Latest News Archive July 2012

Mentoring Program Attracts Hundreds

Up to five hundred young Solomon Islanders will take part in a unique mentoring and training program to receive basic skills to help boost job prospects.
Minister Doromuala has come under heavy criticism with local exporters describing the actions as "a slap in the cocoa industry face, particularly local exporters."

Foreign Company Will Boost Export: Doromuala

Commerce Minister Elijah Doromuala has defended his decision to grant a foreign company a license to export cocoa along with major exemptions.

Local Exporter Unhappy with Minister

Minister for Commerce, Elijah Doromuala, has caused an outcry from local cocoa exporters after he signed an extraordinary gazette to allow a foreign company to trade and export cocoa with major exemptions.
Larisha Barikoa recovering after life saving surgery.

Rotary Saves Young Larisha

Larisha Barikoa faced almost certain death in a Solomon Islands hospital after a ladder fell on her head, causing a nail to penetrate her brain.

SIS Officials Discuss Climate Change and the Pacific Plan

Senior officials from the Smaller Island States (SIS) within the Pacific Islands Forum will discuss a regional technical support mechanism for SIS to access and manage the expected increased flows of climate change resources
The recruiting agents can begin recruiting locals to work as seasonal labourers for farms in Australia.

Recruiting Agents Receive Certificates

Solomon Islands recruiting agents for the Australian Seasonal Workers Program have now received official certification from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade.

Preacher Wanted for Sexual Assault

Police are investigating reports that a preacher of foreign nationality has been sexually assaulting young girls in Honiara under pretexts of spiritual healing.

Regional Integration Should be Intensified - SG Slade

PRESS RELEASE - 27th July 2012 - Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Tuiloma Neroni Slade, has called on the Pacific region to intensify and accelerate its efforts towards regional integration.

Seven Nations Face Sanctions over Endangered Species

Solomon Islands is one of the seven nations that may lose their ability to legally trade tens of thousands of wildlife species after U.N. conservation delegates agreed Thursday to penalize them for lacking tough regulations or failing to report on their wildlife trade.

National Parliament Wants Autonomy

The Speaker of the Solomon Islands parliament is pushing to have control of its funds and daily operations removed from the Prime Minister's office.
Old friends Russell Priest and Edward Houi from the Solomon Islands pictured in 1968, and reunited 44 years later this June as retirees.

Friendship Rekindled After Four Decades

A little blue letter was all it took to reunite two friends 44 years after they last met as young men in the Solomon Islands, despite living an ocean apart.
"It's not a question of the number of kids at school, although that is important, we need to know what is happening in the classroom and why learning is being stifled," said Linda, Chief Education Off

Classrom Learning Under Microscope

When the school bell rings, 12 year old Bradford Feka'afu heads off to class at Florence Young Christian School in Honiara, Solomon Islands.
High Commissioner Oti and Commissioner Naivalurua discussed the potential for cooperation between the two countries' Police Forces.

Further Strengthening of Ties

This week, Solomon Islands High Commissioner to the Republic of Fiji Islands, has met the country's Commissioner of Police, Brigadier General, Ioane Naivalurua.

FEMM to Lead Implementation of Waiheke Declaration

PRESS RELEASE - 26 July 2012 - Pacific Islands Forum Economic Ministers confirmed their leadership and oversight of the implementation of the Waiheke Declaration on Sustainable Economic Development endorsed by Forum Leaders in Auckland last year.
A St James's Palace spokesman said further details about the tour would be released later in the summer.

Preparations Underway for Will and Kate's Visit

Preparations are underway for the visit of Prince William and Kate, organizers say.
So far no damages have been reported, although an assesment of outlying villages on Guadalcanal will be made.

6.5 Quake Hits Solomon Islands

A strong 6.5-magnitude earthquake hit the Solomon Islands around 9.40 pm local time, the US Geological Survey said.

