SOLOMON FOCUS

BY GEORGINA KEKEA “I am the eldest in the family and I feel a sense of responsibility to make something of my life so that I can be able to support my family”. The sentiment shared by Mike Toni from Veramogho village in South Guadalcanal is not far from what most Solomon Islanders are also thinking of when hoping to get into the Labor Mobility Scheme. The Labor Mobility Scheme is an objective of Pacific Island political leaders to increase access for Pacific Island Country workers to Australia and New Zealand. With this employment opportunity in higher economies, Solomon Islanders are looking into this scheme as an opportunity to improve their living standards and productivity. But the process to get into the system is not as rosy as it sounds. “I have been here since last week trying to get a passport,'' says Toni. Mike Toni from Veramogho, South Guadalcanal Most of those trying to get into the Labor Mobility Scheme are those trying to get a passport for the first time. The pr...

BY GEORGINA KEKEA  THE Guadalcanal provincial government is now in the process to claim the title of the Matanikau industrial area in Central Honiara. Premier Francis Sade says an offer letter was granted to the Provincial Government last year. On the occasion to mark the province’s second appointed day, he told the people that the transfer instrument was signed on 17 July 2021.  “The government plans to construct a building that will represent Guadalcanal province right in the center of the city. I thank the Ministry of Lands and in particular the Commissioner of Lands for continuously supporting Guadalcanal province addressing land overdue issues, including the Rita Eleven Headquarter land title”, Premier Sade said.  Since taking office in 2019, the Guadalcanal executive government led by Premier Sade has continued to pursue the issue of land in the province. The sale of customary land and Fixed Term Estate (FTE) titles are said to be the problems encountered by th...

THE Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) in collaboration with the Economics Association is in the process of developing a ‘Private Sector Pathway to COVID -19 Recovery Strategy’. This strategy highlights focus areas for Government to prioritize to create the right settings for future private sector growth to bolster the COVID-19 economic recovery and support businesses. This strategy document will contain the private sector's perspectives on how the Solomon Islands Government can best support business in the economic recovery in the next three years. Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ms. Natalina Hong said the strategy will identify the key issues currently faced by business and the core reforms needed to create a conducive environment for private-sector led growth for recovery. “The Private Sector Pathway to the COVID -19 Recovery Strategy will be provided to Government and used to focus SICCI consultations and collaboration with SIG on the 2021 natio...

SOLOMON Islands now recorded its third confirmed case of COVID-19. Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare made this announcement today. He said he is relieved that only one new case was confirmed when the number could have been higher. Sogavare says a major constraint faced by the Oversight Committee and camp management is to secure adequate  facilities to ensure the students have individual rooms. “However we have managed to secure some additional facilities. Our health team has conducted an in depth risk assessment to the student today. Those students who are considered low risk will move to the additional facilities to complete their quarantine there. Chengs quarantine station will either remain the main quarantine station for our students”. He says community transmission remains low and the COVID-19 outbreak is being contained. He says the students in quarantine stations are also taking their responsibility seriously. Meanwhile four more Solomon Islands students were confirmed in the...

CHAIRMAN of the Electoral Commission, Mr. Patteson John Oti in a statement assured constituents from North East Guadalcanal and Central Honiara Constituencies that preparations for the conduct of the two by-elections on November 18, are well underway.   Nominations had closed on Wednesday, 7 October, and the Electoral Office is well into preparation for ballot papers printing, conduct of pre-polling and the conduct of the election proper on November 18. In 2019 National General Election, voter turnout for Central Honiara and North East Guadalcanal were 75 percent and 92 percent respectively. The Electoral Commission is doing everything it can to ensure that the same level of voters, if not higher, participated in the upcoming two by-elections.  Mr. Oti, is encouraging registered voters in the two constituencies to come forward and exercise their rights to choose the most suitable person to represent her or him in Parliament. “It is crucially important that voters in...