Solomon Islands

The Minister of Education and Human Resource Development, John Moffat Fugui announced the plan during the USPSI open day last Friday.

Mr Fugui said once the ground-breaking is done the construction will commence in September this year.

The Minister said his ministry will do all it can to support the development because it will create a better learning environment for all Solomon Islanders as well the students from other Pacific countries.

USPSI Campus Director, Dr Patricia Rodie said the development of the fourth campus is their top priority.

The plan will include raising awareness about crocodile hotspots and precautions, exploring options and making policy recommendations for the current crocodile ban and trade.

The ministry also intends to conduct a national survey for crocodile population status, distribution and developing management plan.

The increase in the population of crocodiles is posing to communities particularly to those residing in coastal areas.

President of Vanuatu Rugby League Tom Carlo said at this stage they just completed the Port Villa Rugby League season.

He said a high performance squad representing the Port Vila Fire Ants will be selected to play against Santo Boars for the Annual Island of Origin.

He said after the Annual Island of Origin, a final selection trial for the squad will then be selected to travel to Solomon Islands for the test match.

The two commodities are the country’s main export products.

The rhinoceros beetles are understood to have arrived in Solomon Islands from Papua New Guinea in 2015.

There was an outbreak in April 2016 and the government declared the rhinoceros beetles emergency pests as they destroyed coconut trees and palm oil trees.

Coconuts are significant crops for Solomon Islands both for food and export.

Palm oil is also significant bringing in export revenue of about $138 million to the Solomon Islands economy annually.

Matthew Varley told the Solomon Star newspaper 36 drink drivers were caught in May, 28 in June and 11 so far this month.

Mr Varley said this corresponds with 32 traffic accidents in May, 32 in June and 18 in July.

The commissioner said police are still seeing people out on the roads drinking and driving at all hours of the day and night.

Mr Varley has appealed to the community and to the media to help get the message out that drink driving is a dangerous practice that makes the roads less safe for everyone.

Solomon Islands Football Federation Media and Public Relations Officer, Joseph Boso said they have made an arrangement with Vanuatu national team for an International friendly but that will be confirmed tomorrow.

Mr Boso said once they receive the confirmation the game will be held on Thursday.

The international friendly is to prepare the Solomon Islands National team ahead for the World Cup Qualifier against New Zealand in September.

The project, which runs from June 2017 to May 2020, is being led by the FAO, with a total budget of US$508,336.

The FAO is also providing in-kind support to the project alongside the government and the Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access Program (PHAMA), backed by Australia and New Zealand.

Support will help the National Public Health Laboratory to achieve ISO 17025 certification, which is required for fish exports to access the EU market.

Chief Justice Sir Albert Palmer imposed the fine in default of four years imprisonment to Captains Do Van Va, Vo Van Vi and Nguyen Nguyen last Friday.

The court said if the captains failed to pay the fines within 30 days they will serve four years in prison.

Solomon Star reports a two year imprisonment term was also imposed to run concurrently with the in default sentence.

The time the three captains spent in custody was also taken into account.

This fine is for charges of;

The match will be the third Test between the Melanesian neighbours in what is turning into a fierce on-field rivalry.

The Solomon Islands will be looking for their first victory after Vanuatu scored two late come from behind victories in their 2013 encounter in Mackay (Australia) and most recent 24-15 defeat in Port Vila (Vanuatu) in 2016.

Do Van Va, Vo Van Vi, and Nguyen Nguyen were charged under various sections of the Fisheries Management Act 2015 and Fisheries (Amendment) Regulation 2009.

The maximum penalty for their offences range from $US1,2000 to $US1.5 million or five years imprisonment.

The three captains and their crews were caught by police on 26 March of this year for taking beche-de-mer and other marine resources from the Indispensable Reefs south of Rennell Island.

Some crew members were deported from Solomon Islands after they were convicted of poaching.