Solomon Islands

Solomons to make solar panels - a Pacific first

The Taiwanese ambassador to Solomon Islands, Roger Luo, told the audience that leading Taiwanese solar manufacturer, Speedtech, would set up a solar panel factory in Honiara early next year.

The Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation reported him saying the arrangement followed a request by prime minister Manaseh Sogavare during a state visit to Taiwan last year.

Mr Luo said the factory would make the Solomon Islands the first country in the Pacific to manufacture solar panels.

First female dive instructor from Solomon Islands

Zaza Bedford is from Munda, Western Province and New Zealand and is part of the Dive Munda scuba diving centre.

The 19-year-old qualified through Scuba Schools International and can work worldwide as an instructor.

Operations manager of Dive Munda Belinda Botha said she had been grooming Ms Bedford as an instructor for the last 18 months.

"Zaza came to me, 18 years old, just fresh out of school and never dived before," said Ms Botha.

"It was first of all getting her comfortable in the water and luckily it was her passion as well," she said.

Solomons needs to create 10000 jobs a year - Chamber

The chair of the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry is calling on the government and the private sector to focus on creating 10,000 jobs a year to keep up with a rapidly growing population.

Jay Bartlett said 70 percent of Solomon Islanders are under 30 and the country's main focus should be on creating jobs.

Growing at the current rate of 2.3 percent, the population of about 650,000 is forecast to double by 2050.

According to the World Bank, Solomon Islands had the highest rate of unemployment in the world at 31.4 percent in 2016.

Sacked Solomon Islands government minister recalled as Deputy Speaker of Parliament

Mr Pacha was relieved from his duty over allegations of having a secret meeting with a mining company executive late at night at a hotel car park.

He was elected unopposed to the post when the Parliament resumed yesterday.

Pacha and the Member of Parliament for East Fataleka, Steve Abana were the two nominees for the position but the latter withdrew candidacy before the Parliament resumed yesterday.

‘Vietnamese Blue Boats’ to be destroyed soon

The company signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources last Friday to destroy the vessels within four weeks of the signing.

Fisheriey Director Edward Honiwala and representative of Iona Firi Properties Limited, Wale Tobata

Mr Honiwala said the decision to destroy the boats is in line with the High Court’s decision because the boats have failed to pass their sea worthiness examination as confirmed by the Solomon Islands Maritime Safety Administration.

Three people die in boating accident in Solomons

The Solomon Star reports eight people were returning from a funeral on Saturday when the boat they were travelling in capsized in rough seas in north east Malaita.

The five people who survived had been rescued by a World Vision boat stationed at Kwai Island following an emergency rescue call.

Three bodies were recovered over the weekend.

 

Photo: Biosphoto / Minden Pictures / Chris Newbert

More mining companies interested in Solomon Islands

One of them is Sunshine Minerals while two others are yet to confirm.

Sunshine Minerals has been granted a letter of intent by the Solomon Islands Ministry of Mines for its application for a prospecting licence over the Jejevo deposit in Isabel province and a prospecting licence is expected to be issued in due course.

The current mining company which still has interest is Axiom, despite not being granted the rights over the International Tender Areas after a legal battle with SMM.

Solomon Football squad remains focussed for All Whites

Assistant Coach Stanley Waita says they want to keep the team together and remain focussed for their game against an experienced All Whites.

When asked about their chances of making history against the All Whites, he said they have to believe in themselves.

“We have to believe in ourselves and take one game at a time,” Waita said.

Solomon Islands recently named its final squad with the inclusion of four new players who will make their debut in the international match.

The new players are Clement Baegani, Clifton Aumae, Andrew Raragia.

Solomons fishing industry gets $US10m boost

The loan will go towards a new fishing vessel for the company National Fisheries Developments and maintenance of its fleet in Noro.

The IFC's Tom Jacobs said the loan would promote sustainable fishing and employment in the Solomons.

"What we're trying to do with our investment is to promote livelihoods, sustainable livelihoods, for Solomon Islanders and help contribute to the security and sort of equity in the country," Mr Jacobs said.

"And by doing so really help bring some enhanced standards to the operation of the fisheries sector in the country."

Fourth Pacific Met Council meeting opens in Honiara

Solomon Islands’ Minister for Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology, Honourable, Samuel Manetoali welcomed the 170 delegates of the 4th PMC.

In his welcoming address he spoke about the vulnerability of Solomon Islands to the impacts of climate change and climate variability, and highlighted the important work of his country’s National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHS).