TOURISM OPEN DAY IN SOLOMON ISLANDS

20 June 2016
 
THE SOLOMON Islands Democratic Coalition for Change Government is reported to be the first Government to show serious support and commitment to the expansion of tourism in the Country.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Andrew Nihopara told officials during the first Tourism Open day of the Solomon Islands Tourism Council on Friday that the Ministry looks forward to introduce the ‘Solomon Islands National Tourism Development Bill 2016’ to Parliament in early 2017.

MOISSANITE DISCOVERY IN MALAITA PROVINCE SETS A RECORD

30 November 2018

Solomon Islands:  Exciting news about the discovery of what is believed to be the biggest crystal natural Moisssanite

The Solomon Star newspaper reported today, Friday, that a team from the Technical Institution of Malaita (TIM) had discovered what is believed to be the biggest crystal natural Moissanite ever found on Malaita.

The world’s biggest crystal natural Moissanite ever recorded was 4.14 mm discovered in north-eastern Israel along the Kishon River in 2012.

However, the crystal neural Moissanite that was uncovered in East Kwara’ae was measured at 15 mm with the biggest one measured about 20 mm. This sets a new local, regional and world record.

Quoting the Solomon Star “This discovery breaks the world record on the size of the biggest Moissanite ever discovered.”

According to the Instructor and Head of Gemology at the Department of Technical Institute of Malaita, Henry Dao, Moissanite is one of the rarest mineral on the planet earth.

Mr, Dao told the Solomon Star in an exclusive interview after the discovery that synthetic Moissanite was created as a substitute for diamonds; however, the search for natural Moissanite is incredibly high.

“Moissanite is almost identical to diamond with a hardness of 9.25 on Moh’s scale and a diamond is 10,” Mr Dao told the Solomon Star.

 The TIM is aiming at developing a gemstones cottage industry in the local province where the latest discovery of Moissanite could prove a bonus to the institution that is dedicated to gemstone development locally.

With the reported local discovery of Moissanite, I wish much success to TIM in continuing exploration for more of the valuable gemstones and ultimately see a flourishing cottage industry spring up to help the East Kwara’ae community generate some much needed income

Yours sincerely

Frank Short.

SELF CENSORSHIP IN THE PACIFIC

Media self-censorship still present in Pacific – RSF

Quoting Radio New Zealand – 23 April 2019

“Democracies across Asia and the Pacific are struggling to resist disinformation and protect press freedoms, according to a new report.

“Reporters Without Borders, on Thursday, released its 2019 index, showing an increase in self-censorship of journalists in parts of the Pacific last year.

“Although Pacific Island countries generally rose in press freedom rankings, Reporters Without Borders was also concerned about an absence of editorial independence.

“In Papua New Guinea, it said journalists faced intimidation, direct threats, censorship, prosecution and bribery attempts.

“The group said self-censorship was also on the rise in Tonga, where politicians have sued media outlets and keeps tight controls over state media.

“In Solomon Islands, similar defamation laws were criticised by RSF as intimidating journalists and encouraging media self-censorship

“It also praised public broadcaster SIBC as playing a "vital role in keeping the population informed by radio" in a country with low literacy rates.”

Copyright © 2019, Radio New Zealand

TRANSPARENCY CONCERNS OVER CDF USE IN SOLOMON ISLANDS

11 August 2018

Transparent and tangible use of CDF Funds in bettering rural development

An article published in the Island Sun newspaper in recent weeks cited that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had expressed concern over the “lack of transparency” around the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

A team from the IMF had visited Honiara to hold discussions on the 2018 Article IV Consultation.

When announcing some of the key findings, arising from the discussions, the team leader, Mrs. Alison Stuart, reportedly said what the CDF is spent on and how well the fund is spent was not clear to the people.

The IMV is seemingly not alone in raising such concerns and I spent the weekend reading a report issued by the World Bank in mid-2014, titled ‘The Aim of Solomon Islands – Towards Better Investment in Rural Communities.’

That report went to the heart of the IMV concerns over the perceived lack of transparency but it also went much further, as I will quote.

“The report is to assist policymakers, program sponsors and implementers to make informed decisions about the design, financing, governance and overall advantages and disadvantages of programs that invest in small-scale infrastructure and income generating opportunities for rural communities in the Solomon Islands.

“The report identifies ways to strengthen the current mechanisms for investing in rural service delivery by examining the three main types of financing for small-scale infrastructure and livelihood activities — constituency, province and community-oriented funds — in a national and global context across four key programs between 2008 and 2012.

“The report explores the following key components across the four programs: analysis and consolidation of sub-project data; local development planning; efficiency and effectiveness; accountability, transparency and dispute management; and sustainability.”

If not too imprudent to ask what happened to that report and the many recommendations it contained to address a whole raft of issues that have lingered far too long and, in my personal view, might have gone some considerable way to clearing the air while aiding tangible rural development if followed up?

Yours sincerely

Frank Short