Latest News Archive June 2012

Fiji Finalising iTaukei Glossary of Climate Change Terms

Fiji is in the final stages of putting together a glossary of climate change terms in the iTaukei (indigenous Fijian) language. After a two-month consultation process, a final stakeholder consultation workshop was held on 14 June 2012 in Suva.

Community Participation Vital for Climate Change

There is a need for greater emphasis on community participation in helping countries adapt to climate change, says Solomon Islands Minister for Environment, Hon. John Moffat Fugui.

A Hunt for Medication in the Ocean

The oceans may hold the answer to some of the world's most devastating diseases, in the form of new drugs that come from marine organisms.

Draws Done for Next Qualifiers

The four Oceania nations still in the running for a place at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil now know the path they must take to get there after the conducting of the official draw for the Oceanian Zone Stage 3 Qualifiers this week.

Local Sets Sight on New Challenges

For many Solomon Islanders, leaving their homeland and moving to Melbourne, a big, bustling city with a population of nearly 4 million people, would be enough to make even the most adventurous traveller a little anxious.

Research on Customary Land Launched

The Office of the Solomon Islands Prime Minister and Cabinet has launched the Government's national research programme into the country's customary land tenure laws this week.

Forum Economic Ministers to Meet in Kiribati

Economic Ministers of the Pacific Islands Forum will gather for the 16th Forum Economic Ministers' Meeting (FEMM) in Tarawa, Kiribati from 2 - 4 July 2012.

Women Encouraged to Champion Conservation

Solomon Islands' recipient of the prestigious Equator Award is encouraging women to champion conservation in the Solomon Islands.

Solomons Commend Decision on 2014 Meeting

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo has commended the decision by countries meeting in Rio de Janeiro to give the Pacific hosting rights for a key meeting on sustainable development in 2014.

Search on for Missing Child

The Royal Solomon Islands Police in Honiara are appealing to the public for information on the five year old girl who went missing on Sunday morning.

New Book Features Solomon Lifestyle

The daily lives of Solomon Islanders are the focus of a new book about Solomon Islands, published in Honiara this week.

Opportunity Opens New Chapter for Ex-DPP

South Australia's former director of public prosecutions will be moving to the Solomon Islands.

Delegation Begins Arriving Today

Honiara, Solomon Islands will experience a surge in population today following the arrival of the delegation from four of our neighbouring Pacific countries.

Festival Fires Imagination

Australian volunteers are known for their ingenuity and 'can do' attitude but I have to take my hat off to Solomon Islanders. Let me tell you why.

Police Receive Explosive Training Unit

The Australian Defence Cooperation Program (DCP) has completed its final financial commitment to the Australian/ Solomon Islands bilateral support to the RSIPF Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Program at Hell's Point.

Kiribati: Newspaper Closedown a Blow for News Choices: PFF

PFF Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS-- News that the Kiribati newspaper at the centre of a Police investigation has stopped printing means fewer ways for people there to stay informed says media watchdog the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF.

Kiribati: PM Must Step in on Media Complaint, says PFF

PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS--Kiribati's President Anote Tong should step in and clear the air over the continued failure of his Communications minister to act on registration for a controversial newspaper currently facing Police investigations, says the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF.

Mamasa Settlers Demand Compo from Gold Ridge

People of Mamasa village in Central Guadalcanal are again demanding Gold ridge Company to address compensation claims over allegations that chemicals from the mining company have contaminated the river they depend on for their livelihood.

Workshop Looks at Reducing Climate Change Impact through REDD+

Climate change has emerged as perhaps the most important challenge of our time because its impacts will determine the way that we live and survive in the future,' commented Inoke Ratukalou, acting Director of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) Land Resources Division.

Bye-Election Dates Set

The people of North Malaita and East Are'Are constituencies will choose their new members of parliament on August 1st 2012.

Maori Artists Arriving Next Week

The 11th Pacific Arts Festival hosted here in the Solomon Islands will soon welcome its first contingent with the arrival of a 120 strong artist and delegation from New Zealand.

Pacific Island Countries Push for Higher Tobacco Taxation

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND, 15 JUNE 2012 - A workshop on tobacco taxation in the Pacific will be held in Auckland from 18 to 22 June to review and evaluate current tobacco tax systems and explore ways to increase efficiency and effectiveness.

