Australia’s support for Solomon Islands’ cocoa sector continues to grow with the announcement of its latest partnership with Tupaghotua Cocoa Plantation (TCP), a local woman-owned business in Guadalcanal. TCP is well known for producing and exporting high quality dried cocoa beans overseas. Australia’s latest support will upgrade TCP’s solar drying facilities and cocoa processing capabilities…
THE Premier of Malaita Province, Elijah Asilaua has called on all residents and communities of the province to support its ongoing development projects. Two major development projects underway in Malaita are the Kilu’ufi Hospital Improvement Project funded by Japan and the Auki Tar Sealing Project funded by the People’s Republic of China. For the Kilu’ufi Hospital Improvement Project, construction machineries have arrived in Auki, signaling the soon commencement of the…
THE waste-littered Mataniko River in Central Honiara is an eyesore and this seemingly ignored problem has come under the spotlight on social media. If one travels on the Mataniko Bridge by foot or vehicle, one would see the river is littered with all sorts of garbage and they clog the water lily growing along the…
The Solomon Islands Council of Trade Unions (SICTU) conveys deep concern regarding recent events surrounding tax exemptions in our country. During a press conference, the Finance Minister mentioned that all tax exemptions he approved were also endorsed by the Tax Exemption Board under his purview. However, SICTU remains sceptical of this explanation and is troubled…
The Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Survey (MLHS) observed World Town Planning Day on Friday 8th November 2024. The ceremony was attended by key figures including Permanent Secretary (PS) Stanley Waleanisia, former Director of Physical Planning Rowley Wanega, current Director of Physical Planning Cindy Vunagi, and Director of Housing Joan Toben on Friday, November 8th,…
UNITED Kingdom (UK) in partnership with the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification has launched a technical assistance facility to support Solomon Islands to establish an independent energy regulator. The energy regulator is an essential part of the government’s plan to transform the energy sector in Solomon Islands – increasing generation, bringing in investment…
The Malaita Provincial Government (MPG) plans to launch its Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) initiative next month. The launching is being planned for December 4, 2024. Its the first time the province is introducing such a program which is aimed at supporting micro and medium enterprises in the province. The MSME initiative is designed to promote and encourage the growth of small…
The University of the South Pacific (USP) academics are once again featured in the global Top 2% Scientists List based on their citations and publications. Professor Ahmed Rafiuddin has been featured on the List for five consecutive years, with Professor Surendra Prasad featured since 2022. Created by Standford University using data provided by Elsevier, the world’s leading…
Lesley Sanga is a farmer in Central Kwara’ae, Malaita Province. He is a former reporter of Solomon Star, but now doing what he loves most which is farming. He is now the advisor oat the Gwaunafiu Organic Farm School in Central Kwara’ae. In an interview with this newspaper, Sanga shared his insights of being a…
SOLOMON Islands maintains its ban on the importation of pork products from Australia due to ongoing concerns over the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF). The ban was imposed in March 2020 following the global outbreak of ASF. An Officer from the Biosecurity Department in the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Julianne Mosa told Solomon Star…