All Archive February 2009

ADB Commissions 2nd Water Security Outlook

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has commissioned a second edition of its Asian Water Development Outlook (AWDO) in the run up to the Asia-Pacific Water Summit in 2010.

Man Bailed on Fraud Charge

A 25-year-old man has been bailed to appear before a Honiara Magistrate on 9 March for fraud after he allegedly tried to cash a stolen cheque of SBD$100,000.

RAMSI Backs Solomon Islands Anti-Corruption Measures

RAMSI Special Coordinator, Graeme Wilson, today pledged RAMSI's full support for the Solomon Islands Government's fight against corruption.

Proposal for Human Rights Body for Pacific

There has been a call from a human rights activist for the establishment of a human rights body for the region.

Gold Ridge Mining Denies Reports of Cyanide Leakage

Gold Ridge Mining Limited has denied media reports of cyanide leakages at the gold mine site.

Lata Police Begins Court Hearings

The Lata Police had entered its first week of court circuit hearings at the Lata Magistrate Court house.

Government Monitors Global Economic Crises, Cuts Spending

Government is taking steps to manage and control expenditure and maximise revenue collection to minimise the impacts of the global financial crisis on the country's budget and economy.

Our Telekom Set to Launch Breeze Mobile Service in Afio

Our Telekom will launch its Breeze GSM Mobile Service in Afio, South Malaita on the 12th and 13th March 2009.

Auki Police Train Public Drivers on Traffic Rules

The Auki Police has conducted a one-day traffic consultation training session for Auki motorist and vehicle owners, the first of its kind to be held by the Malaita Provincial Police.

Police Responds to Illegal Border Crossings

Acting Police Commissioner Peter Marshall, in his weekly meeting with the media today, revealed that Shortlands would soon have a police post.

Dr. Sikua's Visit a Moral Booster

The recent visit of the Prime Minister, Dr. Sikua, to the ministry of Police, National Security and the Correctional Services had been described as an added moral booster to the workers.

Pacific Art Gaining Popularity

Art from the various cultures of the region, referred to as Oceanic Art, is gaining popularity, attracting more attention especially in the U. S.

Menapi, a Hit Among Students

The presence of international soccer player, Commins Menapi has attracted interest from students of both Mbokona and Kukum SDA Schools.

Freedom of Information Workshop Ends

The three days workshop on Freedom of Information (FOI) has come to an end yesterday at the Mendana hotel.

Police Resolve Borderline Assault

A prompt response by Royal Solomon Islands Police patrols calmed down a brawl that occurred at the Borderline market at approximately 5.30pm on Tuesday.

Flood Damage Food Gardens in Wards 9, 19 and 20

The Makira-Ulawa Provincial Disaster Committee has reported that more than sixteen villages in Central Makira and six villages in Rawo on the weather coast have lost their food gardens to the floods last month.

Record Leatherback Hatchling Numbers in Tetepare

Leatherback turtles are hatching in record numbers on Tetepare Island, in the Western Province, as rangers work to save the critically endangered species from extinction.

National Women's Volleyball Squad Prepare for World Cup

The National Women's volleyball squad is shaping up for Round 1 of the Volleyball World Cup elimination in Wellington, in the Oceania open.

No Political Interference in Law and Order: Sikua

Prime minister Dr. Derek Sikua has assured the Police and Justice Ministry that the Coalition for National Unity and Rural Advancement Government will not interfere with their work.

Dead Baby Found

Police are urging the mother of an abandoned five-months-old foetus to seek medical care for her own wellbeing.

Landowner Questions Credibility of ASG Mining Group

A landowner has questioned the credibility and capability of the ASG Mining Group, as it re-opens the gold ridge mining project.

Men Arrested for Assaulting Police Officers

Police have arrested three men at midday yesterday, in relation to an overnight attack on two duty officers at the Borderline Police Post.

ADB to Help Raise Public Awareness on Climate Change

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a technical assistance grant to raise awareness through the media on the serious threat that climate change poses to hundreds of millions of people in the region.

Illegal Crossing in PNG - Solomon Islands Border

People residing in the Shortland Islands, bordering Papua New Guinea's Bougainville Islands, have raised grave concerns over increased border crossings by foreigners into Solomon Islands and vice versa.

Solomon Community in Fiji Wants to Return Home

A group of 28 families of Solomon Island decent want the Fiji Government to pay their passage to the land of their forefathers if they are forcibly evicted from the land that has been their home for over a century.

