Culture a unique tourism product, says minister

The Minister for Culture and Tourism Bartholomew Parapolo says the country’s diverse and unique cultures are an important product as a tourist attraction that must be harnessed in the country’s development agenda. Speaking at the official launch of the Government’s new National Tourism Development Strategy Friday, Parapolo said culture is an important fabric of Solomon…

Survey finds many have high stress, trauma level

Most people in Malaita lived stressful and traumatic lives, a survey has found. The High Level Stress and Trauma Self-Assessment Survey was carried out by the Commission on Justice, Reconciliation and Peace of the Anglican Church of Melanesia in Malaita. It focused on the problems that affect the physical, mental, behavioural, emotional and spirituality of…

SINU plans to reclaim malaria lab building

Solomon Islands National University (SINU) intends to reclaim and renovate the run-down and disused Solomon Islands Malaria Training and Research Institute building at Kukum. The building, once of the prides of Honiara, was built by the Japanese Government. It has since been abandoned due to its debilitating condition. SINU’s vice chancellor Dr Glynn Galo said:…

Top UN official visiting here

Appointed Special Representative of the United Nation’s General Secretary on Violence Against Children (SRSG), Marta Santo Pais will be visiting the country this week. She will be here for two days from Wednesday 20 to Friday 22. The purpose of her visit is to advocate and support the national government and its partners to achieve…

Call to maintain FOPA

A local tourism operator has urged responsible authorities to maintain the Festival of Pacific Arts (FOPA) village in east Honiara. The government built the village, which costs millions of dollars, as the central venue for the festival of arts, which the country hosted in 2012. After the festival ended, the venue of the village was…

Committee set up for Protected Areas

A first ever advisory committee for protected areas in the country has been established according to the Protected Areas Act 2010. The committee held their first meeting on 7 May 2015. Agenda discussed includes deliberation of the first application for bio-prospecting and bio-research permit to be issued under the Act. The first 5-6 Protected Areas…

Rural workers told of roles

Rural workers were told their communities expect more from them. Ministry of Development Planning and Aid Coordination Permanent Secretary, Shadrach Fanega told more than 50 community helpers from the 50 constituencies who were trained on 20 different modules on community facilitation and CDD approach. The month-long training was organised under the Rural Development Project (RDP)…

Tingoa Met Office opens

The Solomon Islands Meteorological Service (SIMS) has opened its new Tingoa Meteorological Station in Rennell and Bellona Province. The completion of the project has been described as a milestone in the history of Meteorological Services in the Solomon Islands. Director of MET Service David Hiriasia said: “As of last Thursday night Tingoa Meteorological Office started…

Weather office takes duties back from PNG

Papua New Guinea has handed over the Aviation Service to the Solomon Islands Metrological Service last week. This, according to director David Hiriasi, was an additional achievement by the Solomon Islands Met Service in addition to the opening of the Tingoa Met Office.  Hiriasia described the achievements as a millstone history for them. “Another milestone…

Why SINTA fired Faisi

Solomon Islands National Teachers Association (SINTA) says its decision to remove its outspoken general secretary Samson Faisi was made collectively after a review of his contract. SINTA president Philip Ika told the Solomon Star his executive made the decision after reviewing Faisi’s initial one year contract. Faisi attended a conference in Fiji on behalf of…