SI opposition leader says government is for the people

Solomon Islands Opposition Leader Manasseh Sogavare says the national government is the institution that exists for the people.

The government, as was with previous governments, has been submitted with demands from the Guadalcanal, Malaita and Choiseul Provinces.

Other issues that are before Cabinet are the compensation demands of licensed gun owners and rehabilitation packages for former militants.

Speaking in response to the question if the government is directly responsible for demands it is facing from provinces and individual groups, the Opposition Leader says demands and issues are raised to the government to address, whether or not they are involved or responsible.

Mr Sogavare says the only authority that anyone can raise any issue with is the government.

He says although some demands and issues raised may seem unreasonable for the government to address, he encourages the government to maintain a continuous dialogue with the concerned provinces and parties.

"I would encourage the government to continue to talk to them, in fact I made that point on the floor of parliament and advise the government do not stop talking. Call these people who put those demands up and continue to talk to them. Stay in dialogue. Then they will see that yes, the government is serious about looking at this issue".

Source: SIBC

Sikua says his government will introduce free formal education up to form 3

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Derek Sikua has told people of his North-East Guadalcanal Constituency that his Government will introduce nine years of free basic formal education in 2009.

The Government Communications Unit quotes Dr Sikua as saying that the nine-year free basic formal education period will start at class one and will end at form three.

Prime Minister Sikua says the new education policy will emphasis the importance his government attaches to ensuring an educated society in Solomon Islands, adding it wants as many young Solomon Islanders as possible to have access to basic education.

He says giving free education will cost the state purse millions of dollars, but he will be seeking financial assistance towards the new education policy from Solomon Islands donor partners.

Dr Sikua says the government will be putting together a package for financial assistance to cover the free education policy to the Solomon Islands Government and Aid Donors Meeting in June.

He says a number of donors are expected to respond positively to the request for financing the free education policy.

The NZAID and the European Union have been financing the primary and secondary education sectors.

Source: SIBC

Taiwan supports Mt Horeb secondary school extension plans

The Taiwanese embassy in Solomon Islands has donated SB$3,000 for the extensions of the Mt. Horeb School secondary department, a 1,000 gallon water tank and few boxes of crayon.

"As you know, education is a prerequisite for any country's national economic development. Educational environment also plays a significant role in cultivating students' good characters," the Taiwanese Ambassador H.E. George Chan said at Wednesday's handover ceremony.

The donation follows a request to the Embassy by the Chairman and founder of the school, John Maetia.

"Our Embassy responded positively without any hesitation and is honoured in giving the 1,000 gallon tank to the Horeb School in the presence of students, teachers and parents," H.E. Chan said.

The ceremony was informed that the donation is part of the Taiwanese Embassy's "Education is the One-hundred Year Strategy of a Nation."

"I promise that Taiwan will continue to assist in the education sector of Solomon Islands for many years to come," said H.E. Chan.

Source: Solomon Times

Solomons Central Bank predicts positive growth for 2008

Governor of the Central Bank of Solomon Islands Rick Hou has said the country expects another positive outcome for 2008.

Mr Hou said based on the growth trend in recent years, and economic developments in the first four months of this year.

Launching the Bank's 2007 Annual Report today, Mr Hou said while no growth is anticipated in the forestry sector, he is confident that given the prevailing commodities boom, agricultural activities, particularly in palm oil products, will increase significantly.

He said in its 2008 Monetary Policy Stance, the Central Bank foreshadowed monetary developments would slow down but not subdued.

Mr Hou said the Bank will remain vigilant to developments in the main economic indicators outlined in the 2008 Monetary Policy Stance.

He said the bank will take appropriate action should the movements in any of these key economic indicators be inconsistent with the policy objectives.

Mr Hou said he is confident that the domestic banking system is capable of providing the catalyst for further private sector expansion and another positive year.

He said private sector credit expansion is therefore expected to continue on the back of a strong growth in domestic demand.

Source: SIBC

Solomons government to meet compensation claims from gun owners

The Solomon Islands government says it will decide on compensation claims by legal firearms owners who surrendered weapons during the disarmament campaign in 2003.

When the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) intervened after years of armed social unrest, the ruling government then ordered a nationwide disarmament of both legal and illegal firearms holders.

The Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua has confirmed receiving a cabinet paper on the issue from the Minister of Police and National Security, Samuel Manetoali and acknowledged the long delay in addressing it.

The prime Minister said the government has delayed endorsement of the submission.

Dr Sikua says he has referred the paper back to the concerned ministry to be reviewed as some important aspects of the issue have not been included.

