For $10,000.00 the quest is now on between an International futsal star and a toddler, showcasing their soccer skills on the Bmobile Vodafone Solomon Islands facebook page. The Telecommunication company in Solomon Islands has for some time now posted this competition on their Facebook Page. "SHOW US YOUR SOCCER SKILLS FOR $10,000 ! Win $10,000 cash by entering our Facebook Solomon Islands soccer skills competition. From now until October 31 we want you to INBOX us a short clip showing your soccer skills (no more than 60 secs please). We will then post your clip on our Facebook page and ask followers to vote by “liking” the clip. The person with the most “likes” scores $10,000 ! Anyone that can do anything with a soccer ball is entitled to enter – we just wanna see your skills ! SO HURRY AND GET KICKING NOW !" With not much entries, the competition now is between toddler, Jax Alick and International Futsal star, Jack Wheatney.  With a few more weeks to go, littl...

The Government will seek concessional debt financing to implement the Tina Hydro and the Under Sea Internet cable projects in 2017, while, at the same time restrain the increase in payroll cost for public servants. These are elements of a series of measures outlined by the Minister of Finance and Treasury Hon. Snyder Rini when launching the 2017 budget preparation process in Honiara on Monday. The Tina River Hydro Project and the Under Sea Internet Cable are expected to boost the local economy immediately and in the medium to long term. Investing in the Tina River Hydro Electric program would deliver cheaper and more sustainable electricity to Honiara to stimulate economic activities.  The Under Sea Internet Cable would have less immediate impact during construction, but the World Bank estimates that in the first 5 years of operation it will boost economic growth by 1 per cent in each year when in becomes operational by the end of 2017. “For such large investment p...

As part of its strategy for the formulation of the 2017 budget the Government will implement a number of revenue and expenditure control measures in spending the 2016 budget to ensure the current budget is balanced by the beginning of 2017 fiscal year. The implementation of these measures will commence immediately. The Minister of Finance and Treasury Snyder Rini announced the measures during the launching of the 2017 budget preparation process today. These measures will include the improvement of expenditure quality through better scrutiny of payment submissions against the intended purpose of appropriation, through enhanced compliance processes and procurement. As part of this measure, the Ministry of Finance can make reservations on any budgetary allocation for which the purpose of the project or program can be deferred to start in 2017 or is not ready to be implemented in 2016. Reservations can also be made when a program or projec...

The Solomon Islands Ports Authority (SIPA) Board has approved a SB$40 million investment into new wharf handling equipment and machines to increase the ability of the Honiara Port to handle cargoes. Vice Chairman of the Board and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, Mr Henry Murray announced the SB$40 million investment at the opening of the 2nd Honiara International Berthing wharf today. The Japanese Government through its international funding agency, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has funded the port improvement project for approximately SB$200 million. The new 150 meters international wharf together with its other new facilities will increase and improve the capacity and the ability of the Ports Authority to handle more ships and cargoes and to efficiently manage exports and imports passing through Honiara in a timely manner for all port users.      To help the SIPA achieve the market expectations, Mr Mur...