UN told to act on Climate Change

Islands States from the Pacific and Caribbean took to the podium of the United Nations General Assembly, Thursday, to call for urgent action on climate change, with one leader warning that their people and culture face “potential genocide” from rising seas. “I speak as an islander who has walked the shores of many atoll islands,…

AWPA condemns Papua shooting

The Australia West Papua Association (AWPA) condemns the shooting of two high school students in Timika on Monday the 28 September by the Indonesian security forces. The incident occurred around 19.30hrs. Caleb Bagau, aged 18, died while his friend Efrando Sabarofek, aged 17, was wounded in the chest and legs. He is receiving treatment at…

NZ television crew features West Papua

Māori Television’s Native Affairs story on West Papua was the first New Zealand television crew allowed into the Indonesian-ruled Melanesian region in 50 years. Given Indonesia’s strict policy on allowing access to foreign journalists, reporter Adrian Stevanon said their trip was a sign of change. “I think the achievement is that we are able to…

EU lifts yellow card on PNG

The European Commission has  confirmed its zero tolerance policy against illegal fishing worldwide by warning the Comoros and Taiwan that they risk being identified as uncooperative countriesin the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. At the same time, the Commission is lifting the yellow cards from Ghana and Papua New Guinea, which have…

Sogavare urges UN to address West Papua

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has called on the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council to do more in investigating and monitoring allegations of human rights abuse and violations in the Papua and West Papua regions of Indonesia. Sogavare made the call in New York Thursday in his address at the 70th Session of the United…

Boso told: You are not above the law

A MAGISTRATE on Friday hit out at a permanent secretary, describing her behaviour as “wayward” and acting as “someone who is above the law”. Chief Magistrate Emmanuel Kouhota delivered the hard-hitting indictment when imposing a four month suspended sentence on the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Rural Development, Selina Boso. Boso was earlier found…

Two Fijian cops to serve here

THE country’s High Commissioner to Fiji, Patteson Oti, yesterday briefed two officers from the Fiji Police force who will be posted here under RAMSI. The briefing, which focussed on “About Solomon Islands”, took place at the High Commission office in Suva in the presence of the Senior Superintendent of Fiji Police and the Director for…

New guidelines to address climate change

CLIMATE change is a particular threat to island nations thus effective adaptation is vital.  Melanesia Director for Wildlife Conservation Society Stacy Jupiter said a new analysis examines current adaptation measures in tropical Oceania had identifies guidelines for implementing resilient, ecosystem-based adaptation. Among its recommendations she said local communities should be fully involved in planning adaptation…

Police chief discloses issues of concern

POLICE Commissioner Frank Prendergast has disclosed the policing priority areas for the remaining months of this year. These include keeping a close eye on family-based violence and gender based violence. These two, Mr Prendergast said, take place daily and has affected families in the country. The commissioner also highlight that policing alcohol and anti social…

CBSI declares monetary policy stance

THE GOVERNOR of Central Bank Denton Rarawa says CBSI monetary policy stance for the next six months will remain accommodative as recent economic developments and near term macro projections remain favourable for supporting growth. The stance came following a Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) Board of Directors meeting on Thursday. Acknowledging that economic growth…