MAL Minister Set to Launch Cocoa Sector Intervention Strategy A strategic framework aims to strengthen and enhance the country’s cocoa industry amidst current challenges and opportunities The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) under the capable and visionary leadership of Honourable Minister Franklyn Derek Wasi is taking immediate steps in addressing the Solomon Islands cocoa industry which holds significant... READ MORE Message from Ms Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, On the occasion of the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, 26 July 2024 Mangroves are a link between land and sea. Rooted in saline water and soils exposed to the tides, these plants form a rare and fragile universe; a haven of life that must be protected. From  their  intertwining  roots  to  the  tips  of  their  branches,  mangroves  are  a  complex  habitat  and ... READ MORE Australia Partners with UNICEF to Launch Wash in Schools in Central Province AUSTRALIA, in partnership with UNICEF, has launched the SBD 18 million WASH in Schools (WinS) Project at Bokolonga Primary School, to enhance water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities in 30 schools in Central Province. Implemented by UNICEF, the Project is designed to improve health, hygiene, and educational outcomes for approximately... READ MORE Acting PM Tovosia Opens 23rd Annual Ministerial Forum Fisheries Meeting ACTING Prime Minister Hon. Bradley Tovosia opened the 23rd Annual Ministerial Forum Fisheries meeting and the 5th Annual Regional Fisheries Ministers’ meeting in Honiara yesterday morning. Ministers and Senior Officials from FFA member countries are meeting this week to discuss and chart FFA’s path to foster sustainable fisheries management, and... READ MORE Fisheries Ministers Gather for Annual Meetings THE 23rd Annual Ministerial Forum Fisheries Committee (FFC) and the 5th Annual Regional Fisheries Ministers Meeting commenced yesterday at the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) Headquarters in Honiara, Solomon Islands. The event was officially opened by the Acting Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands, Hon. Bradley Tovosia, who delivered... READ MORE Australia Funds Water Supply Project in Bubumala, Northwest Guadalcanal AUSTRALIAN High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, His Excellency Rod Hilton travelled with Member of Parliament for Northwest Guadalcanal, Hon Francis Sade, to Bubumala Village to formally open the Bubumala Community Water Supply Project, funded by Australia and built by Solomon Islanders. The Bubumala Community used a Solomon Islands – Australia... READ MORE From Forest to Future: Donation Kelisuia’s Journey to Protect his Tribal Land DONATION Kelisuia is a 24-year-old from Namoku Village, Avuavu Ward, East Guadalcanal. Donation has eight siblings; he is the fifth born in the family. His village, Namoku, is one of the most remote villages in Guadalcanal. It is a small village with fewer than 20 families. Reaching Namoku is not for the... READ MORE Solomon Islands Calls for Enhanced Partnerships to Address Climate Crisis SOLOMON Islands emphasized the pressing need for strengthened global partnerships and increased climate finance to address the unique challenges faced by Small Island Developing States (SIDS) during a high-level panel discussion on the margins of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) in New York. Minister for National Planning... READ MORE Cocoa Farmers in Guadalcanal Receive Support from ADRA TWO cocoa farmers in North Guadalcanal and Northeast Guadalcanal received support from the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) through its Soul Cocoa Plus Livelihood Project (SCPLP) on Thursday, July 11, 2024. Project Officer for SCPLP, Reidly Harold, along with ADRA Logistic Officer Jack Fakaia and Communication, Monitoring, and Evaluation... READ MORE Forestry Rolls Out Monitoring and Compliance Checks THE Ministry of Forestry and Research has embarked on its 100 days priorities as mandated under the Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT) has kicked start with log export monitoring and compliance checks. The Ministry has been critized by the Finance Minister, Manasseh Sogavare on the floor of the... READ MORE Visale Community Trains for Disaster THE Divit Girls Rural Training Centre (DGRTC), owned and operated by the Catholic Church at Visale in West Guadalcanal, has delighted with a one-week Disaster Preparedness and Evacuation Centre Management (DPECM) training facilitated by the Church Agencies Network Disaster Operations (CANDO) consortium at their school. The DPECM training started on... READ MORE Cheroa Waste Management Revolutionizes Honiara with Eco-Friendly Solutions CHEROA Waste Management Services, a newly operated waste management company in Honiara, is enhancing its efforts to develop sustainable and eco-friendly waste disposal methods due to the increasing daily waste generation. Cheroa established its operations in 2023 to address the growing waste crisis in the Solomon Islands. Their focus is... READ MORE CANDO Improves Church Facilities with Proper Sanitation AGENCIES Network Disaster Operations is undertaking retrofitting work in targeted communities across four provinces: Guadalcanal, Western, Malaita, Choiseul, Makira, and Central Island Provinces. This initiative is part of the Disaster READY program, funded by the Australian government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). As part of their disaster... READ MORE Minister Wasi Announces Key Priorities to Unlock Agriculture’s Full Potential  THE Honourable Minister for the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) Franklyn Derek Wasi has outlined top priorities he plans to achieve with the support of his staff during his tenure in office to boost the development of agriculture sector in the country. Hon. Minister Wasi said the essential priorities... READ MORE Dr Aqorau Calls for Coconut Industry Proactive and Resilience Measures BY JOY OFASIA DR. Transform Aqorau, Vice Chancellor of Solomon Islands National University, highlighted the need to economically protect the Solomon Islands and other Pacific Islands’ coconut industries during the Coconut Pest Conference 2024. The four-day Coconut Pest Conference is currently underway at the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) Fisheries Lecture... READ MORE Minister Wasi Pushes to Revive Cocoa Industry Prioritizes $5 million funding to support local cocoa farmers and buyers to rejuvenate the industry The new Honourable Minister for the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) Franklyn Derek Wasi says he is pushing for the availability of more funds to revitalize the cocoa industry. Early this week the ministry through... READ MORE Tulagi Township Celebrates Opening of First Public Toilet Facility BY CHRIS ALEX THE Tulagi Public Toilet Facility was officially opened on Wednesday, 26th, in a brief but significant ceremony. The event saw the attendance of the Premier for Central Province, the Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) for Tulagi and Minister of Culture & Tourism, Communication & Civil Aviation, Hon. Michael Salini,... READ MORE SIMA to Upgrade Maritime College and Improve Education Training BY JOY OFASIA THE Solomon Islands Maritime Authority has announced plans to modernize the Solomon Islands National University Maritime College facilities in an effort to improve the training and education given to maritime students. The Solomon Islands National University (SINU) Maritime College, located at Ranadi, east of Honiara, is known for... READ MORE Safety of Seafarers is Most Paramount Say Captain Diana Hill BY JOY OFASIA SAFETY is the most important and paramount obligation of every seafarer, said Captain Diana Hill Su'ulisau, speaking on behalf of the seafarers in the Solomon Islands maritime industry. Captain Hill has spoken out at the Day of the Seafarer celebration 2024 in Honiara about the importance of prioritizing... READ MORE New Honiara Central Market Extension to Open Next Month THE new Western Extension of the Honiara’s Central Market will be completed next month, creating undercover space for 100 vendors. Local workers have been busy installing the large roof and are now finishing the concrete bench tables and other works in time for the opening. Australia is partnering with Honiara City... READ MORE