Latest News Archive November 2016

Prime Minister Sogavare, centre and Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Hon Milner Tozaka, left end, with the new Solomon Islands High Commissioner to Australia, His Excellency Colin David Beck.

H.E Beck Heads Australian Mission

Prime Minister Hon Manasseh Sogavare today commissioned Solomon Islands new High Commissioner to Australia, His Excellency Colin David Beck.
Papuans holding a self-determination rally last week in Sentani, Papua, demanding that the government conducts an independence referendum for the province.

Solidarity Events Planned to mark Morning Star

It is now 55 years since the Morning Star flag was flown officially in West Papua for the first time on the 1 December 1961.
Thanks to the combination of a generous crowd and substantial contributions from local businesses, the Trivia Night raised over $30,000 for the SIAFL.

SIAFL Trivia Night raises over $30,000

The Solomon Islands Australia Football League (SIAFL) Trivia Night was a complete success.
According to the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), the region can expect eight to 10 tropical cyclones this season, compared with 18 last season.

Tropical Low Moves across Solomon Islands

Torrential downpour in the capital Honiara is linked to a tropical low about 600 kilometres west-southwest of Rennell, and is moving southeast.
The Democratic Alliance Party (DAP) has kicked off its preparations for the National General Elections in 2018.

DAP Prepares for 2018 Elections

The Democratic Alliance Party (DAP) has kicked off its preparations for the National General Elections in 2018.
The Party Wing Leader said the Party has proposed to take on the idea of legislating the country’s major investments and developments to protect them from political mismanagement.

DAP Proposes To Legislate National Projects

The Democratic Alliance Party (DAP) has proposed to pursue proper and appropriate legislation that would provide a strong regulatory environment that give confidence and trust in public institutions.
ADB has supported a number of SOE reform initiatives in Solomon Islands, including the privatizations of Sasape Marina, Home Finance Limited, and Solomon Island Printers, as well as the implementation of a community service obligation framework.

Reforms See Improvement in Solomon Islands SOEs: ADB Report

Reforms to Solomon Islands’ state-owned enterprises (SOEs) have led to a dramatic improvement in their performance, according to an Asian Development Bank (ADB) report presented in Honiara today.

Vehicle Owners Warned of Faulty Parts

A taxi fleet owner is calling on the police to investigate suppliers of faulty vehicle parts after receiving numerous complaints from his taxi drivers.
The project is part of a broader program by Solomon Power to expand electricity access to rural communities through renewable energy-based grids, according to ADB.

Solar Power Development Project for Solomon Islands

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on November 22 approved financing to support the Government of Solomon Islands and Solomon Power to convert electricity networks in five provinces almost entirely to solar power.
The online service will dramatically reduce the time needed to apply for a foreign investment certificate.

Online Registry Facilitates Foreign and Local Business Investment in Solomon Islands

Applications for foreign investment licenses and business name registrations can now be lodged online and processed in 24 hours thanks to upgrades to Solomon Islands’ business registry.
The PSO “Green Hornets” volleyball team after a hard fought victory. From left to right, back row: Clancy Dane, Daniel Kwalai, Tina Haro, Kathleen Kohata, Ethel Ratu, Lazarus Waroka, Martha Manaka. Front: Wesley Ramo, Peter Herehura, Leonard Chite.

For the Love of the Law and Life in the Solomon Islands

Only the very lucky can say that they do what they love and have new adventures almost every day. The rare opportunity to live this sort of life was presented to Clancy Dane when he took on a volunteer position at the Public Solicitor’s Office (PSO) in Honiara on 7 June 2016.
The power house at the Lungga Power Station in the Solomon Islands. MAN Diesel & Turbo delivered four 9L27/38 diesel generator sets for the power project.

Solomon Power Completes Construction of New Power Station

Solomon Power has recently completed construction of a new power house station in Lungga, East of Honiara.
NZ Inspector Kai Shao.

Asian Community in Tonga Concerned over Increase in Targeted Offences

A community initiative by Tonga Police to strengthen its relationship with the local Asian community, brought a New Zealand Police Asian Liaison Officer to Tonga last week.
“Like the Prime Minister I too am excited about the prospects that PPP can offer our country,” he said in his remarks at the occasion.

Finance Minister Upbeat about PPP Prospects

Minister for Finance and Treasury, Hon Snyder Rini, has expressed excitement about the prospects of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) concept which the Government is working to introduce across the Public Service to complement the existing method of public procurement.
The Lyon-based Interpol currently has 190 member countries, enabling police across the globe to share information.

Interpol Suspends Solomon Islands Membership Application

Interpol has passed a resolution to suspend Solomon Islands application to join the international police organization, pending a study reviewing the process established for Interpol membership.
St Barbara Limited: Simberi.

