A FRESH PLEDGE ON TRADITIONAL GOVERNANCE

A SOLOMON ISLANDS GOVERNMENT PLEDGE TO STRENGTHEN AND EMPOWER THE TRADITIONAL GOVERNANCE SYSTEM

Quoting the Solomon Star newspaper – 4 March 2018

“While launching the Solomon Islands Democratic Coalition for change government (SIDCCG) policy document recently, Prime Minister Rick Hounipwela, said his coalition is looking to implement recommendations of the Parliamentary Foreign Relations Committee recommendations to recognise the roles of traditional governance structures and churches in the country.

“In the policy statement launched lately, the SIDCCG pledges to recognize, strengthen and empower the traditional governance systems and structures and protect and preserve the diversity of our organic traditions and culture in Solomon Islands.

“Additionally, the government intends to redesign the Solomon Islands Coat of Arms to reflect cultural identity and sensitivity.

“He said priority must be given to embark on post conflict rehabilitation and implementation of the TRC recommendations.”

Copyright :  Solomon Star.   (All Rights Reserved)

FIGHTING COCONUT PALM PEST

Experts plan to defeat rhinoceros beetle with disease.

Quoting the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation – 26 January 2018

“A disease could be the downfall of the destructive coconut rhinoceros beetle — or at least that’s the hope of people working to combat the pest in the country.

“They are planning to bring a disease into the Solomons to fight the beetle as part of a collaborative project involving experts, aid donors and the Government.

“Coordinator Bob Macfarlane said the project is aimed at providing awareness, halting the spread of the pests and attacking them with disease.

“He said the goal is to find and introduce a natural disease that can kill the beetles.

“The method has proven effective in other Pacific countries, such as Fiji and Tonga.

“But Mr Macfarlane said the disease used to kill the beetles in those countries would not work with the beetles in the Solomons.

“They look the same, but their behavior and physiology is different — that’s the slight problem,” he said. “So we will be going to Asia to find the exact beetle and find its natural enemy.”

He said they believe the type of beetle present in the Solomons came from one specific place in Asia, and they will use DNA testing to determine the source.

“Once the country is identified, they will select diseases that are controlling the beetle there.

“It’ll probably be a virus disease or a fungus disease,” he said. “We will identify it, we will determine that it actually kills the beetle, and then we will import it, bulk it up and release it here.”

Copyright :  SIBC    (All Rights Reserved)

SOLOMON ISLANDS GOVERNMENT ACTS TO ENSURE STRICTER LOGGING PRACTICES

Honiara : 28 August 2015

The DCCG Government has, today, revoked more than 30 Agro-forestry permits of companies operating throughout Solomon Islands as part of its reforms to ensure stricter logging practices.

The revocation of the legal notices for Agro-forestry companies was signed by the Acting Minister of Forestry and Research, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, based on advice from the Attorney General’s Chambers.

More than 100 logging companies currently operate in the Solomon Islands

Historic Partnership Agreement Signed To Aid The Medical Sector

A historic Partnership Agreement to help aid the medical sector in Solomon Islands has been signed, sealing arrangement for up to twenty 20-foot containers of medical supplies to be provided annually by New Zealand’s charitable organisation, Take My Hands.
 
The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) this week ended months of collaborative efforts amongst the Auckland-based Take-My-Hands, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, the National Referral Hospital, Solomon Islands In Focus (SIF), a private website created by former Police Commissioner, Frank Short, to promote Solomon Islands.