The Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SICCI) has expressed regret over the withdrawal of Japanese nickel mining giant Sumitomo Metal Mining, and called for improvement to the regulatory policies for incoming investors and businesses. SICCI Chair Jay Bartlett said it is unfortunate and regretful for a major international investor such as SMM to…
Guadalcanal Plains Palm Oil Limited (GPPOL) has identified suitable land for expansion further east to the Aola region in East Guadalcanal. The company as part of its long-term development plans surveyed about 8,000 to 10,000 hectares of land in the past months for the expansion of its oil palm plantation. Its short-term goal is to…
Forum Solomon Islands International has appointed an interim committee to manage the affairs of the social media group after being rocked by a leadership crisis. The FSII President Benjamin Afuga and Vice-President Ishmael Nori have both been forced to resign from their positions after the latter accused the former of corrupt dealings. According to an…
A CONCERTED regional effort is required to eradicate the invasive pest Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB), General Manager of Guadalcanal Plains Palm Oil Limited (GPPOL) Craig Gibsone says. Mr Gibsone on Sunday warned that it is only a matter of time before the pest reaches Vanuatu and Fiji or even the more coconut- dependent countries such…
The Parliamentary Opposition is callings on the government to broaden its suspension order in relation to the civil aviation saga. In a statement on Sunday the Opposition Office said the suspension being served to the Director of Civil Aviation should also include the Minister of Communication and Civil Aviation, the Attorney General and the Civil…
The Malaita Premier Peter Ramohia has denied any affiliation with the Malaita group name Isles of Ramos Peoples’ Power (IRPP). The Malaita group last week came out publicly and voiced its strong support towards current MART government’s idea of Malaita Province seceding from the rest of Solomon Islands to be a sovereign state. The IRPP…
A high-level delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade Milner Tozaka, attended a series of Pre-Forum leaders meetings at the Forum Secretariat in Suva, Fiji, last week. The Pacific ACP (PACP) Officials Meetings met on August 7 followed by the Forum Officials Committee (FOC) Meeting from August 8-10, culminating with the…
Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade (MFAET) Milner Tozaka has called on the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat to beef up efforts in preparatory work and facilitating collective efforts in the lead up to the Post- Cotonou negotiations. The current Cotonou Partnership Agreement that provides the bases for the EU – ACP Partnership was signed…
READ SI recently received a very large grant from Taiwan and Solomon Islands’ Governments. Joyce Boykin was grateful for their generous contribution to literacy and libraries in the villages. Ms Boykin recently stated, “Now the pressure is on to spend the money wisely and carefully so hundreds of villages can be reached”. Phase 1 teachers…
The Secretary to Cabinet, James Remobatu, today signed on behalf of the Government of Solomon Islands a preparatory-phase Project Document titled, “Transparency and Accountability for the people of Solomon Islands”. Being a high priority of the Solomon Islands Government, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has stepped in to support the Government with this project…