He said an example is that the names of gun owners have not been identified in the submission.

Dr Sikua said claims made by some former licensed gun owners are becoming excessive.

Source: RNZI

Solomon Islands opposition leader calls for RAMSI exit plan

The Leader of the Parliamentary Opposition, Manasseh Sogavare has called on the Government and the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands to draw up an exit plan for the Australian-led mission.

Mr Sogavare makes the call following Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua’s statements on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that he would like to see RAMSI continue its operation in Solomon Islands for the next ten years.

The Leader of Opposition says the exit plan should be based on an independent assessment on what RAMSI has done and still needs to do and whether it is preparing Solomon Islanders to take on the role it plays after its departure.

He says it would be irresponsible of the Government to keep RAMSI in the country unnecessarily just to please Australia and its national strategic interests.

Mr Sogavare says the Australian government's policy of empowering the Pacific Islands forum leaders to decide whether RAMSI should withdraw or set up a permanent military and police presence in Solomon Islands after completing the task it was requested to do is in the best interest of Australia.

He says the policy undermines the sovereignty of Solomon Islands.

Mr Sogavare says in order for the government to make an informed decision on the future of RAMSI, it needed to understand the broader military agenda of Australia and its allies in the world.

Source: SIBC

Pacific youths to lead Commonwealth Youth Caucus

Two young people from the Pacific have just been chosen by their peers to lead the Pan-Commonwealth Youth Caucus for the next four years.

This will put them at the forefront of international discussions on youth issues.

Australian Matthew Albert, 27, and Tongan Ebonie Fifita, 23, were confirmed as Chair and Vice-Chair respectively of the Pan-Commonwealth Youth Caucus, P-C-Y-C.

The Youth Caucus is made up of youth representatives from the Commonwealth Youth Programme C-Y-P Regional Youth Caucuses.

The Caucus advises international Commonwealth leaders, include prime ministers and youth ministers, on youth issues and priorities and advocate for youth empowerment through their participation in decision-making.

The leadership of Youth Caucus is rotated every four years between the four Commonwealth regions – Asia, Africa, Caribbean and the South Pacific.

Source: SIBC

Australian government to support Pacific countries with land administration program

The Australian government will spend A$54million over four years on what it calls the “Pacific Land Program”—an effort to “protect customary land rights, promote economic and social development, and reduce the potential for instability through land-related conflict in the Pacific.”

In the new Federal Budget, the Australian government has said A$6.5million will be allocated in 2008/09, to “support partner government-led improvements in land administration. Australian funding will help address the challenges to land use and ownership from urbanization. Clarification of land title is a key prerequisite for private investment. Funding will also improve the skills of professionals and semi-professionals in areas such as planning, surveying and valuing.”

The partnership will provide a new framework for Australia and the Pacific island nations to commit jointly to achieving improved development outcomes, on the basis of mutual respect and mutual responsibility,” the government says in a statement.

Australia will also invest A$127million over four years, with A$5.5million in 2008-09, to improve basic infrastructure services in the Pacific—including transport, sanitation, waste management, energy and communications.

The so-called Pacific Public Sector Capacity project will also see Australia allocate A$107million over four years, with A$6million in 2008-09, to strengthen public sector administration in the Pacific including management and policy reform.

Source: Pacific Magazine

PINA head dismisses MASI call to shift the regional media centre from Fiji to Solomon Islands

The Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) says it won’t run away from threats to media freedom in Fiji.

The head the Media Association of Solomon Islands, or MASI, John Lamani, reportedly told World Press Freedom Day celebrations in Honiara that regional media organisations must be moved away from Fiji.

But the head of PINA, Joseph Ealedona, says it is vital that the organisation stays in Fiji to continue to have dialogue with the military regime.

“You have to justify where is freedom of media, what is freedom of media, and for us, PINA, right now, freedom of media is definitely being threatened in Fiji. So therefore we must stay there, we won’t be seen to be running away from where the threats are coming from.”

Joseph Ealedona says so far, neither PINA, nor Pacnews have felt any intimidation from Fiji’s regime.

Source: RNZI

ADB predicts many people in Pacific region will be hit hard by high food prices

The Asian Development Bank predicts many people in the Pacific region will be hugely hit in their pockets by a surge in world food prices this year.

It says Pacific countries already feel the rise in oil prices, but food will also become a lot more expensive, which will push another five percent of people into poverty.

A bank’s economist, Craig Sugden, says the price for rice and wheat could increase by one hundred percent.

