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Agriculture Sector Needs More Support THE recent Australia Solomon Islands Business Forum held in Honiara has highlighted that agriculture sector remains the country’s top sector that is yet to realize its potential and contribution to the national economy. This finding is supported by reports from SINPF and CBSI. Out of 57,000 members of Solomon Islands National... READ MORE Western Border Outpost Work Has Commenced at Shortland Island WORKS have commenced at the Western Border Outpost at Shortland Island with the arrival of the first barge on 29 August 2024. Australian High Commissioner, Rod Hilton, said this marked a significant milestone for the Western Border Outpost, a multi-million Australian dollar infrastructure project being delivered under the Defence Cooperation... READ MORE Babatana Project: A Model for Sustainability in Choiseul Province BY CHRIS ALEX IN the lush expanse of Choiseul province near the Kolombangara River, the Babatana Rainforest Conservation Project stands as a testament to the power of community-led environmental stewardship. This initiative, covering tribal lands identified as a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA), is a collaborative effort to protect a vital rainforest... READ MORE Kongulai Water Supply Shut Down SOLOMON Water announces that water supply from Kongulai is temporarily closed due to high turbidity caused by recent heavy rains. Turbidity, which indicates cloudiness from particles like silt and mud, can make water unsafe for drinking and use. The closure is necessary to prevent unsafe water from reaching customers, as... READ MORE Australia Boosts Support for Solomon Islands’ Productive Sector - Expansion of Cathliro Cocoa Facility THIS week, Australia announced further support for Solomon Islands’ cocoa industry through a new processing facility to be built at Cathliro in Honiara Australia has been supporting local businesses in the productive sector (such as coconut, cocoa and cassava) to diversify their products, boost domestic sales and exports and employ... READ MORE Solomon Islands and United States Sign Bilateral Explosive Ordnance Agreement THE Ministry of Police, National Security, and Correctional Services, the United States Embassy in Honiara on behalf of the U.S. Department of Defence, signed a memorandum of agreement for humanitarian mine assistance (HMA) at the Ministry of Police, National Security, and Correctional Services in Honiara on September 4, 2024. The... READ MORE MAL Alerts Bee Farmers of Varroa Mite Infestation THE Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) is alerting Bee farmers to be vigilant against a widespread incursion of the Varroa mite (Varroa destructor), a serious threat to honey bee colonies globally now confirmed detected in Honiara. First detected in North Carolina in 1990, this external parasitic mite is one... READ MORE First Nations Envoy Visits Cocoa Farm AUSTRALIA’S Ambassador for First Nations People, Justin Mohamed, together with Agriculture Minister the Hon. Franklyn Wasi, visited Amazing Grace Boutique Cocoa Farm in East Honiara this week.  Grace Fekau, owner of Amazing Grace, shared her story of running a successful cocoa farm and tourism business and providing much-needed jobs for... READ MORE Three Communities in Rannogah Celebrate No Open Defecation Milestone THREE communities in Ward Five and Six at Rannogah Island, Western Province, have successfully celebrated the achievement of No Open Defecation (NOD) status last week. This communities of Pidaka and Nyami, commonly known as Vonga, celebrated their NOD status on Tuesday, August 27, while Tirobuni Community held its celebration on... READ MORE New CEMA Director Simon Chottu Commits to Revitalizing Solomon Islands Agriculture BY JOY OFASIA THE newly appointed Director of the CEMA Cabinet Sub-Committee, Simon Chottu, has expressed deep honor and commitment as he steps into his new role. Mr. Chottu, in a statement, emphasized his strong sense of purpose and dedication to revitalizing the Commodities Export Marketing Authority (CEMA) and leveraging the... READ MORE Minister Wasi Inspects First Ever Solomon Islands Vapor Heat Treatment Facility SOLOMON Islands long wait to meet international market standard requirements for the export of agricultural products will soon be a thing of the past. Thanks to a National Government funded building complex to house a vapor heat treatment plant at the MAL Biosecurity area close to Henderson International Airport, Honiara. The... READ MORE First Ever Digital Nautical Charts Produced By SIMA THE first draft of a digital nautical charts of Honiara Port and its approaches have been produced by the Solomon Islands Maritime Authority (SIMA), with the assistance of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Solomon Islands. JICA and SIMA jointly conducted hydrographic surveys in Honiara and Noro by using... READ MORE Operation Render Safe 2024 – Set to Commence Next Week SPECIALIST explosive ordnance disposal teams and supporting air assets have started to arrive in Solomon Islands this week ahead of Operation Render Safe 2024. Over the coming days, more than 250 explosive ordnance specialists, from over eight countries will deploy to Western Province to identify and destroy explosive remnants... READ MORE MAL Pleased With Policy Consultation Outcomes THE Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) is very pleased with the outcome of the Agriculture Sector Development Policy consultations and thanked all that have participated and contributed constructively over the two days event. Acting Deputy Secretary Special Duties (DSSD) of MAL Simon Baete at the close of the workshop... READ MORE Solomon Water Updates Sewer Works Project SOLOMON Islands Water Authority, provides water and sanitation services to the communities of Honiara, and water services to Auki, Noro and Tulagi. Solomon Water as the leading water utility has prepared and commenced the construction of several major capital works investment projects under its 30-Year Strategic Plan. Our Strategic Plan put... READ MORE Environment Minister launches Multi-Hazard Early Warning workshop A crucial workshop on Multi-Hazards Early Warning for Solomon Islands gets underway in Honiara this week, gathering multiple national key stakeholders and international agencies. Launching the workshop today, the Minister for Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM), Hon. Trevor Manemahaga said the meeting marks a significant step in... READ MORE RSIPF Issues Warning Ahead of UXO Operation at Vilu Area THE Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) Explosive Ordnance Disposal Department (EODD) will conduct a Render Safe Procedure (RSP) operation to dispose of a live bomb found in the Vilu area, North West Guadalcanal, on 22 August 2024. The operation will be active from 9am to 2pm. Acting Director of... READ MORE Minister Wasi Opens Consultation to Chart and Shape Agriculture’s Future A two-day consultation to chart and shape the future of agriculture sector development in Solomon Islands is currently underway at the National Hosting Authority (NHA) Conference room at the Sports City, KGVI in East Honiara. The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) in collaboration with its key partners and stakeholders... READ MORE 202 UXOs Safely Remove From a School In Honiara THE Explosive Ordnance Disposal Department (EODD) of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) have safely removed 202 Unexploded Ordnance (UXOs) at St. Nicholas School today (20 August 2024). The removal came about when the school discovered the stockpile of US projectiles in front of a staff house when they... READ MORE Eastern Colour Pty Here to Recruit Local Workers A Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Approved Employer, Eastern Colour Pty Ltd is in Honiara to recruit workers to join its workforce in Australia. Eastern Colour recruitment manager, Maryanne met with the Director of the Labour Mobility Unit (LMU), Christina Marau and her team to brief them on the purpose... READ MORE