SPC Implements EU-Funded Project on Improvement of Key Services to Agriculture

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) is presented with a unique opportunity to address some of the challenges to Fiji's sugar industry.

Climate Change, Fisheries and Aquaculture in the Pacific

Fifteen countries and territories and their development partners met in Noumea last week for a joint Secretariat of the Pacific Community / Food and Agriculture Organization workshop to discuss how climate change will affect Pacific fisheries and aquaculture.

Royal Family Looking Forward to Visit

Governor General Sir Frank Ofagioro Kabui has confirmed that the royal family is preparing for the royal visit to the Solomon Islands in September this year.

PM Says He is Defending Peoples Interest

Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo says it is in the national interest not to pay the $24m to Russell Islands Plantation Ltd's Patrick Wong until he produces the evidence required by the Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI).

Pacific Private Sector Could Benefit from Comprehensive EPA

The private sector in the Pacific region could derive significant benefits from a comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU).

PNG: Media Must Take Assault Threats to Police

PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS--Another assault threat resulting in a TV film crew being forced to delete their footage has taken place in Papua New Guinea over the weekend.

PM Launches Land Conference in Munda

A two-day Customary Land Tenure Reform Conference is underway in Munda, western Province this week.

Fiji Regime's License Threat Condemned

PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS -- A threat from the Fiji regime that coverage of people it brands as "opposition" will cost Fiji TV its broadcast license, has been strongly condemned by regional media watchdog the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF.

Europes Financial Ills Could Affect Pacific

Finance minister, Rick Hou, says Europe's financial troubles could mean less development assistance for the Pacific.

Relief from La Niña, Normal Rainfall Patterns Expected

After one of the largest recent La Niña periods on record, which caused drought in the Pacific Island countries of Tuvalu and Tokelau, the Pacific Ocean is returning to a near normal state.

Herbert under Fire as All Whites Manages Third Place

Under-fire All Whites coach Ricki Herbert didn't gild the lily after Shane Smeltz's injury-time face-saver banked the third-place booby prize at the Oceania Nations Cup football tournament.

Tahiti Crowned Kings of Oceania

Tahiti will represent Oceania at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil after edging out New Caledonia 1-0 in the final of the OFC Nations Cup during a dramatic last day of action at Lawson Tama Stadium in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

Forum Working Group on Counter-Terrorism Meet

The eighth meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum Working Group on Counter-Terrorism was held in Suva, Fiji on 5 June 2012.

Australia and New Zealand Assist with Festival Preparations

New Zealand and Australia will contribute over $100,000 to assist with preparations for the Festival of Pacific Arts.

SI Brisbane Student Association Create History

The Solomon Islands Brisbane Students Association (SIBSA) has made history by becoming the first Solomon Islands group to be formally incorporated and registered as a member of the Brisbane City Council (BCC).

Authorities Crack Down on Smoking

A major anti-smoking campaign is set to be launched across the Solomon Islands following new smoking laws introduced last week.

Record Delegation of Indigenous Artists for FOPA

The Australia Council for the Arts is proud to announce that 50 of Australia's best Indigenous artists will attend the 11th Festival of Pacific Arts (FOPA) to be held in the Solomon Islands' capital, Honiara on July 1 - 14.

Australia Saves School from Closing

Australian Deputy High Commissioner Dr Dave Peebles handed over 10 water tanks to Vonunu Provincial Secondary School Principal Ialine Wateka at Gizo Wharf in Western Province on 29 May.

Fiji's Hopes Dashed

Perennial Pacific challengers Fiji have been eliminated from the race for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil with the Solomon Islands claiming the remaining available berth to the third and final stage of Oceania qualifying.

Coach Proud of All Whites

The All Whites' unconvincing Oceania Nations Cup campaign will face another stern test tomorrow in Solomon Islands with a semifinal against in-form New Caledonia.

Solomon Islands Books Space in Semis

The Bonitos booked their passage from Group B with a historic 1-1 draw against New Zealand - a country they had never earned a positive result against - while Fiji will be returning home after also posting a 1-1 tie in a match against Papua New Guinea they needed to win to have any chance of progessing.

