Solomon Islands

Maelanga met with Honiara Rugby Union today.

He also endorsed the government’s support to the Honiara Rugby Union Association as hosts for the teams touring from Nauru this April.

Honiara Rugby President Carlywn Tengemoana and Vice President James Billy along with HRUA Secretary Nolan Teika were very happy with the meeting and support given to them.

Arrangements for this inaugural invitational Rugby Tour to the Solomon Islands are well on track in Honiara with HRUA President Carlwyn Tengemoana and his team and the excitement is building.

PT&I’s Pacific Path to Market adopts a structured approach to helping exporters investigate new markets for their products.

 Pasifika is the 3rd stage of the PT&I Pacific Path to Market programme giving businesses an introduction to the New Zealand market.

KPSI will showcase its star product – Organic certified, Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) and 100% coconut oil soaps.

Cathliro Commodities Development Limited (CCDL) is attending Auckland’s Pasifika Festival under the Pacific Islands Trade & Invest (PT&I) Pacific Path to Market programme.

PT&I hosted its Pacific Path to Market programme in the Solomon Islands last year and from the workshops identified a group of companies capable of exporting to New Zealand.

CCDL is a cocoa producing company, locally owned and managed by Diana Yates.   The company has been in operation for 6 years.  It has 30 employees. Its main business activity is exporting cocoa beans to Malaysia.

Rehabilitating the mine, which was abandoned by its last owner St Barbara in April 2014 after massive flooding, is a gargantuan task which includes the reconstruction of washed out roads and bridges to restore access to the mine.

However, work has been delayed by a falling out between the ministry of mines and the minority shareholding landowners company, Guadalcanal Community Investments Ltd.

Its chairperson, Walter Naezon, said this resulted in the mines minister cancelling their mining lease last year.

He told Mr McCully crop farmers could export cassava, taro, yam, panna and kava.

At the moment the crops go mainly to the domestic market.

Mr Sogavare said New Zealand had a ready market with its large population of Pacific Islanders.

He pointed out that Samoa, Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu were already able to export taro and kava to New Zealand.

Mr McCully said he will raise the request but said the bio-security arrangements between the two countries would need to be secured first.

The bill is being debated in parliament and the minister, Tautai Kaitu'u, said the country had to deal head on with the breakdown of the traditional support structure and abuse within families.

He said this was something that affects only a few Solomons families but the bill would allow for a legal framework for welfare division officers, giving them the power to assist struggling families.

Dr Kaitu'u said he believed families would back the move because in consultations on the bill in the villages it drew strong support.

The orientation sessions at APTC campuses in Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu on January 16 and 17, provided valuable information to new students on APTC facilities, student support services, regulations, and their responsibilities.

APTC is an innovative development program funded by the Australian Government, delivering internationally-recognised Australian skills and qualifications for a wide range of vocational careers for skilled workers across the Pacific.

Under the arrangement K-Water, the Korean government corporation for water and hydropower, will form a joint venture with the Solomons government's commercial arm, the Investment Corporation of Solomon Islands.

K-Water has engaged specialist financial, technical and legal advisors for support in finalising Project Company arrangements.

Photo: Tina River Hydro Project Tina River in Solomon Islands. 

The Solomon Star says this information was revealed in Parliament by the Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare when questioned by the leader of the opposition, Jeremiah Manele.

Mr Sogavare also said the country has spent $US1.9 million dollars on political appointees in the past two years.

That money covered income and overseas travel expenses for the 57 political appointees - the highest number ever employed by a Solomons government.

Photo: RNZI Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare 

 A parade to welcome Matthew Varley and farewell outgoing commissioner Frank Prendergast, who is also a former AFP officer, will be held on Wednesday afternoon at the Rove Police Grounds in Honiara.

The Island Sun newspaper reports Matthew Varley is the most senior ranking AFP officer to take charge of the RSIPF.

However the paper says it is unclear whether the role was advertised or whether Mr Varley was hand-picked for the country's top policing role.