Latest News Archive October 2013

Climate Change Impacts Tracked by Satellite

Climate Change Impacts Tracked by Satellite

Sophisticated Satellite technology is now being used to track the impacts of climate change in one of the country’s most successful marine reserves.

New Toolkits Help Incorporate Gender Equality into Climate Change and Energy Projects

Pacific Gender and Climate Change Toolkits have been launched and are now available for use as part of a four week review.
"The Solomon Islands saw some of the fiercest fighting of World War II, so it is hardly surprising that a great deal of unexploded ordnance still litters many of the islands to this day," Mr Power explained.

WW2 Explosives to be Detonated Safely from Solomon Islands

World War 2 explosive remnants will be safely detonated from the Solomon Islands through Operation Render Safe to be conducted from Oct 29 to Dec 7 by 200 personnel from the Australian Defence Force, New Zealand Defence Force, United States Navy, Canada and Solomon Islands.
New research documents issues citizens face in accessing state and local justice systems to help provide an insight into problems experienced in contemporary rural Solomon Islands and how they are currently being addressed.

Pursuing Justice in Rural Solomon Islands

Imagine you have been living peacefully in a village for generations, growing food for your family in your garden, catching fish and accessing fresh water from a nearby spring.
The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (a protocol to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer) is an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of numerous substances believed to be responsible for ozone depletion.

Solomon Islands Hails Success of Montreal Protocol during Anniversary

Solomon Islands last week joined other members of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol Treaty to celebrate the Treaty’s 25th Anniversary in Thailand.

MET Predicts One Cyclone this Season

The Solomon Islands Meteorological Service has predicted a single tropical cyclone for Solomon Islands for the period between November 2013 and April 2014.
He also encouraged the reigning Ms Tema Wickham who was crowned Miss Solomon Islands last Saturday to work hard to ensure the Miss South Pacific Pageant crown does not leave our shores in December.

Government Pledges Support for Miss South Pacific Pageant

The National Government has pledged more support towards hosting the Miss South Pacific Pageant competition in Honiara in December.
The Director General of the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) Pacific Department, Xianbin Yao.

ADB Pacific Director General to Visit Solomon Islands

The Director General of the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) Pacific Department, Xianbin Yao, along with ADB's Regional Director, Andrea Iffland, will visit Honiara to meet with Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo and other senior government officials for discussions on ADB's support to Solomon Islands.
SIRIP 2, cofinanced by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Australia, New Zealand Aid Programme and the European Union was implemented across areas of Malaita, Western, Central, Isabel, Makira, and Guadalcanal provinces.

ADB Connects Communities through Better Roads

The completion of the North Malaita phase of the Solomon Islands Second Road Improvement Project (SIRIP2) marks the end of the final phase of the project that has reconnected local communities to clinics, markets and schools across six provinces in Solomon Islands.
Before RAMSI, Solomon Islands experienced years of ethnic tension where police guns were stolen and used by former militants.

RAMSI PPF Commander Speaks on Rearmament Plans

RAMSI's Participating Police Force (PPF) Commander Paul Osborne has told Radio Australia’s Pacific Beat that the plans to re-arm the police force will only be for three sections of the force.

Founder of SIDT Passes Away

Founder of the country's largest non government organisation and rural development specialist Dr John Roughan has passed away.

Fiji-Solomon Islands Establish Business Council

The recent increase in trade and commerce between Fiji and the Solomon Islands has seen the establishment of a Fiji – Solomon Islands Business Council.
Fiji Presidents courtesy call to PM this morning.

PM Commends Fiji on its New Constitution

The Prime Minister has applauded the Republic of Fiji for developing a new constitution that embraces the rights and existence of all races in Fiji.

Australian MP Highlights Success in Helping Solomon Islands

An Australian MP says the federal government is proud to have helped prevent neighbouring Solomon Islands from becoming failed state 10 years ago.

