For many in the Solomon Islands and more so in the rural areas, cash is a very modern instrument. Just until a generation ago, many Solomon Islanders were comfortable dealing with informal values of exchange- root crops, livestock, shell money, copra, cocoa and the like. Cash became sought after only after some daily wants could…
Dear Editor – Logging is not a development and all along I have been an anti-logger. My advice to the people of Manawai and Muki was not considered therefore today they started to experience the consequences. I did not support logging and for two contractors to operate at one area as in our case is…
Dear Editor – Bob Pollard kindly replied to my letter in your newspaper in which I had outlined the potential for coconut virgin oil production as a valuable, much needed commodity, and a source of income for farmers. Bob said one of the difficulties his company faced was farmers wanting to participate in the scheme,…
Dear Editor – The Central Market in Honiara is an important venue for the market vendors, shoppers and tourists alike. Always a hive of activity and a place I liked to visit during my time in Honiara. I was pleased to learn the members of the Honiara Central Market Vendor’s Association (HCMVA) are committed to…
The need for police and immigration presence at our common border with neighbours Papua New Guinea is urgent than even. Right now, the border was left unattended by these responsible authorities. While historically people living on both sides of the border were blood related, this does not mean cross-border activities should be allowed to go…
The Minister for Culture and Tourism Bartholomew Parapolo says the country’s diverse and unique cultures are an important product as a tourist attraction that must be harnessed in the country’s development agenda. Speaking at the official launch of the Government’s new National Tourism Development Strategy Friday, Parapolo said culture is an important fabric of Solomon…
Most people in Malaita lived stressful and traumatic lives, a survey has found. The High Level Stress and Trauma Self-Assessment Survey was carried out by the Commission on Justice, Reconciliation and Peace of the Anglican Church of Melanesia in Malaita. It focused on the problems that affect the physical, mental, behavioural, emotional and spirituality of…
Solomon Islands National University (SINU) intends to reclaim and renovate the run-down and disused Solomon Islands Malaria Training and Research Institute building at Kukum. The building, once of the prides of Honiara, was built by the Japanese Government. It has since been abandoned due to its debilitating condition. SINU’s vice chancellor Dr Glynn Galo said:…
Appointed Special Representative of the United Nation’s General Secretary on Violence Against Children (SRSG), Marta Santo Pais will be visiting the country this week. She will be here for two days from Wednesday 20 to Friday 22. The purpose of her visit is to advocate and support the national government and its partners to achieve…
A local tourism operator has urged responsible authorities to maintain the Festival of Pacific Arts (FOPA) village in east Honiara. The government built the village, which costs millions of dollars, as the central venue for the festival of arts, which the country hosted in 2012. After the festival ended, the venue of the village was…