Good News Greets WHO Malaria Head on Visit to Papua New Guinea

PAPUA NEW GUINEA, 23 JULY 2012 - Dr Robert Newman, WHO's Director of the Global Malaria Programme, took in his first WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific country malaria programme when he made a six-day visit to Papua New Guinea earlier this month.
Allied Gold says the information the forum has been demanding is released every quarter, "as Allied Gold is a public company and therefore required to report its production on a quarterly basis."

Row Continues Over Gold Revenue Data

The Malaita Ma'asina Forum is calling on the Gold Ridge Mining Limited and government authorities to reveal to the public information on gold exports to Australia.
Healthy Coffee is focused on bringing health to the world's largest and most popular drink, coffee.

Healthy Coffee Opens in Solomon Islands

Healthy Coffee International, Inc. announced that it opened in the Solomon Islands and participated in the National Trade Show of the 11th Festival of Pacific Arts in Honiara, where delegations from 27 Pacific Island countries and territories come together on July 1-14, 2012.
The Pacific Village leaf huts will be available for auction tommorrow.

Pacific Village Available for Auction

The 11th Festival of Pacific Arts organising committee, Solomon Islands, will begin auctioning leaf huts in the Pacific village at Panatina Campus tomorrow.

Availability of TRC Report Questioned

A former Solomon Islands Police Commissioner, Frank Short has questioned when the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) will be made public.
The Solomon Island panpipers were always the crowd favorite since 2009.

Local Panpipers Assist Suva Church

Local Solomon Islanders in Suva, Fiji, were instrumental to the Suva Anglican Cathedral by helping to raise $20,700 from its annual bazaar over the weekend.

Centre Curbs Urban Growth

The Deputy Prinicpal of St Martin's Rural Training Centre in Solomon Islands says it has been instrumental over the past forty years in helping to curb urban drift.

Pacific Skies - Communicating Pacific Aviation News

With the launch of the Pacific Skies aviation magazine this year, the aviation sector in the Pacific has a new voice for communicating its news all around the globe.
"Data indicate the activity supports up to 20,000 families across the country," a statement from the ministry reads.

Government Plans to Double Cocoa Production

With surging global demand and a rise in rural earnings the government is seriously pushing to double the current levels of cocoa output by 2014.

Government Re-Affirms Support to Integrity Bill

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo has re-affirmed the government's full support towards the Political Integrity and Stability bill.
Bruce Saunders has been living and working in the Solomon Islands' capital Honiara for around 45 years.

Saunders to Receive Knighthood

Port Pirie born Bruce Saunders has not become an iron-clad medieval warrior, instead it is his battle for social improvement in the Solomon Islands that has seen him recently named a knight.
The Attorney General was reinstated after the Prime Minister, Hon. Gordon Darcy Lilo rejected the resignation.

Attorney General Remains

Billy Titiulu, the Solomon Islands Attorney General still remains as the Legal Advisor to National Government.

Makira Looking into Culture Preservation

The Government of Makira Ulawa Province, Solomon Islands is now in the process of deliberating a law on the preservation of culture.

Sumsum Re-appointed as Chief

Vanuatu national, Ron Sumsum has been re-appointed as the head of the Solomon Islands national carrier, Solomon Airlines, following an exhaustive selection process by the Airline's Board.

Isabel to Commission New Vessel

The Isabel Development Company (IDC) will be commissioning their fourth cargo vessel this Friday at Buala, Isabel Province, Solomon Islands.

SIRUF Finalizes Training Squad

The Solomon Islands Rugby Union Federation (SIRUF), last Friday 13 July through an appointed selection panel had finalized its training squad for the upcoming FORU 7s tournament that will be played in Sydney, Australia on the 24th and 25th of August 2012.
The Hon. Prime Minister, Gordon Lilo Darcy is yet to respond to the Attorney General's resignation.

