Contemporary Bilum work from Papua New Guinea will be featured in the sixth annual Maketi Ples, on this week at Shapiro Gallery, Sydney. Maketi Ples was established in 2011 by Pacific Islands Trade and Invest to introduce a wide range of contemporary and traditional Pacific Islands works of art to an Australian audience of consumers, designers, retailers and importers. Since then, Maketi Ples has become the premier event for contemporary Pacific Islands-based artisans. Over 140 artists and creators have exhibited during this time, bringing their work to the attention of Australian buyers. “By investing resources in the creative arts sector, we are helping to place a commercial value on the traditional knowledge and cultural expressions of Pacific Islands communities such as PNG’s Bilum weavers,” said PT&I’s Trade Commissioner Caleb Jarvis. This years’ exhibition features some of the most exciting contempora...

The Government’s Civil Registration Office of the Ministry of Home Affairs has a new home which now provides convenient and efficient civil registration and vital statics services to the public. The Minister of Home Affairs, Manasseh Maelanga formally opened the new office on Wednesday 28 September, which is located at the second floor of the Anthony Saru building in central Honiara. The establishment of the office is a result of the cordial partnership between the Solomon Islands Government, UNICEF, WHO and Bloomberg to fulfill the civil registration needs of Solomon Islands. “I would like to thank all stakeholders, especially, UNICEF, WHO and Bloomberg for their efforts in assisting us to achieve this very important responsibility of our Government,” Mr Maelanga said. He also acknowledged the Solomon Islands National Provident Fund (SINPF) Board and Management for kindly allocating the office space for the Government to administer the civil registration process. ...

Prime Minister Sogavare reported that Solomon Islands had already begun work on domesticating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's). This is done by integrating these goals into the 2016 to 2035 National Development Strategy (NDS).  Prime Minister Sogavare says the NDS provides a clear, coherence and harmonized approach of his government's way in delivering the country's national policies and programs to the people. Addressing  the UN General Assembly in New York, Prime Minister Sogavare highlighted the urgent need of action to combat climate change.  He says, last year was a year of agreement and adoption of frameworks.  This year he says, must be to implement the frameworks and agreements to make them operational. Prime Minister Sogavare says Solomon Islands welcome the Paris Agreement and in doing so had already ratified the Paris Agreement.  It's instrument of ratification has just been submitted recently and he highlighted the urgent need of actio...

The Ministry of Finance and Treasury has confirmed that the 2016 Mid-Year Budget Review (2016 MYBR) has been tabled in Parliament. The announcement was made to clarify claims raised by the Opposition Group in the media on 23rd September 2016 that suggested the Minister of Finance and Treasury may have breached the PFM Act for not tabling the report. The Ministry is committed to implement reforms under the PFM Act that increases transparency in Government businesses and encourages sharing of information on government finances.   The Ministry of Finance reiterates that the passage and effectiveness of the PFM Act 2013, in year 2014 was an important milestone.   To be able to implement the Act, the Ministry of Finance continues to upgrade and integrate systems and processes, and recruit staff.  “It is important that data quality and integrity is ensured in this reporting and the Ministry is working very hard to ensure that reports that need to be published...

The Ministry of Development Planning and Aid Co-ordination (MDPAC) has taken another step towards the successful implementation of the National Development Strategy (NDS) 2017-2035 with the signing of a contract between Mr Hasmukh Lal, Director of USP (Pacific TAFE) and Mr Shadrach Fanega, Permanent Secretary of MDPAC on Friday 23rd of September 2016. Pacific TAFE, an arm of the University of South Pacific in Fiji that specializes in skills based education and training in Pacific countries, will train 50 officers from a range of national government ministries to Certificate IV level in Project Management Practice in Honiara from October to December this year. Mr Fanega said “Providing this accredited training to targeted officers responsible for implementing development budget projects identified in the Medium Term Development Plan 2017-2021 and the National Development Strategy 2017 -2035 shows the Government’s strong commitment to improve implementation of projects...

As part of its United Nations Pacific Strategy (UNPS) in country consultations, heads of various UN Agencies in the Pacific have recently held fruitful consultations with people from the communities of Auki and surrounding areas in Malaita Province. The team is being Led by the UN Resident Coordinator, Ms. Osnat Lubrani.  The team also visited the Malaita Provincial Government where they were met by the Deputy Premier of Malaita Provincial Government (MPG), Mr. Alick Maeaba and the Deputy Provincial Secretary, Mr. Robert Wales Feratelia. During the consultation, the MPG highlighted key areas of priority which their government is working on. Good governance, land reform, economic development and education. Other areas of community concern which the MPG highlighted were acute water shortages and sanitation. The DPS said donors need to listen to the people in order to address their needs. Another part of the field trip by the UNPS is to Gwounoa School just on the outskirt...