Solomon Islands

The current Minister of Communication and Aviation, Commins Mewa, is to take the role of Minister of Police, National Security and Correctional Services, now held by Peter Shanel Agovaka.

In August three ministers were moved and in May another two swaps were made in the Cabinet, which was first formed just 9 months ago.

Last Monday Minister Bartholomew Parapolo and his PS Vaeno Vigulu visited Asia Pacific Investment Development Ltd’s (APID) agro forestry on Rennell Island without informing the Premier and his executive.

This has led to Premier Singamoana questioning the visit because there was no courtesy call made to his office.

He said, as the head of the provincial government, he was embarrassed and humiliated because no communication was made to his office of the visit. Also, there was no courtesy to call at his office at Tigoa provincial headquarter.

People with Disability Solomon Islands made the call during a meeting with prime minister Manasseh Sogavare last week ahead of his upcoming trip to New York for the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

The organisation's president Casper Faasala says people living with disability in Solomon Islands are marginalised and have limited access to basic services like education, healthcare and clean water.

Mr Faasala believes ratifying the convention would mainstream ongoing work to make a more inclusive society for people with disabilities.

James Apaniai says it is common knowledge the appointment of customary landowner trustees often sparks disputes over logging operations.

Mr Apaniai says many of these disputes end up in the courts and the government needs to reform the appointment process.

He says disputes over logging operations that go before the courts revolve around disagreements between customary landowner trustees or trustees and tribes.

The Ministry of Forests and Research is currently drafting changes to the Forestry Resource and Timber Utilisation Act.

This comes as the country's tiny industry works to expand cruise ship business by improving infrastructure and developing cultural experience for visitors.

The chair of the tourism board Wilson Ne'e says he believes Solomon Islands has a lot to offer travellers, but operators should stop trying to compare themselves with well established competitors.

Mr Ne'e says work is underway to improve berthing facilities in Honiara in anticipation of a huge spike in the number of cruise ship visits next year.

The Commission's Chairman, Francis Luza, says leaders are being reminded to draw the line between official and personal interests.

He says leaders must be guided by law and not allow personal business interests to undermine their official tasks of looking after their public offices, adding they are not above the law.

Mr Luza made the reminder while addressing newly appointed Permanent Secretaries in Honiara.

He says the Leadership Code Commission has an important task of safeguarding leaders who must declare their financial affairs.

Bank of South Pacific (BSP) is working closely with the Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) to obtain the necessary approvals and discussions with the CBSI have been positive and have well-progressed.

This was revealed in a statement by BSP Group chairman Kostas Constantinou.

He says BSP is confident for a positive conclusion of the new application that is before the CBSI to allow the transaction to proceed shortly thereafter.

Solomon Islands Mission coordinator Pastor Irving Vagha says there are just three Seventh Day Adventists on the far eastern island of Anuta

Recently they built a small church against the wishes of the island's chief, who then demanded they pull it down and has ordered them to leave the predominantly Anglican island.

Pastor Vagha says the president of the church is trying to meet with his Anglican counterpart to find some resolution.

Mr Parapolo says the measure is part of the government's crackdown on illegal logging operations.

He says he is very concerned about the level of allegedly illegal logging but says at the moment there is no way of verifying reports of illegal activity.

Mr Parapolo says the government will work with the Forest Association to track down illegal operators.

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) are inviting cultural enterprises in the crafts, visual arts and fashion sectors from Fiji, Samoa and Solomon Islands to apply for funded participation at the popular tradeshow which attracted over 30,000 buyers from over 80 countries this year.