Attorney General Tenders Resignation

The Solomon Islands Attorney General, Mr. Billy Titiulu has tendered his resignation yesterday afternoon.

Tourism Businesses Gain Access to Online Assistance

Through a special program sponsored by the South Pacific Tourism Organization (SPTO) and Pacific Islands Trade & Invest (PT&I), Pacific Island hoteliers across Fiji, the Cook Islands, Tonga, the Solomon Islands and Kiribati are now benefiting from a special suite of Hotel Link Solutions products and services.
The free exhibition features a wide range of images from across Solomon Islands.

RAMSI to be Showcased in Canberra

A photographic exhibition showcasing the history and achievements of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) will be open at the Australian National Parliament House in Canberra this week, 20 July.

SPC and MSG Forge Partnership

Tuesday 17 July 2012, Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) headquarters, Noumea, New Caledonia
Viliami Liai of Wailoku is a second generation Solomon Islander living in Fiji.

Desire to Trace Roots

Seventy Five year-old Viliame Liai wants to turn back the time and trace his ancestors in the Solomon Islands.

MASI Congratulates Media Coverage

The Media Association of Solomon Islands (MASI) yesterday has congratulated members of the local media for their persistent coverage of the recent festival of Pacific Arts in the country.

Sogavare Condemns Advance

The Solomon Islands Member of Parliament for East Choiseul, Hon. Sogavare has condemned the government for advancing five million dollars from the Millennium Development Fund, funded by Republic of China.

Sailors Rescued at Sea

On Saturday 14 July 2012, RAMSI Participating Police Force personnel in coordination with the Solomon Islands Marine Rescue Coordination Centre successfully rescued two Dutch sailors stranded at sea near Rennell Island.

Concerns Over Media Ban in PNG Election Results

PFF, Rarotonga-- As the result counts from Papua New Guinea's general elections continue to flow in, the country's national media workers association has joined the Pacific Freedom Forum in its concern over returning officers interfering with media work at two provincial centres.

Honiara Club Endorses Debt Management Strategy

The Honiara Club, Solomon Islands, has unanimously endorsed the Government's new Debt Management Strategy (DMS) during a meeting on Wednesday last week.
Between 2000 and 2010, more than 54,000 birds, mainly parrots and cockatoos, were imported from the Solomon Islands and declared as captive bred.

Solomons at Centre of Captive Breeding

Tens of thousands of wild birds exported from the Solomon Islands have been laundered into the global wildlife trade by declaring them as captive-bred, a new TRAFFIC study has found.
11th Festival of Pacific Arts Ends on High Note

11th Festival of Pacific Arts Ends on High Note

Friday 13 July 2012, Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Honiara, Solomon Islands - After two weeks of festivity, the cultural extravaganza that is the 11th Festival of Pacific Arts comes to a close in Honiara this afternoon.

Advocacy Programme for Bye-Election Complete

Advocacy teams from the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission for the upcoming bye-elections in East Are Are and North Malaita Constituency are now back in Honiara after their awareness mission.

Nationwide Company Welcomes Ban

The Nationwide Company which holds 20% shares in RIPEL on behalf of former RIPEL workers have welcomed the Solomon Islands Government decision to ban Patrick Wong from entering the Solomon Islands.
The Rapanui dancers marching during the Festival of Arts closing.

A Gathering Like No Other

There has never been a gathering in Solomon Islands to rival that of the 11th Festival of Pacific Arts.

Governor General Apologizes to Participants

The Solomon Islands Governor General has apologised on behalf of the people of Solomon Islands to the overseas delegates of the 11th Festival of Pacific Arts over how the Master of Ceremony expressed himself during the festival opening ceremony.

Bainimarama Visits Solomon Descendents

Fiji's Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama last week visited Wailoku settlement outside Suva and paid tribute to those Fijians with Solomon Islands ancestry.
Ann Patricia Naisara modelling a Robert Kennedy dress.

