Latest News Archive June 2021
60 articles
Bringing Out the Potential in Our Young Athletes
The inaugural national secondary school games (NSSG) have begun. The parade through Honiara town reminds us of the youthful population we have, and the potential in each and every one of them.
Doing Business in an Uneconomical Zone
Life on the outer islands is already difficult as it is, the ‘uneconomical zone’ classification speaks volumes of the business environment.
Tonga Firms Opposition to Deep Sea Mining
Tonga civil society strongly opposes deep sea mining and reaffirms a total ban on all mining activities, saying the region including the kingdom needs to act.
The Rise of Pyramid Schemes
Millions have been ‘invested’ in pyramid schemes in the country. The result? Court cases and endless squabbles.
Another Pacific Island Rejects Undersea China Cable
After rejecting a low bid from China due to security concerns, the Pacific island of Nauru is in discussions to connect to an Australian undersea communications network.
Teacher Training Starts in Honiara and Auki
The Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) has commenced its 2021 training program to ensure all teachers in Solomon Islands are qualified.
Facebook Extends Pacific Islands Education Campaign to Help Counter Health Misinformation
Facebook has today launched a public education campaign to help people in five Pacific Island countries and territories learn how to identify and combat health-related misinformation.
New Zealand Handed Over Fiscal Relief Support to Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands took ownership of a Fiscal Relief package worth about NZD 6 million or SBD34m from the New Zealand Government.
Empowering Solomon Islands' Youth to Promote Peace and Resilience
The UN Development Programme and International Labor Organization (ILO), in partnership with the Government of Solomon Islands, are empowering Solomon Islands’ youth and promoting their role as agents of peace and resilience.
Infrastructure Sector Further Enhanced
The Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare last week witnessed the signing of the Solomon Islands Infrastructure Program (SIIP) between the Solomon Islands and Australian Governments.
Australia and Solomon Islands Break Ground on Outpost
Australia and Solomon Islands have held a ground-breaking ceremony in the Shortland Islands for the Western Border and Patrol Boat Outpost.
Government Completes Dialogue to Enhance Quality Education and Training Systems
Government officials have successfully completed their round of dialogues to enhance quality education and training needs in the country.
Managing Bed Shortages at the National Referral Hospital
The issue of bed shortages at the National Referral Hospital (NRH) is not new, what is new is the speed in which images get uploaded on social media.
Wale Urges Government to be Proactive in Approach to Labour Mobility Scheme
The Leader of Opposition, Hon. Matthew Wale, calls on the government to take a more proactive approach to ensure more Solomon Islanders can exploit the opportunities offered by the Australian labour mobility schemes.
PM to Travel to Lofung for Patrol Boat Base Ground-breaking
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare will travel to Lofung, Shortland Islands on Wednesday this week for the groundbreaking ceremony of the Border and Patrol Boat Outpost.
28,800 AstraZeneca Vaccines Arrive
The New Zealand High Commission together with key Government partners were thrilled to witness the safe arrival of 28,800 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines arrived at the Henderson International Airport last Friday.
Tina Hydro gets Green Light
In a historic moment for the Solomon Islands, the Tina River Hydropower Development Project has overcome its last major hurdle before construction can finally commence on the much-anticipated SBD$1.5 billion renewable energy project.
Empowering Seaweed Farmers to Develop New Products
“Cottonii” seaweed is the traditional name of farmed seaweed in the Solomon Islands, a country made of six major islands and over 900 smaller islands located in the Pacific region. With a population of over seven hundred thousand, it has a GDP per capita of USD 2,295.
Shortland Tribes Reconcile Ahead of Groundbreaking Ceremony
Disputing Tribes against the FAMOA Council of Chiefs and Trust Board in the Shortland Islands yesterday held a traditional reconciliation ceremony at Tuha to say sorry for the past internal impasse over the land allocated for the Border and Patrol Boat Outpost at Lofang.
East Honiara Murder Investigated
Officers of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) at Naha Police Station Criminal Investigation Division (CID) are investigating the death of a 23-year-old male person in east Honiara on 14 June 2021.
