Latest News Archive April 2013
47 articlesPINA at Loss over Walter Nalangu’s passing
The Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) has sent its condolences and deep sympathies to the family of Late Walter Nalangu.
TRC Had No Part in Release of Report: Ata
Chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), Fr Sam Ata, says that the release of the TRC Final Report is done “without the knowledge of the commission and is a breach of the TRC Act.”
MASI Mourns Death of Vice President
The Executive and Members of the Media Association of Solomon Islands (MASI) has mourned the unexpected passing away of the Association’s Vice President, the late Walter Nalangu.
WHO Urges Greater Efforts in the Fight Against Malaria
News release - MANILA, 24 APRIL 2013 - On World Malaria Day, 25 April, the World Health Organization (WHO) in the Western Pacific urges Member States to remain steadfast in the fight against malaria to preserve the gains made and eliminate malaria as a public health threat.
TRC Report Made Public Unofficially
The report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) has been released unofficially by the editor of the report, The Rt. Rev Dr. Terry M. Brown.
Wantok Women Share Peacebuilding Experiences in Suva
Women Peace building Leadership Program participants from West Papua, Papua New Guinea, Bougainville and Solomon Islands were yesterday given a rare glimpse into the work of two leading women’s advocacy organisations in Fiji.
New National Cocoa Strategy to Benefit 20,000 Households
Solomon Islands aims to produce 20,000 metric tonnes of cocoa by 2020 under a new Cocoa Policy to be launch by the government on Friday 26th April 2013 at the Honiara Hotel.
New Book Celebrates a Cultural Festival
Many people associate the Wogasia Festival, celebrated every year on Santa Catalina Makira Province, merely with its spectacular spear fights.
Cocoa Adviser Has Big Hopes for Local Industry
Dr John Konam is a familiar face for many local cocoa farmers. The unassuming agricultural scientist from PNG has been working in Solomon Islands for the past three years, helping the country’s farmers to improve their cocoa production.
Landowners Demand SBD$8 Million
The Chovohio Midstream Association in the Gold Ridge area is serving the St. Barbra Mining Company a two weeks’ notice to meet its compensation demand or access roads to and from the company mining site will be blocked.
New Voters List for 2014
The Solomon Islands will have a brand new Voters List for the 2014 Elections thanks to an electoral provisions amendment bill passed in the March sitting of Parliament.
Dengue Active and Rising: Health Authorities
The Permanent Secretary for Health and Medical Services says the dengue fever outbreak is still active and is not showing any signs of slowing down.
Solomon Islands Keen to Bolster Relations with Britain
Solomon Islands are keen to bolster its relationship with Great Britain after 35 years of Independence.
Solomon Airlines Makes Paint Donation to Rotary Club
Solomon Airlines has donated four buckets with a total of 46 litres of paint to the Rotary Club of Solomon Islands for repainting of the maternity Ward or any other ward the Rotary Club believes may assist the National Referral Hospital.
Solomon Islands Embassy and Students in Taiwan Raise Funds for Tsunami Victims
The Solomon Islands Embassy in Taipei (ROC) together with the Solomon Islands Students Association (SISAT) received cash donation of around SB$73,000 and boxes of brand new and second hand clothes, blankets, shoes and toys on the 18th of April from the Kaohsiung Medical University (KMU) in Kaohsiung, South Taiwan.
Government Accused of Allocating Money for RCDF Shortfalls
Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI) has accused the Government of behaving irresponsibly with its budget.
Farmers Adjust Farming Methods Due to Climate Change
Solomon Islanders are being forced to change their food production and consumption habits due to climate change.
Former PM to Speak on MSG Beginnings
A former Solomon Islands Prime Minister has been given the honor to speak about the humble beginnings of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) after 25 years of the organisations inception during the upcoming MSG Silver Jubilee Celebration in Honiara next week.
Authorities Crack Down on Tobacco Sales
The Solomon Islands Government says it hopes to have tough new anti-tobacco laws in place by the end of May to coincide with World No Tobacco Day.
Re-Engineering Agribusiness Models in the Pacific to Capture Modern Markets
There are significant challenges ahead if the Pacific Islands are to improve the competitiveness of their agricultural exports, and supply a greater proportion of domestic demand with locally produced food, particularly in urban areas.
Teachers Back in Class
Teachers in the Solomon Islands have returned to work after settling their ongoing pay dispute with the government.
Outrage Over MPs Entitlement Increase
There is outrage over the four fold increase in entitlements to members of parliaments (MPs), many say it is untimely and unjustified.
Cadbury Wants Solomon Islands Cocoa
One of the world’s largest chocolate producers, Kraft-Cadbury, is seeking 10,000 tonnes of cocoa from Solomon Islands.
