Latest News Archive August 2016

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Hon. Milner Tozaka on Monday 29th August 2016 signed a revised Joint Commitment for Development with his New Zealand counter-part, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Murray McCully in Wellington, New Zealand.

It will be a new-look Solomon Islands squad that arrives in Vanuatu for the Oceania Under 20 men's football championship.

The SBS has highlighted the tourism potentials Solomon Islands have should it aggressively promote the World War II Battle on Guadalcanal.

Australia and New Zealand are continuing to supporting maritime surveillance and security patrols in Vanuatu and Solomon Island’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

A man is in police custody after he attacked an elderly woman and her daughter over the weekend.

Prime Minister Hon. Manasseh Sogavare has launched the Information Technology Society of Solomon Islands (ITSSI).

The Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) welcomes the removal of the Port Congestion Fees (PCF) by NYK Bulk & Project Carriers Limited.

There are discussions underway to establish a national shipping company for the Solomon Islands.

As the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) plans its exit, government is again seriously exploring the possibility of re-arming the police force.

The Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS), with the technical support of Provincial Governance Strengthening Programme (PGSP), completed a one-week intensive training on International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS Cash Basis) for provincial officers of Western Province.

Taipei City-based International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF) launched the book “Field Guide to the Plants of Solomon Islands” Aug. 23, highlighting the organization’s ongoing efforts to support scientific research and sustainable development in the Republic of China (Taiwan) diplomatic ally.

Leading Solomon Islands businesswoman Nanette Tutua will represent the nation this week at the World Indigenous Business Forum in Saskatoon, Canada.

Solomon Islands has a new Chief Magistrate, he is Mr John Numapo from Papua New Guinea. He will serve as Chief Magistrate initially for one year.

It is already a sea of blue at the ANZ Stadium and Suva Flea Market as thousands of people have turned up for the Special Fiji 7s team Gold Medal celebration.

Australia is providing new income generating opportunities to communities in North Malaita through the Direct Aid Program.

The Parliamentary Opposition Group has called on the Government to clarify its proposed plan to create a new State Owned Enterprise (SOE).

Last month, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Australian government launched a $2.3 million initiative to increase women’s economic participation in the Solomon Islands.

The current Solomon Islands Government will reprioritize the "Other Charges Expenditure" in the 2016 Budget to ensure there are sufficient funds for essential services such as health and education are protected in the remaining months of this year.

The Minister of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification (MMERE) has welcomed a Climate Change, Water Adaptation report presented by the Solomon Islands Water Sector Adaptation Project (SIWSAP) early this week.

Australian High Commissioner Andrew Byrne travelled to Malaita last week to explore the opportunities and challenges for growth and development in the province, and visit some Australian-funded development projects in Auki, Malu’u and Talakali.

She may have finished a long way behind the leading group, but Solomon Islands' Sharon Firisua has never the less emerged from the qualifying round for the Olympic 5000-metres with a new national and Pacific record.

The Resident Representative of the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Solomon Islands, Kyoji Mizutani has pledged continuous support to Solomon Islands as the country takes charge of a new International seaport facility funded by the Government of Japan.

The Democratic Coalition for Change Government (DCCG) is taking a bold step towards designing a policy framework that will see traditional governance an integral part of the government system.

The Parliamentary Opposition Group has kicked off its High School Civic Program.

If you have a British Solomon Islands 10 shillings lying around, it may be worth a lot of money – SBD$150,000 to be exact.

An exciting project to connect mobile banking to the coconut industry was launched today by the Australian Government, Pacific Financial Inclusion Program (PFIP) and ANZ.

Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare, has revealed that the government is planning to introduce a dual citizenship bill for Solomon Islands early next year.

Former IFM Commander Andrew Te’e has spoken out against unruly behaviour by youths from Temotu living in Lunga.

Over three-quarters of young people in the Solomon Islands reported that their use of alcohol had caused relationship or social problems in the previous year, and around 60 percent of both males and females agreed “there are times when a woman deserves to be beaten”, according to a new joint report by Save the Children and the Burnet Institute.

Australian Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Senator Concetta Ferriavante-Wells, announced that Australia will continue its partnership with Solomon Islands to deliver better health services.

Non-State Actors (NSA) play a vital role in policy development and implementation across the Pacific region. Ensuring civil society and private sector organisations have the capacity to participate effectively is a priority for the Pacific Islands Forum.

The Solomon Islands Government (SIG) Special Secretary for the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI), Mr John Wasi has refuted perceptions that the Australian Federal Police (AFP) is planning to establish a permanent post in Solomon Islands in the post RAMSI period.

Australian museum expedition to Solomon Islands believes it is just weeks away from describing two new species of mammals.

Solomon Islands Minister for Culture and Tourism, the Hon. Bartholomew Parapolo has capped off what represents the most high-ranking tourism mission ever to visit Australia with a key address to a group of senior travel industry management in Brisbane.

Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Hon Manasseh Sogavare yesterday met the visiting Australian Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Senator Concetta Ferriavante-Wells and further discussed the proposed Solomon Islands-Australia policing arrangement for the post RAMSI era.

Fiji will be hoping to make history by winning a first-ever Olympic medal in the men's rugby sevens that also features a powerful New Zealand team featuring code-swapping star Sonny Bill Williams.

Building on the success it has achieved positioning the Solomon Islands as a true mecca for bird watching enthusiasts in the key Australian and New Zealand markets, the Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau is now taking the message to the United Kingdom.

Papua New Guinea’s High Commissioner to Fiji, H.E Ms. Lucy B. Bogari, has presented her credentials as the Permanent Representative of the independent state of Papua New Guinea to the Pacific Island Forum.

Solomon Islands Parliamentary Opposition Group has urged the Government to clear the air over claims Australian Federal Police (AFP) is intending to be permanently stationed in Solomon Islands.

Solomon Islands is facing a major paradigm shift in Education as the Democratic Coalition for Change Government (DCCG) encourages more Solomon Islanders to pursue Doctors of Philosophy degree and secure employment abroad.

Solomon Islands Minister for Culture and Tourism, the Hon. Bartholomew Parapolo has personally led a senior team of government and tourism officials to meet with potential investors, travel media and travel industry representatives in Sydney and Brisbane this week.

The people of Temotu, Eastern Solomon Islands will have better access to essential medicines with the opening of the Second Level Medical Store at Lata this week.

The Solomon Islands Parliamentary Opposition Group is calling on the Government to inform the nation on the proposition to revive the Russel Islands Plantations Estate Limited (RIPEL).

Solomon Islands' international visitor arrivals as of May have jumped again with official government figures released this week showing a close on a 13 percent increase over the same period in 2015.

Prime Minister Hon Manasseh Sogavare and Singapore’s Senior Minister of State, Josephine Teo met in Singapore this week to reaffirm their governments’ commitment to the friendly ties between Solomon Islands and Singapore.