WORKERS IN STATE OF DESPAIR

MANY Solomon Islands seasonal workers engaged under the Australia’s Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme are desperate to leave, citing harsh working conditions, low pay and unfulfilled promises to improve their welfare. Because of the situation, many local workers have absconded their original assigned work place. Some have described their experiences on one Queensland berry…

PALM & labour mobility – the big game in town

Solomon Islands and Australia’s National Farmers Federation (NFF), the peak national body representing farmers and, more broadly, agriculture across Australia have reinforced the importance of the PALM worker scheme, in a landmark meeting that was held at NFF’s House in Canberra on Wednesday last week.  “The Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme, is the big…

WPG to host provincial performance forum

The Western Provincial Government (WPG) has announced that it will hold the 2025 Provincial Performance Forum  in Gizo provincial capital of Western Province on Thursday, 29th May 2025. The open air forum will be held at the MSG Complex in Gizo. The Provincial Performance Forum is a strategic platform aimed at bringing together all key…

New open park space for Honiara 

The site located between the Fijian Quarter and below the Holy Cross steps in Central Honiara has been identified as a new open park space.  This stretch of land is under the government-fixed-term estate title is currently used as a parking lot for Tuvaruhu community bus operators and for pickup trucks for hire. The Community…

Fiu bridge damaged, hundreds affected 

THE only bailey bridge at Fiu river, Central Kwarae’a, Malaita Province which provides a crucial link connecting the northern and eastern regions of the province to Auki, had been cut off. The came after a heavily loaded dump truck carrying gravel owned by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) damaged the bridge while crossing…

CGTN Poll: Pacific Island respondents praise China’s governance

(CGTN) On the occasion of the third China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, a survey conducted by CGTN among 1,000 respondents from 10 major Pacific Island countries showed that respondents gave positive evaluations of China’s modernization development philosophy and its achievements.  They praised the fruitful and practical cooperation outcomes, saying the deepening cooperation injects new…

MID Safeguards team conducts consultation on Auki road project

The Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) Safeguards Team has completed the initial public consultations and assessments with key stakeholders last week (19th– 23rd May) to fast-track essential requirements before full rehabilitation of the China-aid Auki Road Project commences. The consultation meeting brought together representatives from various stakeholders, including the Malaita Provincial Government Executive, Solomon Power,…