St Barbara Maintains PNG Assets, JV with Newcrest

Gold miner St Barbara Gold has decided to retain its Simberi operations, in Papua New Guinea, following a strategic review.
Solomon Islands Minister of Communication and Aviation, the Hon. Peter Shanel Agovaka (left front) and Republic of Kiribati Minister of Information, Communication, Transport and Tourism Development, the Hon. Willie Tokataake.

Solomon Islands and Kiribati Conclude New Air Service Agreement

The Solomon Islands and Republic of Kiribati have reached agreement for a new Air Service Agreement (ASA) and Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two countries.
Some market analysts are even more concerned, forecasting a cocoa surplus of 250,000 tonnes for the 2016-2017 harvest.

Local Cocoa Farmers Concerned With Plunging Prices

Local cocoa farmers are concerned - and they have good reasons to be - prices have plunged to three-year lows as international buyers continued to weigh supply/demand forces ahead of the crucial harvest season.
Pharmacist Jakob with Counsellor Melissa Stutsel at the Kirakira Hospital Pharmacy.

Medicine Delivery on the Rise in Rural Solomon Islands

Providing health care in rural and remote parts of the Solomon Islands is not without challenges, but the staff of Kirakira Hospital and Kaonasugu clinic in North Makira, with support of the Australian Government, are taking the challenge head-on.

Dr. Sikua Congratulates Government On Pacific Games Bill

Leader of the Independent Group in Parliament, Hon Derek Sikua has congratulated the Government for urgently putting together a bill for the 2023 Pacific Games which Solomon Islands won the bid to host in May this year.
Anke with students in one of her communication skills lesson.

Don Bosco Benefitting From Australian Volunteers

Australia Day 2016 saw Andrew and Anke MacLean arrive in Solomon Islands, ready to begin their 18-month-long volunteer assignments at the Don Bosco Technical Institute in Henderson. Anke works with the Communications Department, whilst Andrew is mentoring a range of teachers and supporting the principal.
Parliamentary Members of the United Democratic Party maintained that the purported revocation of the Prime Minister’s membership of the Party does not disqualify him from being a legitimate Member of the UDP or to act in the capacity of Prime Minister.

UDP Members Reject Party President Actions

Parliamentary Members of the United Democratic Party (UDP) have rejected the decision taken by their Party President Sir Thomas Chan, describing his actions as misguided and wrong in revoking UDP Membership of the Prime Minister Hon. Manasseh Sogavare.

PNG Vows to Probe Disappearance of 16 Indonesians

The government of Papua New Guinea has pledged to look into the disappearance of 16 Indonesian nationals who entered the neighbouring country during 2014 and 2015, an official said.
DCCG Caucus Maintains Strong Support for Sogavare’s Leadership

DCCG Caucus Maintains Strong Support for Sogavare’s Leadership

Prime Minister Sogavare and members of the Caucus at their meeting today which saw the expression of continued strong support by Caucus for Sogavare’s leadership.
The Australian Government provides budget support to the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development to support the achievement of results under the National Education Action Plan. Part of this support goes to school infrastructure development.

Australia Investing in Education Infrastructure

Representatives from the Australian High Commission in Honiara visited Campbell School in Kirakira recently to see first-hand the school’s brand new science and industrial design classrooms.

Red Cross Helps Solomon Islands Combat Dengue Outbreak

The Solomon Islands Red Cross Society is gearing up to support the Solomon Islands government to contain an outbreak of dengue fever, which has already killed one person and thought to have infected more than 1,700 others.

Sogavare Sacked From His Party

The Island Sun has obtained exclusive access to a letter written by United Democratic Party’s (UDP) President, Sir Tommy Chan, revoking Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare's membership in the Party.
The Opposition Group says the Prime Minister has been ill-advised on this important issue, which will not only worsen the cause for West Papua but also hurt Solomon Islands.

Opposition Urge PM to Reassess Approach on West Papua

The Parliamentary Opposition Group has urged the Prime Minister and his Government to reassess its approach on the issue of West Papua with Indonesia.
Western Province’s South Fly MP Aide Ganasi died at the Pacific International Hospital in Port Moresby according to political aides.

PNG Parliament Deputy Speaker and South Fly MP Aide Ganasi dies

The Deputy Speaker of the Papua New Guinea National Parliament died this morning in a private hospital.
Tauhiti Keck's 53rd-minute free-kick proved decisive.