New Clothing Range Launched in Festival

Top Fiji designer Robert Kennedy launched a new range of clothes at the 11th Festival of Pacific Arts in the Solomo Islands and looks forward to improving them when he gets home.

A Pacific Flavour at Wetlands Convention in Romania

10 July 2012, Bucharest, Romania - Oceania has a raised profile at the 11th Conference of the Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
Te Pou Huke and Pau Hereveri from Rapa Nui (Easter Island) carve a totem pole.

Art in Progress at Festival of Pacific Arts

Centuries of knowledge and skill are expressed in the work of the artists.

Government Accused of Ignorance to Disability

The founder of a rural training centre for deaf youth in Solomon Islands is accusing the government of failing to address the country's high rate of disability.
Fiji's contemporary dance crew, VOU, during their performance on the Pasifika stage.

Fiji Continues to Impress

As the Solomon Islands celebrated its 34th independence yesterday, the people of the Pacific paid tribute to those who helped shape this nation with song, dance and displays that depicted the freedom of their cultures and traditions.
Sir Peter Kenilorea will be on of those contesting the seat for East Are'Are Constituency.

Bye-Election Contestants List Finalized

The Solomon Islands Electoral Commission is happy to announce and confirm to the good constituents from North Malaita and East Are'Are constituencies the final list of validly nominated candidates who will be contesting for the two parliamentary seats on the 1st August.

Kiribati Vice President Visits Gizo

The Vice President of Kiribati has praised the Western Provincial Government and its FOPA Satellite venue organizing committee for the hospitality and kind reception accorded to the Kiribati contingent during their short visit to Gizo, Solomon Islands.

University Officially Operated in 2013

Solomon Islands is planning to set up a national university for local students and those from the surrounding region.

Cultural Rights are Human Rights Says UN Expert

Delegates at the first cultural rights symposium for the Pacific were told yesterday that their cultural rights are enshrined in a number of international human rights conventions. Despite this, these rights continue to go unrecognised.

Youth Speak! on Heritage at Pacific Arts Festival

Youth delegates from around the Pacific discussed heritage at a regional workshop held last week during the 11th Festival of Pacific Arts in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

Gender Symposium Concludes

A meeting on gender responsive market governance and reform has successfully concluded in Honiara, Solomon Islands this week.

City Mayor Oust by Motion

The Honiara City Mayor, Israel Maeoli has been ousted by his Council via no-confidence motion last week.

Pacific Ministers Back Regional Cultural Strategy

Pacific ministers of culture on Wednesday endorsed a regional strategy to further enhance the development of the Pacific's cultural sector.

Guam Attracts Massive Crowd Daily

The Guam leaf hut in the festival village in Honiara Solomon Islands is always a hub of activity with massive crowds huddling around to view the carving artwork/jewelry on display, video and digital photography along with the various demonstrations.
The Solomon Islands High Commissioner to Australia, Mr Beraki Jino.

Independence Celebrated in Canberra

Solomon Islanders living in the Australian Capital State, Canberra, had a really good time in commemorating the Solomon Island's 34th Independence Day over the weekend.
Local engineer, Lemuel Siosi explains the road works to Mr. Marles.

Bridges and Roads Receives Facelift

Australian Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs, Richard Marles says improving road infrastructure and maintaining roads and bridges is a critical part of Australia's development partnership with the Solomon Islands Government.

El Nino Likely by End of this Year - Big Cyclone Season Coming?

El Niño conditions can be expected across the Pacific region by the end of this year, according to the latest Island Climate Update issued today by the Pacific Island Meteorological Services, SPREP and NIWA.
The medical students in front of their new accommodation.

Accomodation Opens for Medical Students

New accommodation for medical students studying through the Fiji School of Medicine was opened at the National Referral Hospital by the Minister for Health and Medical Services, Charles Sigoto earlier this week.
Makira Province is one of the bigger Provinces of the Solomon Islands.