Gold Ridge Mining Accused of Abusing Workers Rights

General Secretary of the Solomon Islands National Union of Workers (SINUW), Tony Kagovai, in a recent press conference, stated that they have reasons to believe that the Gold Ridge Mining Limited has not respected basic rights of its workers.

More Opportunities for Referees: Alufurai

Referees have plenty of opportunities to further their career says SIFF President Martin Alufurai.

Freedom of Information Vital: DPM Hon Fono

"Freedom of Information has been identified as an important indicator under the Good Governance Pillar," said Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Fred Fono while giving his official key note in the opening of the Solomon Islands Freedom of Information Workshop.

Digicel Builds Green Power Mobile Network in Vanuatu

Digicel has chosen Vanuatu as the site of its green power mobile network in which the power will be generated from a combination of wind and solar power.

Malaita Independence a Personal Agenda: Oeta

Peace and reconciliation liaison officer and former Malaita Premier David Oeta describes the recent mini-survey carried out by the Malaita Maasina Forum as being "based on their personal agenda."

Maasina Forum Releases Findings

The Malaita Maasina Forum released its mini-survey findings on Saturday afternoon despite criticisms against its authencity and truthfulness by the deputy Prime Minister and MP for Central Kwara'ae Fred Fono.

Rice Imports Hits SBD$200 Million Annually

Minister for Agriculture Hon. Selwyn Riumana has revealed that with the increasing dependence on rice imports by many Solomon Islanders, the importation of rice has increased dramatically.

Ragomo Back to Training for Upcoming Torunaments

Holiday period is over and training session is resuming for young Elliot Ragomo, the Solomon Islands Kurukuru star and captain.

Rats Destroying Food Crops in Malaita

Latest reports from the Malaita Disaster Committee say there rats are destroying foods in ward 9, 10, 12 and 13.

Government Congratulates Guadalcanal Rice Farmers

The National Government congratulated rural rice farmers in the Guadalcanal Plains for a fine achievement in rice farming.

Malaita Province's Disaster-Affected Communities Need Temporary Shelter

The Malaita Province's Disaster Committee reports that those displaced by king tides at Kwai Ngongosila and Walande, Fanalei urgently need temporary shelter.

Carteret Islands Residents to Become Climate Refugees Before Year-End

The residents of Carteret Islands, north east of Bougainville in Papua New Guinea, are likely to become some of the world's first climate change refugees before the end of the year.

Fono Questions Authenticity of Malaita Independence Survey

Deputy Prime Minister and Central Kwara'ae MP, Hon. Fred Fono has expressed doubts about the authenticity and truthfulness of a survey conducted by the Malaita Maasina Forum to determine support for Malaita independence.

Planned Crackdown on Betel Nut Vendors

The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force and the Honiara City Council (HCC) are working in a joint operation to stop betel nut vendors who, in recent times, have mushroomed throughout the streets of Honiara.

30 Referees Register for FIFA MA Course

About 30 referees have registered for the FIFA MA Beach Soccer Referee Course which is schedule to start this Saturday at the SIFF Academy.

U.S. Provides Relief Assistance

The United States, working through the USAID Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance and the Solomon Islands Red Cross, will provide $50,000 U.S. dollars of assistance to people affected by the recent flooding disaster in the Solomon Islands.

Government Monitors Rice Price: PM

Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua said today the Government is closely monitoring the price of rice and expects to see rice prices fall in the coming months.

Fiji Police Commissioner's Comments Deemed Racist

The comments made by Fiji's Police Commissioner to some members of the country's police force has caused outrage with many labeling them racist and calling for the Commissioner to step down.

ADB to Help PNG Improve Power Supply

Asian Development Bank (ADB) is assisting the Government of Papua New Guinea (PNG) to develop their power sector by helping them prepare a Power Sector Development Plan.

Dangerous Escapee Still on the Loose

Acting Police Commissioner, Peter Marshall, in a press conference this morning, said that they have reasons to believe that Mr. Stanley Gitoa may have been involved in a robbery case in GPPOL. Stanley Gitoa escaped late last year as he was being escorted to Honiara, on his way to the courts.

Price of Cigarettes Rise

Smokers in Honiara are complaining about the increase in the price of cigarettes in town, which many say they only noticed early this month.

