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LEADER of Opposition Matthew Wale has questioned why discretionary exemptions have continued to be granted despite assurances by the Minister of Finance in Parliament to cancel past exemptions and halt future ones as of June 2024. In a statement today, Wale said the Finance Minister was very animated in making…
by Ofani Eremae China and Solomon Islands today agreed to permanently waive visa requirements for each other’s citizens. This follows the signing of an agreement on mutual visa exemption by China’s ambassador to Solomon Islands Cai Weiming and Foreign Affairs minister Peter Shanel Agovaka in Honiara this morning. “Today marks…
by Stephen Howes* Data just released from the Australian Department of Employment and Workplace Relations shows a sharp decline in Pacific workers engaged in short-term (seasonal) agricultural work, with the total falling from 18,905 in July 2023 to 14,355 a year later in July 2024, a decline of 24% in a single…
The Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) has echoed the calls of the Palau Media Council (PMC) and the Pacific Freedom Forum (PFF) to uphold freedom of expression and press freedom across the Pacific. These rights, PINA emphasises, are essential for ensuring the well-being of citizens and supporting democratic principles in…
by Georgina Maka’a Immigration authority say $10 million allocated in this year’s budget for the purchase of passport books have all been spent. This is why they were unable to purchase new passports after their stock ran out more than three months ago. “The $10 million budget for this year…
The Australian Border Force (ABF) has delivered a second round of investigative interview training to Solomon Islands Customs, Immigration, and Police to help equip officers to plan and conduct detailed and effective investigative interviews. The training is based on the PEACE model for investigative interviewing, which began in the United…
by Gina Maka’a Solomon Islands authorities are preparing the country ahead of the cyclone season, which runs from November to April. The first activity will take place on 5 November 2024, and will feature what the National Disaster Management Organization (NDMO) dubbed “Eksasaes Aelan Weiv” (Exercise Island Wave [EAW]). NDMO deputy…
The European Union (EU) and New Zealand have reaffirmed their commitment to addressing climate change impacts in Solomon Islands. This pledge was announced at the launch of the Local Climate Adaptive Living (LoCAL) Facility in Honiara today, with SBD$128 million in funding provided to support provincial governments through the Ministry…
Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele will be speaking on the 8th Business Excellence Award scheduled to take place on 16th of this month at Aquatic Centre. This was confirmed when officials and board members from SICCI paid a courtesy visit to the Prime Minister this week. “Preparation for the 8th Business Excellence…
Work on two World Bank-funded Air Traffic Control Towers for Solomon Islands’ two international airports is set to start soon. Chinese state-owned company China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) has won the tender to build the control towers for Honiara and Munda international airports. The contract, valued at over SBD$90…
