Welcome To Solomon Islands In Focus

As a long­time friend of the Solomon Islands, let me say the aim of this website is to bring you news about the Solomon Islands, promote tourism to the "Happy Isles” and generate donations for causes in the Solomons that will provide income for charitable institutions dependent on aid and help to give much needed money for local craftsmen and women.

I would encourage you to see for yourself a most unique and different part of the world and meet friendly, hospitable people while enjoying the sheer delights and beauty of a easy accessible Pacific paradise.

HEALTH DEAL WITH AUSTRALIA

New health deal with Australia

Quoting the Solomon Star – 8 March 2018

“AUSTRALIA and Solomon Islands have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Pacific Pharmaceutical Laboratory Testing Pilot Program.

“This pilot program will give Solomon Islands access to Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) laboratories for medicine quality testing.

“Testing will focus initially on a selection of routine antibiotics and medicines commonly used in Solomon Islands to treat non-communicable diseases.

“The samples to be tested will be selected by the Chief Pharmacist from the Ministry of Health and Medical Service.

“The Permanent Secretary of Health, Dr Tenneth Dalipada and Australian High Commissioner Roderick Brazier signed the MoU in a ceremony at the Ministry of Health and Medical Services executive offices yesterday.

Copyright :  Solomon Star.    (All Rights Reserved)

 

BELGIUM AMBASSADOR VISITS HONIARA

The new Belgian Ambassador to the Solomon Islands

 Quoting the Solomon Star newspaper – 22 February 2018

“The new Belgian Ambassador to Solomon Islands Marc Mullie  presented his letter of credentials  to the Governor General His Excellency, Sir Frank Ofagioro Kabui early this week.

“Speaking during the occasion, the Ambassador said that it is truly a privilege for him to serve Solomon Islands.

“He said that Solomon Islands and the Kingdom of Belgium are close friends.

“He iterated that since the 1970s, Solomon Islands and Belgium have shared an outstanding cooperation in many multilateral organizations including the UN.

“Ambassador Mullie said that Belgium have contributed to several rural development programs in the Country through European Union.

“He said that there are a number of Belgian companies active in the food industry, in dredging activities, water treatment and green technologies in the region.

“Sir Frank Kabui acknowledged Belgium’s effort in tackling the issues affecting the ocean as a habitat for marine food security and transportation.”

Copyright :  Solomon Star.   (All Rights Reserved)

TOURISM POTENTIAL OF TULAGI BEING CONSIDERED

Honiara : 30 June 2015

The Solomon Island’s Minister for Culture and Tourism and Member of Parliament for Gela,  Bartholomew Parapolo, announced, yesterday, that his Ministry is working with the local National Provident Fund (NPF) to build a hotel resort on the NPF land in the Central Islands Province’s capital, Tulagi.

The Minister said the development of the site will further enhance tourist visitor arrivals in the Central Islands Province.

A PERSONAL APPEAL TO TAIWAN

 
Honiara:  13 October 2017

TAIWAN’S SUPPORT OF HEALTH ISSUES IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS
 
I write this letter to your newspaper consciously trying not to appear overtly political because it is not my intention in writing about concerns I care about deeply, the health and welfare of Solomon Islanders, by implying anything of Taiwan’s foreign policy.
 
On the global stage, Taipei’s health cooperation has been viewed as relatively uncontroversial and pragmatic in engaging in international relations and reducing its diplomatic isolation.
 
In the Solomon Islands where diplomatic relations exists with Taiwan the government in Taipei has always supported local health initiatives to protect and promote health.
 
It is within the spirit of that bond of cooperation that I appeal to the Taiwanese Government to consider aiding the Solomon Islands Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MOHMS) by providing the funds to re-build and re-equip the now derelict Rehabilitation Workshop at the NRH with the aim of ensuring the 400 or more limbless former patients of the National Referral Hospital (NRH) are able to be given prosthetic limbs to enhance their life opportunities and job prospects.
 
If the Rehabilitation Workshop could be rebuilt and equipped with the necessary tools to again function as it once did, I really believe it will be possible for one or more charitable organizations in Australia and New Zealand to offer custom made prosthetics to those awaiting limbs.
 
What has prompted this letter at this time?   There are several answers to the question which I will explain.
 
Firstly, the SI Prime Minister recently paid a historic and successful visit to Taiwan where he hailed the relationship between his country and Taiwan.
 
There was further warm words on the existing diplomatic relationship this week during the ‘Double Tenth’ celebrations held in Honiara when His Excellency, the Taiwanese Ambassador announced, what I have long advocated, the establishment of a factory in Honiara to generate employment and to aid the economic prosperity of the Solomon Islands.
 
I am not alone in having raised concerns regarding the need for better oversight and auditing of the money the Taiwanese Government gives, annually, to advance constituency development and projects.
 
The promise of a factory to ensure job creation locally is, at least to me, a very sound and tangible initiative that has the potential to silence those who might have implied that there is little being seen, to-date, with the money allocated for constituency projects.
 
Some years ago there was much talk of a ‘bottoms-up’ approach to rural development but nothing materialized.  Taiwan’s direct creation of rural enterprises, even if initially on a small scale would bring about a real change to the lives of communities.
.
In returning to my plea to the Taiwanese Government, I would earnestly request that my request is met with approval and some hope can be offered very soon to those less fortunate in society.
 
Yours sincerely
 
Frank Short
 
www.solomonislandsinfocus.com
 

Copyright © 2015 by Solomon Islands in Focus. Design by Webpulse - Web Designing Company Delhi All rights reserved

 
1000 characters left
1000 characters left