Reconciliation Held in Fiji Over Stabbing Incident
A reconciliation ceremony between Solomon Islands students at the University of the South Pacific in Suva, Fiji, and families of a Fijian involved in a stabbing incident on 10th March has averted ill feelings between the parties on Sunday 14th April.
PM Withdraws Pension Bill
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo has withdrawn the Prime Minister's Pension and Benefits bill 2013 on the floor of parliament.
Youths Find Future in Food Production
With little more than a bush knife and an axe between them, a group of young Solomon Island boys between the ages of nine and 18 years have taken food security into their own hands.
Centers to Connect Government to People
The Solomon Island Government’s policy to build Economic Growth Centers (EGC) at strategic locations around the country is aimed at fostering meaningful engagement between the government and rural communities.
International Support Against Dengue Welcomed
The Ministry of Health and Medical Services has welcomed dengue fever specialists from Australia and New Zealand who have arrived in the country to assist local authorities in efforts to fight the current dengue fever outbreak in the country.
Government Committed to Quality Education
The Solomon Islands National Government stated that it is committed to ensuring all citizens have equal access to quality education.
Better Coastal Management in Kosrae with Tidal Predictions
Kosrae has a new set of tide and sea-level forecasts available, based on measurements from a new water level sensor funded by the Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change project at the Lelu Marina, Kosrae.
New Zealand to Send Medical Team
New Zealand will also be supporting the Solomon Islands in the fight against Denghue by sending its medical staff to the Solomon Islands following the outbreak.
Munda Opens Temporary Terminal
Solomon Islands national carrier, Solomon Airlines has opened a temporary terminal in Munda as construction work continues on upgrading the Munda runway to international standards.
Teacher's Issues Remain Unresolved
The Solomon Islands National Teachers Association is standing by its position that its members will go back to classes when the government pay off teacher's re-leveling and arrears.
Local Police Given Full Control Over Shortlands
The Solomon Islands Police have taken over the control of policing in the Shortland Islands following the withdrawal of RAMSI Participating Police Force from the Lofung Post.
World Bank Assist in Domestic Violence Fight
The World Bank and the Solomon Islands Government have signed a grant agreement to help improve services for those affected by gender-based violence.
Water Shortages Raises Sanitation Concerns
The Solomon Islands, as a developing island nation, has one of the highest urbanisation rates in the region, and the basic service infrastructure is struggling to cater for the influx of people from the provinces to the capital, Honiara.
New Immigration Law Gets Tough on People Smuggling
Solomon Islands will soon criminalize People Smugglers and Human Traffickers once its new Immigration law is fully enforced.
Australia Responds to Solomon Islands Dengue Fever Crisis
Foreign Minister Bob Carr today announced that Australia has sent a medical team to Solomon Islands to assist with the dengue fever outbreak.
More Seasonal Workers Bound for Australia
At least 20 additional seasonal workers from Solomon Islands, including 3 females and 17 males have been recruited under the Labour Mobility Scheme to work in Australia’s horticulture industry.
Banana Fibre Bags, a Symbol of Pride in Temotu Province
In Temotu Province, one of the unique things that people in Grasiosa Bay are known for is the weaving of banana fibre into hand bags, which they call Topla Birpi.
UQ Leads Study on Environmental Impacts of Mining
The University of Queensland has joined industry partners in a program designed to help ensure a major mining project takes account of the needs of Solomon Islands communities and the environment.
Post MDG Discussions Underway in Solomon Islands
Education, jobs, access to water and sanitation are among the priorities Solomon Islanders have told the United Nations Development Programme to focus on beyond the Millennium Development Goals.
Warriors and Ba Fight Out Thrilling Draw
The OFC Champions League has continued this afternoon with an exciting 2-2 draw between tournament debutants Solomon Warriors and Fijian champions Ba in front of a large crowd at Lawson Tama Stadium in Honiara, Solomon Islands.
Vietnamese Jailed in Solomon Islands
The Solomon Islands High Court has sentenced a Vietnamese national to four and a half years for unlawful wounding of a crew member of a fishing vessel.
Petition Against Development Fund Defeated
The petition against the Solomon Islands Government’s Constituency Development Fund (CDF) Bill 2013 was defeated in parliament last week after it was tabled and debated.
Communities Collaborate to Improve Sanitation
Solomon Islands Ministry of Health, UNICEF and Non Government Organizations have participated in a recent Community Led Total Sanitation (CTLS)to improve sanitation.
Teachers Strike Raises Concern
Members of the Solomon Islands Teachers Association, SINTA, across the country continue to remain on strike despite warnings issued by the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development to resume classes.
