Latest News Archive October 2013
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Cabinet Approves Limited Reintroduction of Firearms
Cabinet has approved a limited reintroduction of firearms into the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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
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.
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
An academic from the Australian National University says the economic and climatic conditions in Solomon Islands will hamper any relaunch of the rice industry.
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.
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.
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.
Chicken Wars and the Retail Cartel!
Imported poultry prices — primarily those of chicken wings and cuts — are marching south.
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.
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.