Supporting Reliable Electricity for Solomon Islands
Improved access to reliable electricity for Solomon Islands is one step closer with a historic agreement signed yesterday with the Australian Government under the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP).
Ghombua Community Opens Rural Health Centre
Walking for hours under the scorching heat of the sun simply for medical attention, worst still, losing a family member or friend along the way will now go down in the history books and a thing of the past for around 5 thousand people residing in and around Ghombua community, Guadalcanal.
Speaker of Parliament Congratulates Hon. Kenilorea
The Speaker of Parliament, John Patteson Oti, on behalf of Parliament congratulates Hon. Peter Kenilorea Jr, Member of Parliament for East Are and Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee (FRC), on his recent successful appointment to international Parliamentary platforms.
PM Cautions Health Workers Over Vaccine Misinformation
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has expressed his disappointment at a small group of health workers who are promoting misinformation about the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines.
The Scourge of the Mining Industry
The Solomon Islands is blessed with natural resources – gold, nickel and bauxite are some of the non-renewable resources that lay below the surface.
RSIPF Royals Placed 3rd in Women's Soccer League
Defending Solrais Women’s Premier League Champions (SWPL), the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) Royals are in 3rd place after the conclusion of Round 1.
Ministry of Health Provides CT Scan Project Update
Following media enquiries into the status of the Computer Tomography (CT) Scan project at the National Referral Hospital (NRH), the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) would like to provide an update with clarifications on the project components and processes involved to the public.
Tikopia Automatic Weather Station Operational
The Solomon Islands Meteorology Services was able to provide weather information from Tikopia Island again after the Automatic Weather Station (AWS) was fixed during the recent Prime Minister’s tour to the Island.
CBSI Warns Against Fake 'New Currency' Sol York
The Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) has cautioned members of the public of a fake new currency called "Sol York currency" as claimed by its promoters.
Vanuatu Parliament Awaits Court Resolution
The Speaker of Vanuatu's Parliament, Gracia Shadrach, adjourned last Fridays session until Wednesday this week.
Prime Minister Makes Historic Trip to Tikopia
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare made history when he became the first Solomon Islands Prime Minister to visit the Polynesia outlying islands of Temotu, Tikopia.
5.1 Quake Hits Guadalcanal
An earthquake with a magnitude 5.1 struck Guadalcanal on Sunday.
Wale Calls for Non-interference in Case Against Foreign Investor
Leader of Opposition Hon. Matthew Wale calls on the government to allow due process to take its cause in relation to the recent cancellation of SINO Capital’s Foreign Investment Board (FIB) approval.
Soltuna and Kokonut Pacific Products to be Promoted at World Expo in Dubai
The National Government had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with SolTuna and Kokonut Pacific Solomon Islands Ltd to purchase and promote their products at the 2021 World Expo in Dubai.
A Reflection on the Recent By-Elections in Tikopia/Anuta Ward
The recent by-elections in Tikopia/Anuta was conducted recently, the people spoke and George Rangi Manuvetea was duly elected as their new provincial member.
Companies Collaborated for World Oceans Day
Solomon Airlines, Our Telekom, Soltuna and Dive Munda have joined forces on 8 June, to clean up ocean debris in the Western Province on 2021 ‘World Oceans Day’.
GEF 7 Project Design Kicks Off
An inception workshop to begin the Global Environment Facility (GEF) 7 Project Initiation Planning Stage was held recently by representatives from the UNDP Solomon Islands, the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management & Meteorology and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livelihood.
Much Needed Medical Supplies Arrive in Temotu
The Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) deployment of 6 cubic meters of medical supplies to Temotu Province on board the police patrol boat have arrived in Temotu.
Australia’s Olympics Lifeline to Pacific Nations
The Morrison Government and the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) are working in partnership to support over 170 Olympic and Paralympic athletes from eleven Pacific nations to prepare for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
MAL Assists Renbel Kava Farmers with Tools
Kava project recipients in Renbel Province have expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL).