“There’s a waive of high prices coming through the region. There’s a short period in which the region can prepare for these prices, but even so, there’s going to be a major shock to the region over the year.”

Craig Sugden says governments need to re-prioritise their budgets, invest more in rural development and encourage farmers to grow more staple food.

Source: RNZI

Solomon Islands and seven Pacific countries race against time to claim extra ocean space

With only one year remaining to the May 2009 deadline, Solomon Islands and seven other pacific island countries are beginning to feel the pressure to complete their submissions to the United Nations to claim extra ocean space.

Solomon Islands along with Fiji, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, Tonga and Papua New Guinea have a credible claim to more than 1.5 million square kilometers of additional space beyond their current 200 mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

This is being made possible under article 76 of the International Law of the Sea.

A week long workshop on the preparation on the country’s submission on Extended Continental Shelf (ECS) starts today until Friday (16th of May) at the Southern Cross Hotel in Suva, Fiji.

The workshop is coordinated by the Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC) and Geoscience Australia (GA) and the UNEP Shelf Programme.

SOPAC, GA and UNEP will help these countries to complete the activities required to delineate the outer limits of their continental shelf.

These countries are currently faced with the costly and complex work of data identification, collection, analysis and submission preparation. Due to limited technical and financial capacity they may not be able to complete the submission process without considerable external support, both technical and financial.

Scientific studies have revealed the access to extended continental shelf could mean more access to mineral rich resources previously outside our EEZ.

It’s the first time the pacific region is combining their efforts in its bid to extend their exclusive economic zones.

SOPAC Director Cristelle Pratt, said countries are committed to working together to improve lives in the Pacific.

“Securing greater maritime sovereignty can provide increased revenue for Pacific States and deliver significant economic and social benefits from access to ocean resources that occur on the seabed and within the subsoil.

Pratt says that assessments have identified strong grounds for these Pacific countries to extend sovereignty over their continental shelves.

“These Pacific Island Countries recognise that determining the boundaries of their Exclusive Economic Zone beyond 200 nautical miles is critical to securing exclusive ocean development of potentially rich non-living resources, such as oil, gas, gold and silver, as well as living organisms that live on and beneath the seabed,” Ms Pratt said.

Submissions to claim an extended continental shelf must be based upon sound technical data and meet requirements prescribed within Article 76 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS), to secure an extended Continental Shelf beyond the 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone.
Representatives from Foreign Affairs from the seven countries completed another workshop last week on the use of Japanese Software “CMDeterminer” and “Ocean Access” to help access and claim their Extended Continental Shelf. They are also present until the end of this week to discuss the issue.

Both workshops are vital opportunities to continue to assist Pacific Nations with ECS potential to develop and submit their respective extension claims before the impending deadline of May 2009.

SOPAC is a Pacific regional organisation committed to working with countries to strengthen disaster risk management, enhance access to freshwater, energy, information technology and communications and improve resource assessment and management of ocean and island resources.

Source: SOPAC

Solomon Islander to participate in United States crises planning programme

A Solomon Islander will participate in the United States International Visitor Program.

Program Officer with the National Disaster Management Office, Julian Maka'a, left the country on Saturday to participate in the "Planning for Crises: Disasters and Pandemics."
Julian Maka'a, Program Officer with the National Disaster Management Office, receives his travel package from United States Ambassador Leslie V. Rowe(pic: Solomon Times)

Over the next three weeks, Mr. Maka'a will travel to the following cities in the United States: Washington, DC; Atlanta, Georgia; New Orleans, Louisiana; San Francisco, California; Honolulu, Hawaii.

This project will familiarize participants with U.S. emergency systems that forecast and respond to natural disasters, U.S. methods of disaster relief, emergency management, and humanitarian assistance.

Participants will also be introduced to the organizations, both public and private, that respond to global and local crises.

The group will explore the following goals in greater detail while participating in the program:
- To examine U.S. emergency systems that forecast, prepare for and respond to natural and human induced disasters;
- To demonstrate the benefits of cooperation among governments and private organizations in the event of crisis;
- To discuss U.S. participation in international natural disaster relief, regional crises, health emergencies, and refugee situations; and
- To promote better understanding and closer collaboration between international and U.S. disaster and crisis management officials at federal, state and local levels

The United States Embassy is proud to have nominated Mr. Maka'a for this project.

The Office of International Visitors manages and funds the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). Launched in 1940, the IVLP seeks to build mutual understanding between the United States and other nations through carefully designed professional visits to the U.S. for current and emerging foreign leaders.

