solomon Islands, ready to begin their 18-month-long volunteer assignments at the Don Bosco Technical Institute in Henderson. Anke works with the Communications Department, whilst Andrew is mentoring a range of teachers and supporting the principal.

Parliamentary Members of the United Democratic Party (UDP) have rejected the decision taken by their Party President Sir Thomas Chan, describing his actions as misguided and wrong in revoking UDP Membership of the Prime Minister Hon. Manasseh Sogavare.

The government of Papua New Guinea has pledged to look into the disappearance of 16 Indonesian nationals who entered the neighbouring country during 2014 and 2015, an official said.

Prime Minister Sogavare and members of the Caucus at their meeting today which saw the expression of continued strong support by Caucus for Sogavare’s leadership.

Representatives from the Australian High Commission in Honiara visited Campbell School in Kirakira recently to see first-hand the school’s brand new science and industrial design classrooms.

The Solomon Islands Red Cross Society is gearing up to support the Solomon Islands government to contain an outbreak of dengue fever, which has already killed one person and thought to have infected more than 1,700 others.

The Island Sun has obtained exclusive access to a letter written by United Democratic Party’s (UDP) President, Sir Tommy Chan, revoking Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare's membership in the Party.

The Parliamentary Opposition Group has urged the Prime Minister and his Government to reassess its approach on the issue of West Papua with Indonesia.

The Deputy Speaker of the Papua New Guinea National Parliament died this morning in a private hospital.

Tahiti have made a winning start to the third stage of OFC’s 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia qualifiers by eking out a narrow 1-0 victory over Solomon Islands.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has formally announced the appointment of Mr Roderick Brazier as Australia’s next High Commissioner to Solomon Islands.

Mbumburu residents are shocked by news that a man and his partner were found dead in their one bedroom unit by neighbours.

They were dubbed the team of the tournament, the tiny but proud Pacific Island country, the Solomon Islands will be returning for the second successive year to compete in the 2017 FFA National Futsal Championships to be held in Sydney in early January.

The Solomon Islands Government through its Labour Mobility Unit (LMU) is warning locals to be vigilant against fake recruitment agents who promised to arrange seasonal jobs in Australia and New Zealand.

Minister for Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening, Hon David Tome said matters of discussion at the one-day summit between the Prime Minister and Provincial Premiers will assist in hastening the proposed adoption of a Federal Constitution.

A strong increase in international visitor arrivals in August, a bumper Australian performance and a major upturn in the destination’s ever-building positioning as a new and exciting cruise destination has helped Solomon Islands tourism stay on track for what is shaping up to be one of its best years in recent times.

Good news for vehicle owners, the average fuel price in Honiara fell further by 27 cents to $7.53 per litre from $7.80 per litre in the previous month.

The Solomon Islands Special Envoy to West Papua says that the government will only respond to what has been said in the media through proper diplomatic channels.

Recent monthly commodity prices for cocoa and palm oil shows a slight drop in cocoa and a rise in the price of palm oil.

The Parliamentary Opposition Group has strongly urged the Minister of Finance to inform the nation of the country’s cash flow situation.

The Government has reportedly paid SBD$500,000 for a treasure hunt led by Dr Reginald Apia.

Some 3,400 years ago, before the Iron Age or the rise of Ancient Greece, people on the Solomon Islands left their white sandy shores for the cerulean seas of the South Pacific. Their adventures brought humanity to the most remote reaches of Oceania, like the tropical islands of Hawaii, Tonga and Fiji.

The Solomon Islands Ministry of Health and Medical Services have urged residents in Honiara to clean surrounding areas as the monsoon season approaches.

Leader of the Australian West Papua Association (Sydney) (AWPA), Joe Collins, has spoken out against reports that Jakarta has requested Australia to pass on a message to the Solomon Islands to refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of Indonesia.

23 year old Camilla Grossmith has been crowned the new Miss Solomon Islands 2016-2017.