Pacific tourism is in the news again. The South Pacific Tourism Organization (SPTO) released this week its latest estimate of tourist arrivals. The number of tourists who flocked to Pacific island countries (PICs) last year is 1.7 million. The figure for the previous year is 1.5 million. Certainly, tourism to the Pacific is on the…
Last week’s visit to Fiji by Australia’s foreign minister, Ms. Bishop has raised hopes of return to normalcy in bilateral relations between the two countries. The visit has been fruitful in many ways: Fiji has been added to the list of Pacific island countries (PICs), which are eligible for Australia’s Pacific Seasonal Workers Program. This…
On Friday 16 May I had the privilege of attending the final program of a training workshop, facilitated by the Ministry of National Unity, Reconciliation and Peace. The workshop’s aim was to create a culture of just peace in East, Central and West Honiara Constituencies. The workshop had brought together a large group of youths…
Dear Editor – Please allow me a space in your paper to voice my concern about the millions of dollars donated from the outside. The issue of Panatina campus which is used as evacuation centre becomes a public debate now. Too many complains are raised in the media about it. But nothing is done to…
The most important of all our perceptions is the way we perceive ourselves. There is a story in American Indian folklore that illustrates this truth very clearly. According to the legend, an Indian brave came upon an eagle’s egg which had somehow fallen unbroken from an eagle’s nest. Unable to find the nest, the brave…
For the past four decades, Pacific island countries (PICs) are well known for their aid dependency syndrome, a continuing malaise ever since their independence in the 1970s. Generous aid money received from donors, who were the former colonial rulers, was initially for annual budgetary support. Aid, known as official development assistance in terms of pure…
OFC: Auckland City FC have qualified for their sixth FIFA Club World Cup as a late, but timely, Emiliano Tade strike helped the defending champions see off Amicale FC of Vanuatu 2-1 in the Leg 2 Final of the OFC Champions League 2014 yesterday. It was a nerve-racking experience for Auckland City coach Ramon Tribulietx…
Dear Editor – Good morning and thankyou for this privilege to be able to share some important thoughts with our beloved people of Solomon Islands which we all believe should be able to help equip ourselves in the development of this beautiful nation of ours. Solomon Islands schools and education system has to consider very…
Dear Editor – I write to make a brief reply to the very poor response made by the above dictator which appeared in your paper on 17th May. On the outset, I must tell Mr. Dictator Su’iaimoana that I have no other titles attached to my name and at no time I claimed myself to…
Dear Editor – Please allow me space in your private view/column to voice out my concern on the above issue. The economy of our country is very low. The standard of the urban life in our country instead of increasing is decreasing rapidly. The government earns low income than spending much money on foreign goods …