Transparency International Moved by Mr Fatai's Achievements

Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI) has expressed its gratitude to colleagues, family, friends and admirers of the late Augustine Floyd Fatai for the support received in nominating the late Mr Fatai for the Transparency International Integrity Award.

Crime Rates Increase in Henderson Area

Crime rates in and around the Henderson area is on the increase, residents in the area say.

RAMSI Review Committee Completes Consultation with Western Province

The Parliamentary Foreign Relations Committee has completed its inquiry with the people of Western Province on how they feel about the role of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands, RAMSI.

Former SI Rep Opens Goal-Keeping School

Former National goalkeeper Severino Aefi is an example of someone who has the heart to develop quality goalkeepers by opening up a goalkeeping school of excellence.

Young Soccer Players Enjoy Outreach Programme

The football outreach programme, organized by the women's football committee of the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIIF), is proving to be a huge hit with young girls in Honiara.

Health Workshop for Provincial Participants

A workshop is in place for participants from Malaita, Central Islands, Guadalcanal, Makira-Ulawa provinces.

Man Charged Over Golf Club Fraud Offence

The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force's National Investigations Unit (NIU) officers have charged a man in relation to a fraud incident at the Honiara Golf Club Ranadi.

New PS for Constitutional Reform Unit

The Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has recently appointed a new Permanent Secretary (Special Duties) to head the Constitutional Reform Unit.

Solomons to Open First Netball Stadium

The first ever netball stadium for Solomon Islands is near completion in Gizo, the provincial capital of Western Province.

Value of Traditional Identity

People in Choiseul Province still value their "sako", a string bag made out of a tree called 'mondo' in their dialect.

Second Soccer Trials to Start

The Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) Technical Department has confirmed that its next selection trial matches will start on Monday next week.

Joint Operation Targets Illegal Betel Nut Stalls

Royal Solomon Islands Police Force and Honiara City Council today removed two prominent betel nut stalls operating illegally in Central Honiara, as part of Operation High Visibility.

Census Workers to Use New Technical Device

Census workers this year will be using technical devices for the 2009 National Population Census.

Women's Centre Reveals Girls Sold as Wives in Rural Fiji

The Fiji Women's Crisis Centre (FWCC) has revealed that young girls are being sold or given away as wives in some rural parts of the country mostly as a result of poverty.

Celebrations Different This Year, says Kiloe

Celebrations for Choiseul Province's 2nd Appointed Day will be different this year.

Government Reveals Plan for Tourism Industry

Prime Minister Dr. Derek Sikua says his administration is aiming at bringing in 30,000 foreign tourists and visitors into the country before his government folds in 2010.

Government Creates Ministry of Forestry as Stand-Alone

The Coalition for National Unity and Rural Advancement Government has been praised for creating the Ministry of Forestry as a stand-alone ministry.

Government Supports Training for Women

Financial support from the Ministry of Youth, Women and Children's Affairs enables a participant to attend a seven months training in Fiji.

Football School Outreach Gaining Momentum

The football outreach programme is gaining momentum with Honiara International School receiving its second visit this afternoon.

Solomons to Benefit from 'Win in Oceania': Alufurai

Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) President, Martin Alufurai, said Solomon Islands should benefit greatly from the 'Win in Oceania' with Oceania project.

Further Trial Matches for U17s

The SIFF Technical department will hold another round of selection trial matches to further trim down the squad they have identified from the first trial matches.

Solomons Government Welcomes Action to Eliminate Malaria

The Solomon Islands government has welcomed an initiative to eliminate Malaria from the country.

Disaster Committee to Assess Malaita King Tides Effects

The Malaita Disaster Committee is preparing to send an Environmental Impact Assessment Team to the two islands Kwai and Ngongosila which have been affected by flash flooding caused by last week's king tides.

Amnesty International Calls on PNG to Stop Sorcery Deaths

Human rights organization, Amnesty International, is urging Papua New Guinea to make a greater effort to put an end to sorcery-related killings in the country which seems to be on the rise.

Relocation of Taro Not True: Kiloe

Rumour on relocation of Choiseul Province's provincial headquarter, Taro, is not true.

School Project a Gift

The success of the Nukiki Classroom Block Project through European Union's Micro Projects Phase II is "a gift for people of Nukiki."

Workshop to Benefit Local Farmers

A workshop to enhance skills and knowledge in the fields of production, processing and saving of vegetable seeds and floral biology of selected crops will benefit many local farmers of Solomon Islands.