Solomon Islands Loses to Tahiti as OFC’s Third Stage Kicks off

Tahiti have made a winning start to the third stage of OFC’s 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia qualifiers by eking out a narrow 1-0 victory over Solomon Islands.
Mr Brazier is a career public servant and was most recently seconded as Deputy Director-General to the Office of National Assessments (ONA), a position he held since 2014.

Australian High Commissioner to Solomon Islands Named

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has formally announced the appointment of Mr Roderick Brazier as Australia’s next High Commissioner to Solomon Islands.

Tragedy Strikes Quite Neighbourhood

Mbumburu residents are shocked by news that a man and his partner were found dead in their one bedroom unit by neighbours.
Solomon Islands will be returning for the second successive year to compete in the 2017 FFA National Futsal Championships to be held in Sydney in early January.

National Heroes Returning to FFA Futsal Championships in 2017

They were dubbed the team of the tournament, the tiny but proud Pacific Island country, the Solomon Islands will be returning for the second successive year to compete in the 2017 FFA National Futsal Championships to be held in Sydney in early January.
A statement from LMU strongly discourages people from paying money to any self claimed recruitment agent apart from the licensed agents approved by the LMU.

Beware of Bogus Recruitment Agents: LMU

The Solomon Islands Government through its Labour Mobility Unit (LMU) is warning locals to be vigilant against fake recruitment agents who promised to arrange seasonal jobs in Australia and New Zealand.
Minister Tome, sitting at the centre, with the Provincial Premiers at the welcome function.

Summit Looks at Adoption of Federal Constitution in Solomon Islands

Minister for Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening, Hon David Tome said matters of discussion at the one-day summit between the Prime Minister and Provincial Premiers will assist in hastening the proposed adoption of a Federal Constitution.
While the visitation figures, all recorded at Honiara International Airport, are extremely encouraging, Mr Tuamoto drew strong reference to the Solomon Islands’ ever-increasing positioning on the international cruise scene which so far this year has seen 10 major vessels entering Solomon Islands’ waters.

Record Numbers Projected for Solomon Islands Tourist Arrivals

A strong increase in international visitor arrivals in August, a bumper Australian performance and a major upturn in the destination’s ever-building positioning as a new and exciting cruise destination has helped Solomon Islands tourism stay on track for what is shaping up to be one of its best years in recent times.

Price of Fuel Falls

Good news for vehicle owners, the average fuel price in Honiara fell further by 27 cents to $7.53 per litre from $7.80 per litre in the previous month.

We Will Respond Through Diplomatic Channels: Horoi

The Solomon Islands Special Envoy to West Papua says that the government will only respond to what has been said in the media through proper diplomatic channels.
Despite such fluctuations the worldwide appetite for chocolate is expected to increase cocoa demand by 30% in 2020.

Price of Cocoa Drops While Palm Oil Rises

Recent monthly commodity prices for cocoa and palm oil shows a slight drop in cocoa and a rise in the price of palm oil.
This is in light of reports that the Government is currently facing a serious cash flow problem.

Opposition Urges Finance Minister to Clarify Cash Flow Problem

The Parliamentary Opposition Group has strongly urged the Minister of Finance to inform the nation of the country’s cash flow situation.
The treasure was believed to come from a Japanese cargo ship that had long been the subject of a search.

Government Co-sponsors Treasure Hunt

The Government has reportedly paid SBD$500,000 for a treasure hunt led by Dr Reginald Apia.
“Why is it that the people stopped for 2,000 years?” said Dr. Montenegro. “Clearly they were interested and capable. Why did they stop after having great success for a great time?”

Reseachers Answer 2,000 Year Gap in Ancient Pacific Exploration

Some 3,400 years ago, before the Iron Age or the rise of Ancient Greece, people on the Solomon Islands left their white sandy shores for the cerulean seas of the South Pacific. Their adventures brought humanity to the most remote reaches of Oceania, like the tropical islands of Hawaii, Tonga and Fiji.
Health Authorities Urge Honiara Residents to Clean Surroundings

Health Authorities Urge Honiara Residents to Clean Surroundings

The Solomon Islands Ministry of Health and Medical Services have urged residents in Honiara to clean surrounding areas as the monsoon season approaches.
He said that it is a pity that Australia does not follow the Pacific leaders in also condemning the ongoing human rights abuses committed by the Indonesian Military.

Australian Activist Speaks Out Against Jakarta Request

Leader of the Australian West Papua Association (Sydney) (AWPA), Joe Collins, has spoken out against reports that Jakarta has requested Australia to pass on a message to the Solomon Islands to refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of Indonesia.
“I will use this opportunity to raise issues affecting our young women,” she said.

Camilla Grossmith Crowned Miss Solomon Islands

23 year old Camilla Grossmith has been crowned the new Miss Solomon Islands 2016-2017.

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