Solomon Islands

Mose Commissioned as Ambassador to three EU countries

Mose is also the Solomon Islands High Commissioner to Great Britain.

Ambassador Mose acknowledged the Solomon Islands Government for having the trust and confidence in him to take up additional responsibilities to represent the interest of Solomon Islands in the countries he is accredited to.

Mose said the interests of Solomon Islands on international and bilateral issues are integral to Solomon Islands which he is committed to accomplish during his term in office.

Solomon Islands fisheries officers receives new outfit

The uniforms which included overall suits, boots and caps will be worn when carrying out their duties.

The assistance was made possible by Pete Southern from the Ministry of Primary Industries in New Zealand who initiated the process to procure the uniforms.

A similar assistance was received in 2013.

“In 2013 we received eight pairs of overall suits, boots and caps funded by the New Zealand Government and it was Pete Southern who organized them for us,” said Chief Fisheries Officer Charles Tobasala.

Solomon Islands submits membership application to INTERPOL

INTERPOL is a global police organisation whose mission is to enable Police around the world to work together to prevent and fight international crime.  The Organisation offers police a high-tech infrastructure of technical and operational support to meet the growing challenges posed by criminals and crimes that increasingly move across borders, both physically and virtually.

During the visit, the Solomon Islands delegation which included the Permanent Secretary Edmond Sikua and Police Commissioner Frank Prendergast attended a range of high level briefings from INTERPOL staff.

Solomon Islands Government fulfils its committment

The computers will boost the University’s ICT facilities and will increase access by students to Information and Communication technology services.

Handing over the new facility to the University, Minister of Education and Human Resources Development, Dr Derek Sikua said the ceremony highlights the Government’s commitment to the university in line with its policy to increase student’s access to ICT services.

Solomons police to train as UN peacekeepers

The UN is increasingly turning to the Melanesian countries to help maintain peace around the world, with police from Vanuatu and police and soldiers from Fiji involved, while Papua New Guinea is also preparing personnel.

And by early next year Solomons' officers expect to be involved.

The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force commander, Frank Prendergast, says the capacity building since the years of civil unrest have got his staff to a stage where they are ready to undertake peace keeping work if required.

Quake hits Solomons

The quake's epicentre was located 214 kilometres west of Honiara at an estimated depth of 10 kilometres.

Residents in the capital who felt the quake say it was strong enough to shake larger buildings and was followed by mild aftershocks.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre says there was no threat of a tsunami from the off shore quake.

 

Solomons government pledges to build 5000 new homes

The Skyline Investment Group, through the Solomon Islands Development Corporation, is to build the new homes.

The special secretary to the Prime Minister, Rence Sore, says the project will start as early as next month, depending on how quickly the government can identify and allocate land for the project.

One of the proposed sites for the housing project is Baranamba on the outskirts of Honiara.

Mr Sore says phase two of the housing project will be in provincial centres.

Farmers trained on chocolate production

It was organised by the Adventist Disaster Relief Agency (ADRA) with support from Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Australian Government (DFAT) and Solomon Islands NGO Partnership Agreement (SINPA).

About 40 farmers mostly young farmers with few elderly ones from East Guadalcanal and Malaita Province are part of the training under an ADRA project called Youth Empowerment Livelihood Project (YELP).

Solomons government signs major road project

The Ministry of Infrastructure Development signed a $5.4 million US dollar contract with China Harbor Engineering Company, who will work in partnership with Solfish JV to build the Naro-Lambi Road Rehabilitation and Bridge Project.

While most road projects in the country are funded by donors, the permanent secretary of the department, Moses Virivolomo, says this project will be paid entirely by the government.

Chec and Solfish JV's representative, Ma Jinhua, told the government the company will complete the project within the budget and the time frame.

Five election petitions to be heard in Court

The election petitions are against the Kia-Hograno-Havulei Member of Parliament Jeremiah Manele, Northwest Guadalcanal MP Bodo Detkke, Fataleka MP Steve Abana, the Central Islands MP Bartholomew Parapolo, and the Member of Parliament for Temotu-Vatud Freda Comua.

The petitions were lodged by losing candidates in the National General elections last year.

A total of fifteen election petition were lodged after last year’s National General Elections, most of them citing bribery, treating and undue influence among their claims.