Duke Pratices Moves for Solomon Visit

The Duke of Cambridge has been practising his dance moves before a visit to the Solomon Islands, the Duchess said as the couple met dignitaries at Guildhall before the service at St Paul's Cathedral.

Campaigns to Lobby for Legislative Change in Vanuatu

A coalition of chiefs, women's advocates, union representatives and government officers have come together in Port Vila to plan strategies, share information and launch three separate and ambitious legislative lobbying campaigns in Vanuatu.

SPC and SPREP to Collaborate on Reducing Vulnerability to Hazards

5 June 2012, Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Suva, Fiji

Hospital to Receive Medical Volunteers

The Solomon Islands National Referral Hospital in Honiara will be busier than normal later this week when Australian volunteer plastic and reconstructive medical experts begin their two-week visit.

Hosts to Take on All Whites Today

The OFC Nations Cup continues today at Lawson Tama Stadium in Honiara, Solomon Islands, with the four Group B teams set to play their final pool fixtures of the tournament.

Tahiti and New Caledonia Secures Spot

Tahiti and New Caledonia continued their supremacy in Group A of the OFC Nations Cup yesterday in Solomon Islands with a pair of wins that served to secure their place in the semi-finals.

Solomons in UN Exhibition

The Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) Partnership will be a focal point of an exhibition on peace keeping and peace building being held at the United Nations in New York this month.

Inconsistent Hotel Bills Questioned

Solomon Islands Opposition Leader, Dr Derek Sikua has described the inconsistency in Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo's claimed monthly cost of his hotel accommodation as intriguing.

Peak World Organic Body Ticks Pacific Organic Standard

The Pacific organics movement achieved a milestone on 14 April, when the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) accepted the Pacific Organic Standard (POS) into their Family of Standards.

Sikua Appalled At Compensation Demands

In another major spin of political events, group of men were at the Opposition Leader's office yesterday demanding compensation over statements made by the Solomon Islands Opposition Leader, Dr Derek Sikua.

A Look At Today's Match

The OFC Nations Cup continues today at Lawson Tama Stadium in Honiara, Solomon Islands, with the four Group A teams set to play their final pool fixtures of the tournament.

Solomons and Fiji's Fate Still Unsure

The All Whites became the first side to qualify for the semi-finals - and a place in the next stage of World Cup qualifying in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

The Battle Continues for Oceania Giants

The OFC Nations Cup continues today at Lawson Tama Stadium in Honiara, Solomon Islands, with the four Group B teams set to play their second fixtures of the tournament.

Wallis and Futuna Forestry Team to be Assisted by SPC

'We are very grateful to SPC for facilitating our visit to Fiji,' said David Devynck, a forest engineer with the Wallis and Futuna State Department who, with Taifisi Folituu, a sawmill owner from Wallis, visited Fiji for assistance with the development of their forestry sector, in particular the timber industry.

Heat, A More Difficult Opponent

A week on a tropical Solomon Islands, complete with massages, R and R and slushies might sound all right to your average New Zealander in the middle of winter, but the All Whites also have a football tournament to win.

Closer Scrutiny for Gold Exports

The Comptroller of Customs and Excise, Nathan Kama, says his Division will still push to have their staff present during the weighing of gold for export from Gold Ridge Mines in Central Guadalcanal.

Thrilling Upset for Pool A

Group A of the OFC Nations Cup has been thrown wide open after a highly-dramatic afternoon at Lawson Tama Stadium in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

Partners Give Full Support to Games

Solomon Islands is living up to its reputation as a football-mad nation with sell-out crowds and strong support from the official partners of the OFC Nations Cup.

Solomon Islands to Host APTC

Solomon Islands will soon host a campus of the Australia Pacific Technical College, boosting opportunities for training and skills development for Solomon Islanders.

Makira Road Improvement Project Completed

The Makira phase of the Solomon Islands Road Improvement Project, which reconnected local communities to clinics, markets, schools, and the provincial capital Kirakira has officially been completed.

Ministry of Finance Refutes Claims

Solomon Islands Permanent Secretary for Finance and Treasury, Mr Shadrach Fanega, today refutes the Malaita Ma'asina Forum's allegations that the Customs and Excise Division has failed to monitor gold exports by the Gold Ridge Mining Limited.