Latest News Archive June 2011
59 articles
Australia Supports Education in Solomon Islands
Australian support for school programs in Solomon Islands is helping ensure more young people have access to quality education and skills training.
Solomon Islands May Fall Short on MDG
Solomon Islands are among some of the Pacific countries that are unlikely to achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDG) four and five by 2015.
Solomon Waters Closed to Foreign Purse Seiners
Solomon Islands have closed its waters from all purse seine fishing following a Cabinet decision recently.
New Agreement Gives Hope for Pacific Birdlife
The BirdLife International Pacific Partnership and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) have signed a revised Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which will strengthen the two organisations' efforts to work on joint conservation objectives across the region.
SPC and Pacific Cooperation Foundation Sign MOU for Regional Branding Initiative
The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and the Pacific Cooperation Foundation (PCF) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for a True Pacific quality mark to increase the reach of Pacific exports into New Zealand.
Madame Philip Initiate Fundraising for Rural Clinics
The Prime Minister's wife, Madame Margaret Philip is leading a series of fundraising drives with other Parliamentarians' wives to raise funds to assist rural clinics with maternal equipment.
Brisbane Routes to Experience Disruption
Plans for the next few days of flights to and from Brisbane will be affected whilst the Solomon Islands Airlines seeks alternative aircraft to service its prime Australian services.
PFF Welcomes Ethics Focus in Vanuatu Media Monitoring Training
PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS- A just-completed ethics and media monitoring workshop in Vanuatu is welcome news for regional media freedom monitoring network the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF.
Council Has New City Clerk
Mr. Paul Coffey has been appointed as the new Acting City Clerk to the Honiara City Council.
State Owned Entreprises May Experience Change
Finance Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo has acknowledged that the past year or so has been a turning point for key governance provision of the State Owned Enterprises (SOE) Act.
New Report Highlights Potential to Save Lives through Advanced Cookstoves
New Report Highlights Potential to Save Lives, Protect the Environment, and Address Climate Change through Advanced Cookstoves
Philip Pledges Support to Kolombangara Intiative
The Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Hon. Danny Philip has pledged support Kolombangara landowner's conservation initiative.
Dollar Appreciation Needs Guidance
A Professor from the University of the South Pacific, School of Economics, warns that Solomon Islands could be harmed by the 5% appreciation if not handled properly.
Effects of Urbanization on Solomon Islands
If the Solomon Islands urbanization reaches 50 percent by 2050, at least half-a-million people will be residing in Honiara.
Cattle Import Set for September: Hon. Sandakabatu
First importation of cattle will eventuate in September, according to the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MALD), Connelly Sandakabatu.
Corruption Rife in the Solomons: AG Ronia
Corruption in the country is extremely rife in the country but there is no independent body to directly deal with the issue.
Company Dispute Close to Being Resolved
The Solomon Islands Prime Minister Danny Philip announces that his government is a step closer to resolving the 8 year old Russell Islands Plantation Estate Limited which was forcefully shut down as a result of a dispute in 2004.
Bonitos May Receive Support from Brazil
The Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) has revealed that the Brazilian government, through the Embassy of Brazil in Australia, is willing to send over a coach to work with the Bonitos national team as it prepares for the Pacific Games.
Assessment for Festival Preparations Complete
A two member team from the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) has completed a second round of assessment of preparations toward the 11th Festival of Pacific Arts following a visit to Honiara, Solomon Islands last week.
Samoa First to Access PEC Fund
JOINT PRESS STATEMENT [Apia, Samoa, Friday 17th June 2011] Samoa is the first country to access US$4million under the Pacific Environment Community (PEC) Fund.
SolBrew Sells Majority Shares
Asia Pacific Breweries Limited (APB) announces the completion of the acquisition of 97.69% of the capital shares of the Solomon Island Breweries Limited for approximately $21.5 million.
McCully Commends Appreciation in Solomon Dollar
The New Zealand government is surprised that Solomon Islands economy appreciates at a time when most of the pacific region are struggling to get back on their feet economically.
Minister Pleased with Festival Preparations
Solomon Islands Minister of Culture and Tourism Hon. Samuel Manetoali has expressed confidence and satisfaction with preparations toward the 11th Festival of Pacific Arts next year.
Millions Received for 2012 Festival of Arts
The National Government has allocated a total of SB$39.5 million this year for preparations toward hosting the 11th Festival of Pacific Arts in Solomon Islands in July next year.
Officials Head to Marovo to investigate Marine Deaths
Officials are heading to Marovo lagoon in the Western Province of the Solomon Islands to investigate why schools of fish are dying.
NZ pushes for RAMSI to Shift to Development Work
The New Zealand foreign minister, Murray McCully, says he wants to use his visit to Solomon Islands to push for a better plan for the Regional Assistance Mission's transition from security into development work.
Improving Search and Rescue in the Pacific Region
Tuesday 14 June 2011, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Suva, Fiji - Last week Australia hosted a search and rescue workshop in Cairns, a regional cooperation initiative that is designed to improve search and rescue capability in the Pacific region.
Sogavare Attacks 5% Appreciation of Currency
Former Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare, says the 5% appreciation of the Solomon Islands dollar will directly affect the government's budget.
Man Gets 8 years for Assaulting Wife
A man has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment for serious assaults on his wife.
Munda Police Arrest Foreign Plane
Munda Police in the Western Province have arrested and detained a Cessna air craft early this morning after a tip off from Honiara Immigration.
New Zealand Minister to Visit Solomon Islands
The New Zealand foreign minister, Murray McCully, has begun his tour of Melanesia starting with Vanuatu and then to be followed by Solomon Islands.
