Leader of Opposition, Hon. Jeremiah Manele says it is important to note that the National Development Strategy (NDS) 2016 - 2035 only serves as a guide to development planning and budgeting. Hon. Manele said It is not mandatory or a must for governments in the next 18 years to comply with it in terms of aligning their Medium Term Development Plan (MTDP) and budgets to it.  Mr. Manele said "herein lies our challenge in terms of being able to achieve the vision, mission, and objectives of the NDS. While its non-mandatory status gives the incoming Governments flexibility in terms of producing MTDP and budget, there is high risk that the MTDP and budget could be based largely on short term political interests and initiatives". The Opposition Leader says "it is easy to focus so much of our attention on the short-term goals and objectives that we overlook the bigger long-term picture. Sadly, this has been the common trend over the years for successive governments. We fa...

The people of Rennell and Bellona Province have celebrated the Province’s 24 th Second Appointed Day with a call for greater cooperation amongst its people to advance their development aspirations. Deputy Prime Minister Manasseh Maelanga made the call on Tuesday when he officiated at this year’s celebrations on Bellona Island. Renbel has been going through many challenges in trying to achieve its development goals since becoming a province in 1993. The Deputy Prime Minister said Renbel Province, like any other Provinces has the challenging responsibility to look after the affairs of its people with its limited manpower and capital resources. “However, as long as we work together, set our strategies and implementation plans in the right direction, with shared vision and goals, I am sure we can navigate the development of our province towards the right direction,” he said. “I believe that once we work together and support each other on these issues, we can help driv...

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade reaffirms the Government’s commitment on the establishment of the Solomon Islands High Commission in London. The Solomon Islands High Commission to the UK, which became operational on 3 rd April 2017, is part of the Governments commitment in enhancing bilateral and multilateral ties with the UK.  As result, the London Mission remains a priority for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade. The Ministry is making every effort to ensure the newly established Mission in London is appropriately resourced and this is being pursued through relevant processes. The substantive High Commissioner for Solomon Islands to the UK still remains as H.E Moses Mose who is Non-resident but continues to carryout representative duties from Brussels, as well as, overseeing the day to day operations of the London based Solomon Islands High Commission Office. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, is working closel...

The Tourism Industry in Solomon Islands is now at the crossroads and needs to position itself as a destination in the next 10 years either to grow at a passive rate of 9% or take a more conscious but aggressive rate of 15%. Photo Credit: Zeri Leni  (Makaruka) Moro movement Prior to a two-day National Sustainable Tourism Investment Forum, the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Bartholomew Parapolo said “Tourism is a growing industry and one that is very significant to the future of the country’s economic growth”. Mr. Parapolo says “Although there have been some improvements in the overall performance of the tourism sector in recent times, there is a need to take some concrete steps towards realizing the potential.” Hosted by the National Government through the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau, the Forum will look at three key objectives. To drive investor interest and confidence in the destination To identify and address ...

Australian Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells and Solomon Islands Minister for Development Planning and Aid Co-ordination Danny Philip has signed a new Solomon Islands-Australia Aid Partnership.   The Partnership sets out the Solomon Islands and Australian Governments shared vision for cooperation over the next three years to improve people's lives.  It will focus on stimulating economic growth, improving health, education and gender equality outcomes and supporting ongoing stability. "Australia is committed to build on the success of RAMSI", Minister Fierravanti-Wells said, "through our long-standing development program, we will continue to support sustained. inclusive economic growth, stability and poverty reduction in Solomon Islands". Under the Partnership, Minister Fierravanti-Wells announced that Australia has committed up to AUD17 million for the Tina River Hydropower Development Pro...

OPPOSITION Leader Honorable Jeremiah Manele has conveyed his gratitude to the 15 member states of the Pacific Islands Forum that makes up RAMSI. In his statement in Parliament Tuesday this week, Mr Manele took time to acknowledge the contribution of the 15 member states of the Pacific Islands Forum. “Tagio tumas Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa, Tonga, Niue, Marshall Islands, FSM, Palau, Nauru, Tuvalu, Kiribati, and Cook Islands for helping us through RAMSI,” he said. The Opposition Leader also commended in particular the lead role played by Australia and New Zealand. “I thank the Australian Government and its people for the huge financial contribution of 2.8 billion dollars towards RAMSI. The Parliamentary Opposition is also grateful for Australia’s ongoing bilateral assistance towards other sectors such as education and health in Solomon Islands,” he said. The Parliamentary Opposition Leader also paid tribute to the six RAMSI personnel who...

Members of the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SICCI) hosted a luncheon yesterday afternoon with the visiting Pacific Islands Forum leaders as part of the weeklong RAMSI Farewell celebrations. The luncheon was hosted by SICCI on behalf of the private sector proudly sponsored by ANZ, BSP and Solomon Airlines for leaders and delegates of PIF nations in the Regional Mission Assistance to Solomon Islands. The lunch was attended by the Hon Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, General Secretary of PIFs Dame Meg Taylor, 16 PIFs leaders, Diplomatic Corps, SIG and RAMSI officials, and members of the chamber. SICCI Chair Jay Bartlett opened the occasion with a moving speech reflecting on the achievements of the mission but also looking forward to opportunities that lay ahead for the Solomon Islands. “It’s important that we view these opportunities and challenges not from a business or political point of view, but as a united country with a common vision th...