Thursday, June 8th, 2017
The Blue Pacific: Pacific countries demonstrate innovation in sustainably developing, managing and conserving their part of the Pacific Ocean
THE Blue Pacific is the world’s largest oceanic continent, made up of a grouping of Pacific island countries and territories, engaged in innovative and unique initiatives that show leadership toward strong regional ocean governance and the sustainable management and conservation of the ocean and its resources. This was the message shared with participants of the UN Ocean Conference today by Pacific Leaders at the ‘Blue Pacific’ event, hosted and chaired by the Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner – Dame Meg Taylor. Blue Pacific – Our Sea Of Islands, OurRead More
Special Session of the UN Peacebuilding Commission on peacebuilding in Solomon Islands
THE United Nations Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) will host a special session on the Solomon Islands today during the annual meeting of the Commission on 07 June 2017 in New York. The session will be attended by the 31 Member States of the Commission, and an invitation was extended to all Pacific Member States and other partners. The aim of the session is to present to the UN Peacebuilding Commission the experience of the Solomon Islands, including an update on the transition and peacebuilding efforts of the Solomon Islands in theRead More
Chun Wah receive books from CHEC
CHUNG Wah School received sets of text books from the China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd yesterday. The books, totalling up to 236 copies, were handed to the Acting Principal of the school by representatives from the Chinese company. The books are in Mandarin language and were donated to the school purposely for learning of the language, as it has been part of the school syllabus. The text books vary from the levels of years (classes) that will help the students a lot in their Mandarin language learning. In the meantime,Read More
SINU’s new classroom construction starts at Kukum campus
SOLOMON Islands National University is underway in constructions to its mulit-million Australian funded classrooms. Constructions began on May 22, and the classrooms are also said to be for automative workshops. Acting Vice Chancellor Professor Basil Shelton Marasinghe said, “Australia’s investment in the Automotive Centre of Excellence is around $2.4m, and construction of the workshop commenced on 22 May and the expected completion date is 7 August.” He adds, the School of Technology and Maritime Studies programme in Australia is working with SINU’s School of Business and management to create aRead More
World Environment Day: Connecting people to nature – reflections for Solomon Islands
EVERY year, June 5 is celebrated as World Environment Day worldwide. It is the United Nation’s principal vehicle for encouraging awareness and action for the protection of our environment. Each year a theme is adopted to advocate on emerging environmental issues from marine pollution, human overpopulation, and global warming, to sustainable consumption and wildlife crime. This year 2017, the theme was ‘connecting people to nature’. It invited us to get into nature, appreciate its beauty, and think about how we are part of nature and how intimately we depend on it. This article isRead More
New Zealand Defence Force delivers books to Honiara
DEAR EDITOR, according to a late afternoon news bulletin broadcast by Radio New Zealand International yesterday, Wednesday, the New Zealand Defence Force has delivered about a tonne of textbooks and children’s books to the only public library in Honiara. The books were chosen from Rotary donations in Greymouth, New Zealand, by Ms Daphne Smithers, a Volunteer Service Abroad worker who lives in Greymouth. Ms Smithers said the books were mainly textbooks and non-fiction books that secondary and tertiary students desperately need, as well as children’s books. She also said younger people in Honiara were hungry for books. I am sure all will join in thanking Ms Smithers and the New Zealand Defence Force for the generousRead More
Poor nutrition claimed to be stunting children’s growth in the Solomons
DEAR EDITOR, full details from the report into the Solomon Islands national statistics development strategy are yet to emerge, but it has already been claimed, according to yesterday’s SIBC news bulletin that poor nutritional intake by children resulting in stunting remains one of the top development challenges in the country. The SIBC bulletin mentioned that the government statistician, Mr Douglas Kimi, said that 32 percent of children under five years were stunted, while 10 percent of them were severely stunted. Mr Kimi was also quoted by the SIBC as saying, “This is a result of poor health and nutritional factors resulting from the country’s poor socioeconomic conditions.” “This will have implications on reducedRead More
World heritage site
DEAR EDITOR, first I would like to than the Cabinet and the Commissioner of Forest to cancel or put a stop to this illegal logging led by some people who falsely claimed they are the true principal land owners of the said site. About 86 percent of Rennell Forest were already logged and also illegally destroyed. The only left forest in Rennell is in the eastern part of Rennell close to the heritage site known as Lake Tegano forests. I must say that the forest and the lake are blessingRead More
SINU and APTC sign new automotive centre of excellence
THE Solomon Islands National University (SINU) yesterday signed a landmark collaboration agreement with the Australia-Pacific Technical College to set up a new Automotive Centre of Excellence. The programme called Solomon Islands Skills for Economic Growth (S4EG) Programme for development of an Automotive Centre of Excellence will be located within the School of Technology and Maritime Studies (STMS) at Kukum Campus. It is expected to build capacity and train young people passionate in Light and Heavy vehicles. With the Centre of Excellence’s agreement, the SINU Acting Vice Chancellor Professor Basil SheltonRead More
NSS hopes to reach new heights
THE National Statistical System hopes to reach new heights in 15 years despite the weakness and difficulties currently faced. This was revealed in the newly launched Solomon Islands National Statistics Development Strategy (NSDS) 2015-2016 to 2035. According to the report, by 2035 NSS will have a well-coordinated system where agencies can work together to ensure all information are accessible. They believe that they will have an integrated and well-resourced system. There will be a strong legislative mandate and strong coordinated leadership and mandate. The NSO will play a professional roleRead More