Asutralian Ferry gets Second Life in Solomons
One of Sydney's famous harbour ferries will soon be sailing from its home port to the Solomon Islands.
Solomon Islands Strengthens Currency
The Minister of Finance and Treasury announced a five percent appreciation of the Solomon Islands dollar.
Stirling Islanders Offer Land for Military Base
A landowner of Stirling Islands, Ronnie Kidoe, says he had written to the government offering Mono Island as a possible location for the government's planned regional military base.
Government Should Honor International Tender Process
Opposition leader, Dr Derek Sikua, has condemned the Government for disrespecting the International Tender Board's decision to award Sumitomo Company of Japan the license to carry out nickel prospecting on San Jorge Island in Isabel Province.
CROP Agencies Receive Assistance
PRESS RELEASE - 9 June 2011 - The Representative of the Trade Mission of Taiwan, Mr Victor Chin, today handed over a total of USD500,000 for the implementation of regional projects under the Regional Development Assistance for 2010/2011.
Niue Peer Review Completes Consultations
RESS RELEASE - 8th June 2011 - The Niue Peer Review Team has completed its consultations in the country with a presentation of preliminary recommendations to the government with the final report expected in six weeks.
Regional Efforts Strengthened to Address Aviation Security Threats
Monday, 06 June 2011 - Threats to civil aviation are constantly evolving and the Pacific region is not immune to them because of their transnational nature.
Sikua Critical of MDG Targets
The Leader of Opposition, Dr Derek Sikua, says he doubts the Prime Minister's expressed confidence that the country can achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals by 2015.
High Court Defers Judgment on Namson's Petition Case
The High Court has reserved judgment on a strike out application by West Honiara MP Namson Tran against his election petition.
SIEA Blames Suppliers for Power Outage
The Solomon Islands Electricity Authority (SIEA) says customers will continue to experience power outages until it can get its spare parts from one of its major overseas supplier.
2010 MDG Progress Report Launched
The 2010 Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Progress Report has been officially launched.
Russell Island Landowners Calls for Government to Stop Negotiations
Landowning groups in Russell Islands are calling on the national government to halt further negotiations and payment intended for indigenous Russell Islanders until landowning groups settle their differences and change their current leadership.
New Jersey's for Avaiki Rugby Club
Avaiki Rugby Club took delivery of a new set of uniform for the 2011 season from its major sponsors South Pacific Oil.
Darcy Welcomes Debt Write-Off
The Minister for Finance and Treasury, Hon Gordon Darcy Lilo has welcomed a European Investment Bank (EIB) debt write-off in respect of the Development Bank of Solomon Islands (DBSI) outstanding debts to the EIB.
Peer Review Reflects on Niue - New Zealand Relations
PRESS RELEASE - Alofi, Niue, 3rd June 2011 - The peer review held in Niue this week under the Forum Compact on Strengthening Development Coordination will help New Zealand and Niue reflect on the two countries' bilateral relations.
Taiwan Praises Government on Funding Reform
The Republic of China (ROC) has praised the Solomon Islands NCRA Government's reform initiative to channel ROC's constituency support through the Ministry of Rural Development and Indigenous Affairs rather than through the 50 Members of Parliament.
Taiwan Releases Funds to Solomon Islands
The Republic of China (Taiwan) Ambassador to Solomon Islands H.E. Roy Wu has formally released the first payment of SB$13.8 million for the 2011 Funding Support to Solomon Islands.
'Urban Youth in the Pacific' Launched: More Work and Less Talk for Pacific Youth Needed
JOINT PRESS RELEASE - [Suva, Fiji - 2nd June 2011] Youth are not just the future, but are very much a part of the present, and because of this Pacific leaders should pay greater attention to the concerns of young people.
Focus on Those Displaced by Climate Change: Sikua
Opposition Leader, Dr Derek Sikua, says Pacific leaders should place top priority on Pacific climate change refugees and not people from overseas.
Niue Wants Peer Review to be Open and Frank
PRESS RELEASE - [Alofi, Niue, 2nd June 2011] The Government of Niue wants the Peer Review being undertaken this week in the country under the Forum Compact for Strengthening Development Coordination to be open, frank and aimed at finding solutions.
Isabel Celebrates Appointed Day
The Solomon Islands Isabel Province today marks its 27th Second Appointed Day.
Hon. Rini in Brussels for ACP
The Solomon Islands Minister of National Planning and Aid Coordination, Hon Snyder Rini is in Brussels this week for the 93rd Session of the ACP Council of Ministers and the 36th Session of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Council of Ministers.
Calls for Upgrade to Munda Airport
Solomon Islands Tourism Operators in the Western Province have urged the Government to think seriously about upgrading Munda Airport into International Standards to boost their visitor arrivals.
Tourism Minister Satisfied with Western Tour
The Solomon Islands Minister of Tourism and Culture, Hon. Samuel Manetoali expressed satisfaction with his three days official visit to parts of Western Province including the capital Gizo.
CBSI Lauds Liberalization of Telecommunications in Report
The Central Bank of Solomon Islands Annual Report 2010 says the liberalization of the country's telecommunications industry in 2009 has greatly improved general availability and coverage of telecommunications services in the country.
Close Down SIVB: Western Tourism Operators
Western Tourism Operators have called on the National Government through the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to close-down the Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau (SIVB).
Government Offer Embarrassing: Sikua
The Opposition Leader Dr Derek Sikua has described Prime Minister Danny Philip's statement of being disappointed at Australia's exclusion of Solomon Islands from its discussion of a new pacific solution for processing asylum seekers as embarrassing.
It's Time to Quit - World No Tobacco Day, 31 May
Health workers throughout the region are raising their voices in warning about the dangers of tobacco smoking.