Axiom Expands to Makira

Axiom Mining Limited has expanded its operations from Isabel into San Cristobal, Makira and Guadalcanal in Solomon Islands.
Representatives of the Australian Government and SIFF members.

Solomon Islander Significant in "Just Play"

The OFC Just Play programme has reached a significant milestone with the announcement that 100,000 children from across the Pacific have now taken part in the highly-successful initiative.

Athletes Selected for Olympics

Four athletes will represent Solomon Islands at the Olympic Games in London, which begin later this month.

Hawaii Bids for 2020 Festival

Hawaii has officially presented its bid to host the thirteenth Festival of Pacific Arts and await formal endorsement at yesterday's Cultural Ministers' Meeting in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

Sikua Disappointed Over Lack of Organization

Solomon Islands Opposition Leader, Hon. Derek Sikua has expressed his disappointment over the failure of the organizing committee to avail an official programme for the 11th Festival of Pacific Arts.

Australia's Commitment Reaffirmed

Australia's enduring commitment to Solomon Islands has been reaffirmed during meetings in Honiara between Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Islands Affairs, Richard Marles and Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Gordon Darcy Lilo and Deputy Prime Minister, Manasseh Maelanga.
The Festival of Arts opening began on a high note, but the public remain outraged over the Master of Ceremony.

MC Creates Wide Outrage

The Solomon Islands Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet says it shares the concerns of the public over the behaviour of the Master of Ceremony for the Festival of Arts opening on Monday.
'Culture - Critically Important in Sustainable Development'

'Culture - Critically Important in Sustainable Development'

Thousands braved the sweltering heat for the very colourful and culturally charged opening of the 11th Festival of Pacific Arts in Honiara, Solomon Islands yesterday.

Festival to Bring More Recognition to Art

The Chairlady of the 11th Festival of Pacific Arts underway in Solomon Islands capital says she hopes the event will prompt the government to recognise the arts.

New Coins to be Introduced

This week, Solomon Islanders will be introduced to the much talked about coins.

Technical Fault Experienced at Opening

The power outage experienced at the opening of the Festival of Pacific Arts was said to have been a result of a technical problem.
Former Miss South Pacific, Ms. Sinahemana Hekau of Niue was also part of the participants.

Festival Opens on High Note

Honiara, Solomon Islands once again experienced another extravagant event last night at the official opening of the 11th Festival of Arts, at the Lawson Tama stadium.

Totori Gets New Contract

New Wellington Phoenix signing Benjamin Totori is confident he can handle the step up to the A-League and feels he will be able to cope with the physical nature of the competition, the only fully professional league in this part of the world.

Understanding Gender Roles to Reduce Climate Change Vulnerability

A training workshop on gender and climate change was conducted in Suva, Fiji, from 20 to 22 June 2012.

Violence Free Campaign Begins

Stopping violence against women and girls will be the focus of a campaign during the two week Arts Festival which gets under way in Honiara next week.
The Australian delegation at the Australian High Commission residence.

Australian Delegation Arrives for Festival

Visiting Australian Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs, Richard Marles officially welcomed the Australian delegation to the Festival of Pacific Arts who are taking part in the two week festival in Honiara.
The Solomon Islands village within the Festival of Arts village in Panatina.

Festival Village Remains Main Attraction

The excitement continues to build in the air as more and more people begin to flood Honiara from the Province and overseas.
The New Zealand delegation pulls their Vaka ashore as the crowd looks on.

Week Begins with a Blast

At about 3am this morning, Honiara woke up to the sounds of fireworks to welcome the arrival of the Regional "Vakas" from the region and the Tomokos (war canoes) from the Western Province.
SPC Hosts Regional Consultation on Plant Protection and Quarantine

SPC Hosts Regional Consultation on Plant Protection and Quarantine

Heads of plant protection and quarantine from across the Pacific are this week meeting in Nadi to discuss plant protection issues relating to quarantine and trade.

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