NRH Completes Mid-Term Review and Planning
Senior Executive Management of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) and National Referral Hospital (NRH) together with NRH’s Heads of Departments (HODs) and senior staff had successfully completed the first of its kind mid-term review and forward planning.
ADB Approves $150 Million to Boost Transport Network
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved support of almost $150 million to boost land and maritime connectivity in Solomon Islands.
Chief Warns of Fake Land Owners
John Saketala, a Paramount Chief of Ghaobata House of Chiefs in East Guadalcanal, has warned People not to purchase land outside of the East Honiara town boundary.
Newly Elected MP for South Choiseul Joins DCGA
The Democratic Coalition Government for Advancement (DCGA) has welcomed its new member; he is the newly elected Member of Parliament for South Choiseul Constituency Honourable Sammy Galo.
Six Children Die as Diarrhea Cases Surge
An alert has been issued by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) surveillance team following a national surge in diarrhea cases last week.
Australia and New Zealand Continues Support to Education Sector Support Program
The Australian High Commissioner Dr Lachlan Strahan alongside the Permanent Secretary MEHRD, Dr Franco Rodie and the New Zealand High Commissioner, Georgina Roberts recently attended a roundtable with representatives from Save the Children Solomon Islands, World Vision Solomon Islands and Coalition for Education Solomon Islands - COESI.
Training Conducted for Employment in Australia’s Construction Sector
Ten Solomon Islanders, who travelled to Australia last month received training on Work, Health, and Safety (WHS) measures for the Australian construction industry as part of a partnership between the Australia Pacific Training Coalition (APTC) and the Labour Mobility Unit supported by the Pacific Labour Facility (PLF) in the Solomon Islands.
Murder Suspect Surrenders
The suspect in relation to the murder of a 44-year-old female Chinese National at the White Angel building in Honiara has surrendered to police on 2 June 2021.
Dreamcast’s Shakespeare-inspired ‘The Chief’s Son’ Set to Take Stage
Dreamcast Theatre Solomon Islands are set to stage one of their biggest theatre play yet; The Chief’s Son.
Wale Calls for Full Disclosure on Mamara Housing Project
Leader of Opposition Hon. Matthew Wale calls on the Government to make full disclosures on all dealings relating to the Mamara Township Development Project to date.
Roll Out of 2nd Dose of AstraZeneca Vaccine Underway in Honiara
The roll out of the AstraZeneca vaccine second dose for those who received their first dose in March, April and May at the Central Field Hospital in Honiara has commenced yesterday.
PM Welcomed in Buala
Prime Minister Hon. Manasseh Sogavare arrived in Buala, Isabel Province yesterday ahead of today’s 2nd Appointed Day celebrations.
Australia's PM May Include Pacific Islands in Expanded Travel Bubble
Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison has hinted that an expanded travel bubble beyond Australia and New Zealand may not be far away.
Reviving the Boat Building Industry in Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands had many successful industries post-independence, some have grown and become a mainstay to the economy, others have withered and become non-existent.
Big, Rich, and Powerful Subsidizers to Benefit from WTO Fisheries Subsidies Talks
Global talks to reign in global fisheries subsidies are failing to hold big, rich and powerful subsidizers accountable while unfairly shifting the burden onto vulnerable fishing communities.
PM Departs for Buala
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare left for Buala, Isabel Province, this morning to attend the province’s 2nd Appointed Day celebrations.
CEMA Revitalization & Recapitalization Strategy Launched
The Prime Minister, Hon. Manasseh Sogavare has officially launched the CEMA “Revitalization and Recapitalization Strategy” and formally declare CEMA’s trading and commercial functions reinstated.
Solomon Islands Still Remain Covid Free
In his recent nationwide address, the Prime Minister has announced that the Solomon Islands has been COVID-19 free now for more than a month.
15,000 Vaccinated So Far: PM
Since March, more than 15,000 people have been vaccinated for COVID-19 in the country.
Covid 19 Vaccination Now Open for 18yrs and Above
This week, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) wish to reiterate that COVID-19 vaccination at the Central Field Hospital, Honiara is now open for all persons 18 years and above in Honiara and Guadalcanal Province.