Each year over 4,500 IVLP participants from all over the world are selected by U.S. embassies to travel to the U.S. to meet and confer with their professional counterparts.

Source: Solomon Times

Kossa's world club championship hopes dashed with Waitakere's 5-0 hiding

Waitakere United will once again represent Oceania at the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan after beating Kossa FC 5-0 in the second leg of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) O-League final yesterday at Trusts Stadium in Henderson.

Waitakere turned around a 3-1 deficit from the first leg in Honiara to win the final 6-3 on aggregate and can now look forward to another lucrative pay day and chance to rub shoulders with the world’s elite.

A powerful shower prior to kick off didn’t deter the 3,000 fans who packed the grandstand at Douglas Field though looked to have an effect on Kossa with players losing their footing on the slippery surface on a number of occasions.

After losing the first leg in Honiara Waitakere knew that a good start was imperative and they got just that when Benjamin Totori fired home a left footed drive into the Kossa net in the 8th minute.

Waitakere dominated the early stages of the match with Jason Hayne, Danijel Koprivcic and Benjamin Totori all testing the Kossa goalkeeper.

But it was the set plays where Waitakere looked the most dangerous and in the 25th minute Chris Bale rewarded a series of dangerous crosses when he got the last touch from a Neil Sykes corner to make it 2-0.

Kossa looked the livelier side at the beginning of the second half and their individual flair was evident even on the wet slippery surface.

They nearly silenced the Auckland faithful in the 68th minute when Paul Wale created some room for himself in the Waitakere box before firing a half volley into the top corner, only for Richard Gillespie to make a great sprawling save and maintain his sides lead on the away goals rule.

Waitakere made it 3-0 from another set play in the 72nd minute when Allen Pearce headed home a Neil Sykes corner. The goal looked to suck some life out of Kossa and they were made to pay again five minutes later when Pearce added his second with a well timed volley.

Jake Butler completed the rout with a low side footed drive from outside the box in the 85th minute and sent the Waitakere players and fans into celebration mode.

Kossa can look back on an inspirational O-League journey which has exceeded expectations and has provided invaluable experience for the many young members of the squad.

Kossa coach Jacob Moli was disappointed with the result but proud of his team for the journey they have taken him on.

“We knew they were going to be very dangerous from set pieces and that proved to be a big problem for us.”

“Now we have to re-group and focus on our domestic competition. To our fans I would like to thank you for all your support, it was a great ride for Solomon Island football.”

Source: OFC

Kossa FC arrives in New Zealand amidst cold weather ahead of its O-League return leg with Waitakere

Track suits and warm clothes may not be enough as Solomon Islands football champion side KOSSA FC try to acclimatise to the cold weather for their game against Waitakere United this Sunday in Auckland.

KOSSA have a two goal advantage going into the final leg of the O-League competition after stunning the defending champions 3-1 in Honiara.

However, temperatures reached 35 degrees at the Lawson Stadium with the more than 20thousand crowd adding more heat.

But coach Jacob Moli says keeping the players warm is priority.

“We’ve told the boys to get warmed up properly we have to put on a lot of clothing and even put on track suits to get the boys started, we’re lucky enough to get the tracksuits ready for us so we see how it goes this morning because it’s been raining last night, but we just have to go out there and do our training.”

The winner of this final will represent Oceania at the World Club Cup in Japan later this year as well as picking up over 500-thousand US dollars.

In an effort to overwhelm an expected strong turn-out of Solomon Islanders and Papua New Guineans residing in New Zealand on Sunday, Waitakere is offering it's members free entry to the ground.

Source: RNZI

Australian journalists touring Solomon Islands in joint effort to promote tourism

By Joy Basi

The promotion of tourism in Solomon Islands has been given a huge boost with ten Australian journalists, from various magazines, visiting the country to write about the various attractions.

The ten journalists will visit various provinces whilst in the Solomon Islands to capture the entirety of what the Solomon Islands has to offer.

General Manager of SkyAirWorld, Wilson Ne'e, said that the trip was facilitated by SkyAirWorld together with the national carrier, the Solomon Airlines.

"Their task is to identify areas in the provinces that have strong potential for tourism...they will then further promote it in Australia," said Mr. Ne'e. Mr Ne'e said that the ten writers are now currently in the Western Province and are schedule to return to Australia this Friday.

The government recently announced that tourism will be part of its long term strategic plan to diversify the countries economic base. With the logging industry predicted to slow down, as a result of decreased commercially valuable forests, the government is investing millions in the tourism sector.

Source: Solomon Times