FIFA Takes Control of SIFF after Budget Bungle

FIFA and the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) have appointed a normalisation committee to take control of the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) after the federation's funding was put on hold whilst an investigation looks into poor accounting by the federation's administrators.
Both companies argue they each have the right to start mining rich veins of nickel bearing ore in Isabel.

Mining Rights for Isabel Nickel Goes to Court

A major court case in Solomon Islands is seeking to resolve a long-running dispute between Australian and Japanese companies over nickel rights on Santa Isabel Island.

PFF Calls on Fiji Media Authority to Pull Back from Extending Restrictions

PFF is alarmed at the extension by Fiji's media authority of restrictions on foreign media trainers, independent journalists and communications workers as a retrograde step in what at first appeared to be a positive move to engage the country’s media workers and owners.
In 2000, under the terms of the Townsville Peace Agreement, the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) launched its first gun amnesty. This aimed to collect and destroy between 2,640 and 3,520 illegally held, mass-manufactured small arms.

Cabinet Approves Limited Reintroduction of Firearms

Cabinet has approved a limited reintroduction of firearms into the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force.
Chief Magistrate Maina says they have been unsuccessful in the efforts to recruit new Magistrates because of the poor salary and working conditions.

Magistrates Court Faces Shortage of Judges

The Magistrates' Court is facing an acute shortage of judges, raising serious concerns particularly with the growing backlog of cases.
Solomon Breweries Limited’s contestant for this year’s Miss Solomon Crown, 23 year old Parnillar Teika.

Miss SolBrew Takes up the Charity Challenge

Solomon Breweries Limited’s contestant for this year’s Miss Solomon Crown, 23 year old Parnillar Teika is taking up the challenge to raise money for a new dormitory for San Isidro, a care centre for young people with disabilities.

PM Refutes Sikua’s Claims

Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo has categorically denied any involvement in the delay of the Western Provincial premier election.
The Director states that while such patterns could change, current modelling from expert groups abroad suggests that it could be much earlier than normal, and could be more severe.

Experts Warn Cyclone Season May Start Early

The cyclone season for this year may come earlier than expected, experts have warned.

Consultations on Business Name Registration in Solomon Islands Begins

Consultations begin today in Solomon Islands as part of the review of the Registration of Business Names Bill. The joint review by the Solomon Islands Government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) aims to modernize and improve the business name registration procedure in Solomon Islands.

Western Province Premier Elections to be Held before 30th October

In response to recent media reports questioning the delay of the election of the Premier of Western Province, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS), Mr. Stanley Dick Pirione, today said:

CBSI Issues First Banking Licence Under New Law

Central Bank has issued its first interim banking license to a Sri Lankan-owned company to operate the country's fourth commercial bank.
The iconic PETRONAS Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

PM Lilo Opens Malaysia Office

Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo has officially opened the Solomon Islands High Commission office in Kuala Lumpur, marking a new chapter in Malaysia-Solomon Islands bilateral relations.

Solomon Islands: Living With Disability and Disaster

This year 2013, the International Day for Disaster Reduction (IDDR) will be celebrated worldwide on the 13th of October, with the theme "Living with disability and disaster". Representing one-fifth of the world's population, persons living with disabilities have unique contributions, often overlooked, to help reduce the risk of disasters and build

BSP Expands Reach with Mobile Banking

Bank South Pacific (BSP) will this week target the southern and northern regions of Malaita in efforts to gain new customers for its mobile banking service in rural areas.
Many of the Guadalcanal battlefields are now part of the heavily populated capital of the Solomon Islands, Honiara, and building work is the main cause of modern discoveries of soldiers' remains.

Remains of WWII US Marines Unearthed During Home Renovations

The remains of three US Marines killed during the Pacific campaign of World War II have been found in the Solomon Islands.
Despite numerous efforts successive governments have not been able to get approval for the bill.

Government Plans to Reintroduce Integrity Bill Before Elections

The Solomon Islands Government is looking at re-introducing the Integrity Bill before next year's election, aimed at stopping members changing political allegiance mid-term.

