Trade ministers must learn from past mistakes – PANG

The regional non-governmental group, the Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG), is calling on Forum Island Trade Ministers meeting in Kiribati this week to learn the mistakes from previous negotiations and avoid making binding commitments in areas that will not support their exporters. The focus of this week’s meeting is on the economic opportunities of trade…

Fisheries plundered off the Pacific Islands

Two-thirds of the Pacific Islands communities could run out of fish to feed their populations within 15 years. The concern is over both inshore and deep ocean fisheries that are not sustainable.  The warning comes as the Pacific Islands prepare to talk tuna fisheries management in Samoa in early July.  Dr Quentin Hanich, fisheries governance…

Concept in infant stages: ANZ

Finance  is a key input into sustainable economic growth, says a quarterly report from the ANZ Bank. In its Asia Pacific Economics Pacific Quarterly publication, the bank said the process of developing broader and more liquid banks, institutions and markets to finance growth was known as financial deepening.  “At its core, this involves opening up…

UN report shows return for national investments

Developing countries that invested in quality jobs from the early 2000s grew nearly one percentage point faster every year since 2007 and were better able to weather the economic crisis than comparable economies, according to a new report by the United Nations labour agency. The annual report of the International Labour Organization (ILO), The World…

Basic life support training conducted at Gizo hospital

A basic lSupport training course was conducted by the Wellington Free Ambulance Service which visited Gizo hospital recently. The course was conducted from the 15th to the 17th of May and was attended by nurses, ambulance drivers, OBM drivers and security officers from Gizo hospital. Nurses also travelled from Seghe, Koriovuku and Vonunu for the…

OPPOSITION WALKS OUT, BILL PASS

THE controversial Political Parties Integrity Bill was finally passed, but with some tension in the chamber. Members of the opposition group walked out during the committee stage proceeding. Deputy Opposition Leader Mathew Wale has been very critical on all the clauses during the initial stage of the committee of the whole house. But many of…

Rennell landowners embrace miners

RENNELL island is a step closer to hosting its first ever mining project after four tribal landowning groups signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with an Indonesian mining company Bintang Borneo last week. The historic ceremony took place at Tingoa between landowners from East and West Rennell with the mining firm. A nine-member delegation from…

PNG High Commission farewells first secretary

PAPUA New Guinea (PNG) high commission in Honiara on Monday farewelled its first secretary Joyce Bundu. Mrs Bundu came to Solomon Islands in 2010 serving as acting high commissioner for a couple of months as the PNG Government seeks a replacement following the controversial departure of Parai Tamei. Speaking during her farewell dinner, PNG high…