Australia asks PM Sogavare to avoid security deal
Australia Minister Zed Seselja met with Prime Minister Sogavare in Honiara, in light of the proposed China-Solomon Islands security
Solomon Islands
Rethinking Solomon Islands security
It has been an interesting couple of weeks for Solomon Islands, with stories of policing, weapons, replica weapons and a security agreement with China dominating the local and regional media. Let’s start with the
Solomon Islands PM assures no Chinese military base
Amid a regional backlash, the Solomon Islands said it would not allow a Chinese military base in the Pacific islands nation despite its plans to sign a security pact with Beijing. Following the initialling of a draft
FSM President appeals to Sogavare
The Federated States of Micronesia leader has spoken out against the proposed security deal between Solomon Islands and China. President David W. Panuelo of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) wrote to Solomon
Australia hands over Blackrock as China concerns re-emerge
The opening of the Blackrock Camp in Nadi this month signified the culmination of “close to a A$100 million investment” by the Australian government designed to support Fiji’s peacekeeping and humanitarian
Solomon Islands PM says China security deal ‘ready for signing’
Solomon Islands' PM says a contentious security agreement with Beijing was “ready for
Solomons: Putting a draft security deal with China in local context
A draft MOU between Honiara and Beijing on security related issues has sparked international headlines and worried response from
PNG contingent heads home after Solomons mission
PNG police contingent left Honiara for Port Moresby last Friday after successfully completing their mission in Solomon
ONOC steps in to support Pacific sports programs, hosts
Oceania National Olympic Committees President, Guam’s Ricardo Blas is hosting colleagues from across the region this week to discuss delivery of sport funding and programs. Blas recently told Islands Business that
Legality is born to sing
Solomon Islands singer 'Legality' says singing has been part of her forever. She first performed when 9 years
Millons lost during Solomon Islands lockdowns
Solomon Islands has lost millions of dollars in tax revenue as a result of the recent COVID-19 lockdowns imposed at the beginning of community transmission last month. Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare announced the
Solomon Islands: A weak nation ravaged by a health crisis
After riots in November last year devastated certain parts of Honiara and severely crippled the Solomon Islands’ economy, the capital has been ravaged in recent weeks by the rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus. The
Pacific corruption scores continue to stagnate: Urgent action required
Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index adds Fiji as a fourth Pacific nation, as stagnation demonstrates the critical importance of corruption reform in the region to secure basic rights and freedoms.
Outlook 2022: The year ahead
For the third year running, COVID-19 is defining and disrupting life, leadership and governance in the Pacific Islands. Compounded by climate change-related flooding and the devastating Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai
Solomon Islands’ juggling act
By Georgina Kekea Solomon Islands was COVID-19 free until December 2021. Despite recording positive cases in isolation centres, the spread to the community was avoided. It was not until January 2022 that Prime Minister
Financial concerns linger over 2023 Pacific Games
By Dionisia Tabureguci The 2023 Pacific Games is on track for its November 2023 opening despite the costly aftermath of the riots in Solomon Islands. However concerns have been raised about the added pressure it now
Solomon Islands riot cost SI$534m (US$66m)
Following last week’s Solomon Islands riots, the U.S. consular agency in the Solomon Islands has warned U.S. citizens there of a “possibility of demonstrations” on Monday, when Parliament will vote on
Solomon Islands update: Government intact, no confidence motion filed, more Australian police on way
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare says his government is fully intact. Sogavare said he is sincerely grateful to his colleague MPs for their ongoing support and solidarity to stand for the principles of
Fit for purpose
Concerns over Solomon Islands quarantine centres By Ben Bilua The smell of new paint is still strong at the newly refurbished Nusatupe Quarantine site in Solomon Islands. The quarantine site has been empty since its
PIFON LAUNCH PIRAS PROJECT FOR FARMER ORGANISATION MEMBERS IN FIJI AND SOLOMON ISLANDS
The Pacific Island Farmers Organisation Network has launched the Pacific Islands Rural & Agriculture Stimulus Facility project (PIRAS) aimed at helping farmers in Fiji and Solomon Islands recover from
Reeves Envico supports a COVID-safe environment in the Pacific
Reeves Envico is committed as an employer in supporting a healthy and COVID-safe environment across all our project sites and in the local communities we operate in. Our recent initiatives have helped workers access
Small Jam: Waiting to rock Pacific dancefloors
By Rowena Singh A couple of months ago we profiled Papua New Guinea’s Justin Wellington, one half of the team behind global TikTok and iTunes reggae hit “Iko Iko”. This month it’s the turn of the Solomon Islands
USP’s regional students struggle to study
By Leila Parina Regional students studying at the University of the South Pacific’s Laucala campus in Fiji have had another difficult semester. The COVID-19 outbreak which began in April this year and has claimed over