Journos urged to advocate in mine watch

Foreign miners are digging deep into our land while local journalists are not digging enough stories says an environmental activist. PNG’s mine watch organization ‘Bismarck Ramu Group’ networking coordinator Rosa Koian during an exclusive interview last week urged journalists in Solomon Islands to actively participate and acquire know-how basis about mining operations. Concentration of mining…

Call for more financial expo

The deputy premier of Renbel province has commended the two days financial expo held in Honiara last week and suggested that such event be organized every month. Kusol Tepuke made this remarks when he visited the expo on Friday. He said the expo is an excellent initiative to pass vital financial information to people who…

Marine gets tough

Seafarers without qualified safety training warned to vacate ship The Solomon Island maritime division is taking tough measures against seafarers who are working in inter-island vessels without any marine basic safety certificate (MBSC). Those found without any qualification will be asked to vacate the boats. Marine principal officer Kendol Boso made this strong reminder in…

Rising tourism in the Pacific

Pacific tourism is in the news again. The South Pacific Tourism Organization (SPTO) released this week its latest estimate of tourist arrivals. The number of tourists who flocked to Pacific island countries (PICs) last year is 1.7 million. The figure for the previous year is 1.5 million. Certainly, tourism to the Pacific is on the…

Foreign aid and growth

Last week’s visit to Fiji by Australia’s foreign minister, Ms. Bishop has raised hopes of return to normalcy in bilateral relations between the two countries. The visit has been fruitful in many ways: Fiji has been added to the list of Pacific island countries (PICs), which are eligible for Australia’s Pacific Seasonal Workers Program. This…

SIVB supports yacht festival with $10k

Rodrick Bay Hideaway has thanked Solomon Island Visitors Bureau (SIVB) for its support towards the preparation of the up-coming yacht festival. To be hosted by Rodrick Bay Hideaway, it would run from 27th -30th of June. SIVB upon request from Rodrick Bay Hideaway donated $10,000 towards preparation of the event. Further funding support will be…

Tourism operators reconcile

Two tourism operators in Florida Island, Central Island province last Tuesday have settled their past differences through a reconciliation ceremony. The reconciliation took place during a weeklong tourism inspections and evaluation by officials from the Green Tourism SI Ltd. The reconciliation was held between directors of Pota Sauragi Eco Lodge, Pota Sagupari and Taupuipui Island…

Assessment of eco-tourism on Florida Islands completed

Green Tourism Solomon Island Ltd has successfully completed its week-long evaluation and inspection of four (4) eco-tourism properties on Florida Island, Central Island province last week. The evaluation and inspection was conducted at four eco-tourism properties namely Roderick Bay Hideaway, Roderick Bay Beach Resort, Pota Saurangi Eco-Lodge, and Tapuipui Island Resort. The inspection started off…