Strong start in PALM recruitment

Over 8,300 Solomon Islanders have to date worked in Australia under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, and this year looks set to be another successful year. Sixty-two PALM workers attended the first pre-departure briefing for 2025 last week. The group included 37 new participants and 25 returned workers, who were looking forward to…

New IE trans-Tasman development hailed

Tourism Solomons has applauded Solomon Airlines following its announcement this week to commence a weekly trans-Tasman service between Auckland and Brisbane, Acting CEO, Dagnal Dereveke describing the move as, potentially, one of the biggest developments for the country’s tourism sector in recent years. Scheduled to operate as a return service between Auckland and Brisbane every…

Gizo/Kolo constituency office delivers income generating projects

The Gizo-Kolombangara Constituency (GKC) has officially launched its 2024 Rural Development Program last week. This followed the Constituency’s Development Committee (CDC) meeting and approval of all community-based projects on December 30, 2024, paving the way for project implementation. These community-based projects were submitted under the Resource and Productive Sectors by the Community Sub-Development Committees (CSDC).…

GRML downplays KLA’s opposition

GOLD Ridge Mining Limited (GRML) has downplayed Keohoto Landowners Association (KLA)’s stand against prospecting on Mount Vunusa in Central Guadalcanal.  KLA opposed GRML from carrying out future prospecting on the land after the Mines and Mineral Board cancelled its prospecting license over the land. However, a Chief and Director of GRML Walton Naezon stated that…

Solomon Airlines to start Australia-NZ flights

Solomons national carrier – Solomon Airlines (IE, Honiara) will begin operating on the Auckland International-Brisbane International city pair from February 21, 2025. The airline will use an A320-200 to operate the weekly roundtrip. “While we expect many to use the flight for point-to-point travel between Auckland and Brisbane, the service also connects with our Brisbane…