Moves to Eliminate Malaria in Solomons

A global health professor, Sir Richard Feachem, is currently in the country to help eliminate malaria in Solomon Islands.

Solomon Islands Thanks PNG for Flood Assistance

The Solomon Islands Government has thanked the Government of Papua New Guinea for its contribution towards the recent floods in Solomon Islands.

Kiribati Seeks Relocation as Climate Change Sets In

The island nation of Kiribati is following in the steps of the Maldives by preparing for relocation for its people as the rising sea level threatens to submerge the nation.

Education a Priority for Choiseul Province

Nukiki Primary School in South Choiseul witnessed a successful hand over of a new class room block project under the funding of the European Union's Micro Project Phase II.

Japan Government Helps Solomon Islands Karate Federation

A Grant Contract Signing Ceremony of "The Project for the Improvement of Karate Equipment of Solomon Islands Karate Federation" will assist to improve karate in Solomon Islands.

Rise on Flood Death Toll

The National Disaster Management Office, N-D-M-O, has confirmed that 13 people have so far died following the recent flooding on Guadalcanal.

Study to Probe Impact of Health Spending on Asia

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is to carry out a new study into how private spending on maternal, newborn and child health care is hurting the poor in the Asia and the Pacific region.

People Should be Patient: GP Disaster Office

Flood victims are called on to "be patient" as responsible authorities work on distributing relief supplies to them.

Support for Choiseul Women

Women of Supizae village in North West Choiseul Province will now be able to create their own small business with help from the European Union Micro Project Phase II.

Eviction Notice for Kukum Market

An eviction notice to the Kukum market has lapsed yesterday.

High Swells in Makira-Ulawa

A report from the Office of the Provincial Police Commander in KiraKira, Makira-Ulawa Province, today says unconfirmed reports claim that high swells have destroyed four houses on Ulawa Island.

Transparency Solomon Islands Commends Government

Transparency Solomon Islands, T-S-I, has commended the government for its commitment to create an Anti-Corruption Task Force.

People Unhappy about Relief Response

People in Northwest Guadalcanal who have been affected by recent flooding are not satisfied with how Guadalcanal province is conducting its relief response.

Work on National Population Census Will Create Jobs

More than 1600 jobs will be created in the country over the next nine months.

Fiji Women's Centre Blames Political Instability for Rise in Violence

The Fiji Women's Crisis Centre is blaming the political instability in the country as the reason for domestic violence following the recent reports.

Governor General Visits Flood-Hit Selwyn College

The Governor General Sir Nathaniel Waena and RAMSI Special Coordinator, Graeme Wilson, paid a joint post-flood visit to Selwyn College today.

More Visits for Football Outreach Programme

Two more schools, Zion and Burnscreek were visited in the last two days with more than 100 children participating in the football outreach programme.

Fishing Company Donates to Flood Victims

The Soltai Company handed over relief supplies to the Guadalcanal Province to help flood victims.

Prime Minister Launches 2009 National Population Census

Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua yesterday launched the 2009 National Population Census during a ceremony at the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) Center in Honiara.

SIG Signs MOU With the International Office for Migration

The Solomon Islands Government yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to enhance cooperation between the two parties on migration issues.

More to Do: H.E. Smart

The help rendered to support flood victims including missing people has been "superb".

New Zealand Gives Help to Guadalcanal Relief Office

New Zealand High Commissioner, Deborah Punckhurst, handed over 250-thousand dollars worth of assistance to the Guadalcanal Relief Centre for relief work relating to the recent flooding in the Northwest and Northeast of the island.

Seminar for Burns Creek Youths

A seminar for the unemployed youths of Burns Creek Community started today.

Grateful Hiker Shares Experience

A very grateful Dries Stevens says the feeling of being found is hard to describe.

Airlines Gives Notice to Air Vanuatu

Solomon Airlines has given notice to Air Vanuatu to end its long association with the weekly hire of the Boeing B737-800 NG series aircraft with effect from the last service on Tuesday 3rd March 2009.

SI Under 17 Withdraws from OFC U17 Tournament

Solomon Islands will not participate in the OFC U17 tournament which New Zealand will host in April.

Aircrew Winches Belgian Hiker Safely From the Jungle

Missing Belgian tourist Dries Stevens has been found alive in dense jungle at Ohe, south west of Mbetikama, some 13 days after he embarked on a seven-day cross-country trek.

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