PM Lilo in Taiwan for Double Ten Celebrations

Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo has arrived in Taipei for the Double Ten celebrations to a red-carpet welcome staged by the Republic of China Government.
Leaders and envoys of four Pacific Island nations enjoyed a one-hour informal meeting with leaders of APEC economies, thanks to the initiative of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, this year’s APEC chair.

Leaders of Pacific Nations Enjoy Rare Diplomatic Event

Indonesia’s effort to bring four tiny Pacific nations to the massive APEC arena has been widely appreciated.

RAMSI Enhances RSIPF’s Maritime Capability

RAMSI Acting Special Coordinator Justine Braithwaite, Acting Participating Policing Force (PPF) Commander Noel Scobell, and Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) Deputy Commissioner Walter Kola, today announced that 32 new police vessels have been gifted by the PPF to the RSIPF.

SIG and World Bank Sign Financing Agreement for US$2 Million

Today, the Solomon Islands Minister for Finance and Treasury, Rick Hou'enipwela signed a grant financing agreement with the World Bank for a US$2 million Development Policy Operation. The grant provides general budget support that is linked to important policy actions that government has undertaken.
 European Union Helps Boost Fiji's Bee Farming

European Union Helps Boost Fiji's Bee Farming

The European Union (EU) is helping develop bee farming in the Northern Division of Fiji by providing support to the Northern Bee Farmers Co-operative (NBFC), a local body set up to look after the welfare of bee farmers.
Mr Wale says it is important to stimulate constructive national debate on this vital topic and reflect honestly on the situation on the ground in rural Solomon Islands.

Wale Suggests Land Registration to be Under Tribal Name

Member of parliament for Aoke Langa Langa Matthew Wale has said government should consider registering land rights under tribal names and not tribal trustee names.
Academic Highlights Difficulties in Reviving the Rice Industry

Academic Highlights Difficulties in Reviving the Rice Industry

An academic from the Australian National University says the economic and climatic conditions in Solomon Islands will hamper any relaunch of the rice industry.
He says once the report is tabled in Parliament, the Government should already have a committee established to oversee the recommendations.

Government Establishes Committee to Implement TRC Recommendations

Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo says the Government is working towards establishing a committee to implement the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation report before tabling the report in Parliament.
Tidal gauges indicate the world's oceans have been rising at an annual rate of 3.2 millimetres (0.1 inches) since 1970. Many scientists expect that rate to accelerate and for climate change to trigger more intense storms, which may pose an even more pressing threat to many of the world's low-lying islands.

Kiribati Man Seeks Climate Change Refugee Status

A man from one of the lowest-lying nations on Earth is trying to convince New Zealand judges that he's a refugee - suffering not from persecution, but from climate change.

Jane Tozaka Wins Ward 10 Seat in North Vella la Vella

A female candidate has won the provincial seat for Ward 10 Irigila, North Vella la Vella in the Western Provincial Elections held on Monday.
John Fatnouna Kwailiu (seated, right) and family.

Queensland Families Return to Their Roots

Members of a Queensland family of Solomon Islands descent are returning to the home of their ancestors for a historic family reunion.
The drop was not just sudden, it was unexpected, and with historically high prices families in Honiara could now afford to have chicken for dinner, and not just on “special occasions.”

Chicken Wars and the Retail Cartel!

Imported poultry prices — primarily those of chicken wings and cuts — are marching south.
More than 29,000 farmers, in all 8 provinces, have received extension advice or training, in growing subsistence and commercial crops.

World Bank Approves Funding for Rural Based Projects

The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors approved today a US$3 million grant in additional financing for the Solomon Islands Rural Development Program (RDP), which will continue to support community-led projects for priority infrastructure and agriculture services in rural areas, including in the remote Outer Islands.
The police had initially confirmed two weeks ago that an investigation is being conducted into “a motor collision involving a senior officer on his way home,” but did not name Peter Aoranisaka.

PC Crash a Set up?

Civil society groups have alleged that the accident involving the Police Commissioner (PC) designate, Peter Aoranisaka, was in fact a set up.

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