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
Solomon Islands
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
New COVID case in Solomon Islands
A positive case of COVID-19 has been announced in Solomon Islands’ Western Province following testing of ship crew members. The patient is a crew member on an international cargo ship which has been under
RMI, Solomons make a ‘lonely case’ for carbon price on shipping
Pacific island nations made the case for a carbon price to tackle shipping’s climate impact at the UN body responsible for seaborne transport on Wednesday, but found only tepid support. At a environmental committee
Solomon Islands Opposition Leader calls for mining moratorium
Solomon Islands leader of Opposition, Matthew Wale has called for a moratorium on all forms of mining in the country until proper management and regulatory policies are put in place to safeguard the people and their
The Magic of Solomons’ Sky Islands
In 1568 the Spaniard Álavaro de Mendaña first set eyes on the verdant green rolling hills and ridgelines of a South Pacific island chain. He later named this island – part of the northern chain in the double-chained
Kayboy perseveres through COVID
“Roots and culture is so vital and important for myself personally,” says Kayboy, a popular young Solomon Islands musician. “I pay homage to my culture and traditions. Blending traditional chants and dialects with
Bleak prospects for Pacific tourism
Pacific island countries should not expect international travel to resume in earnest until late 2021, travel and aviation experts have warned. ‘You should forget the US market for 2021, as well as Europe and the
Facebook: Can’t live with it, can’t live without it
Pacific governments face a crucial dilemma with social media. How they react will define our future. The decision this week by Solomon Islands’ cabinet to ban Facebook is wrong, of course. It represents
Solomons employers developing COVID-19 HR guide
The Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce is working with the local Human Resource Practitioners Network to develop an employer guide to managing workplaces during COVID-19. Development of the guide comes as uncertainty
Solomon Airlines struggles amid prolonged COVID-19 impact
The need to survive and keep a national asset afloat is taking a heavy toll on Solomon Airlines. In an open letter to stakeholders this week, Solomon Airlines CEO Brett Gebers outlined a number of measures the
Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Fiji counting the cost of TC Harold
Clean up efforts are already underway in Vanuatu and Fiji, parts of which were hit by Cyclone Harold this week. In Vanuatu the first reports have emerged of the category-five storm’s destruction in Vanuatu.
Coronavirus travel restrictions: a Pacific wrap
There have been no cases of coronavirus reported in the Pacific Islands region, although Australia and New Zealand have reported cases, and in the case of Australia, one death. However the Pacific region has responded
“We are the niche”: Tourism Solomons CEO
Late last month, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare praised Tourism Solomons for its “relentless effort” to consistently grow visitor arrivals. PM Sogavare also expressed optimism about the
Pacific predictions: 2020
As we enter not only a new year but a new decade, there is much to anticipate in the Pacific islands region. Elections and domestic politics A number of countries in the region will have elections during 2020: Kiribati,
Solomon Islands cuts ties with Taiwan
(Pacnews) The Solomon Islands Government last night cut off the nation’s diplomatic ties with Taiwan. This came after Cabinet endorsed a Caucus resolution to sever the 36-year-old relationship. The decision came just