The Secretary General of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, Sir John Kaputin, has joined world leaders in pleading for an urgent action to address the growing global food shortage crisis.

Speaking at ACP Preparatory Meeting of the First Southern Regional Meeting of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, this week, in Windhoek, Namibia, Sir John admitted that the food shortage problem has hit hard on ACP states.

He said many ACP States at present are coming to terms with high prices of gas and basic food items.

Sir John said: "Action is now needed, and we should turn the tide so that we can provide food at all times to our people." He believes that the food shortage crisis is directly linked to climate change.

Sir John said that there are many consequences of climate change and the depletion of water, food and energy resources.

"We often hear that these problems require global solutions. That means that all countries should unite to alleviate or minimize dire consequences," he said.

The Secretary General strongly believes that ACP-EU partnership provides the scope to deal effectively with this concern.

The current food shortage, especially rice, has led to food riots around the globe.

Source: Solomontimes

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, in consultation with the Ministry of Commerce, is putting together a government mechanism to facilitate the recruitment of citizens wishing to work in the seasonal labour markets offshore.

Seasonal labour employment is a form of labour mobility which enables local unskilled or semi-skilled workers to find jobs in the overseas labour markets such as New Zealand’s Recognized Seasonal Employer (RSE) Work Policy.

The RSE is open to Pacific Islands States, including Solomon Islands, to send seasonal workers to work in the area of horticulture and viticulture industries.

Many of the Pacific Islands countries have already established their internal recruitment mechanisms and have already benefited by sending workers to New Zealand under the RSE.

Solomon Islands is required to establish a similar recruitment arrangement so that proper procedures are followed and monitoring of labour movement can be assessed.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade is taking the approach following recent concerns that some people are allegedly taking advantage of the opportunity by promising job offers in New Zealand under the RSE in return for money.

The Permanent Secretary, Supervising, Mr Senda Fifii said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade is committed to putting in place this recruitment mechanism and assure the public to follow procedures to avoid fraudulent activities in the recruitment process.

Source: Pipolfirst

Honiara City has a new Lord mayor. He is Andrew Mua, councilor for Ngossi ward, West Honiara constituency.

Mr Mua polled 12 votes ahead of his only rival Dwene Tigulu who polled 4. Yesterday's vote follows last week's postponement on legal grounds.

Former City Lord Mayor, Alfred Maetia was ousted in a successful no confidence vote earlier this month. Appointed members of the council were able to cast their votes at yesterday's election of a new mayor after a second gazatted order from the minister of Home Affairs.

The Second gazette also provides a process in the event of a tie in voting. Only 16 of the 20 elected and appointed councilors took part in today's vote.

Meanwhile, newly elected mayor of Honiara City Andrew Mua appealed for cooperation during the tenure of his leadership.

In his inaugural speech after his election, Mr Mua said that he needs the cooperative efforts and support from other eleven Honiara City Councilors and the population of Honiara.

He said leadership cannot be solely borne by the City mayor and his executive but through the support of all.

Mr Mua said his government will attempt to make improvements to Honiara feeder roads, improve in the efforts to clean up Honiara, and the health and education services.

The new mayor will announce his executive today.

Source: SIBC

Politician and well known nationalist Iliesa Duvuloco was last week denied entry into the Solomon Islands.

He was sent back to Fiji after immigration officials there found his constant travel to the country had no major purpose.

He was a politician who led the Nationalist Vanua Tako Lavo Party formed in 1999. Later his involvement with the 2000 coup saw him serve a jail term

His last public appearance was during the May general elections in 2006 where he again led his Vanua Tako Lavo party to the polls.

He left the country last year for Papua New Guinea and was also a frequent visitor to the Solomon Islands. But last week Friday, Duvuloco was refused entry into the Solomons.

He flew in from PNG. Khan says he isn't aware whether Duvuloco was sent back to Fiji. He adds the Fiji politician just isn't wanted as a visitor to the Solomons.

One National News tried locating Duvuloco over the week-end. Attempts made to get in touch with his family members and relatives also proved futile.

But a close family friend confirms Duvuloco is in Fiji now he declined to reveal his location.

Source: Fijitv

The possibility of more international matches in Honiara is being considered following Saturday’s successful KOSSA-Waitakere United game.

Oceania Football Confederation general secretary Tai Nicholas made the comments while congratulating KOSSA for beating New Zealand’s top club.

Nicholas was in Honiara for the match, the first leg of the confederation’s regional O-league final. He was overwhelmed with the crowd of about 20,000 that packed Lawson Tama.

He acknowledged the huge turnout for the arrival of Waitakere on Thursday and then at the game. “The crowd at the airport is even bigger than that which turned out to watch the New Zealand Football Championship final,” he said.

He said the Saturday’s match was a good one. “Both teams played very well with good display of sportsmanship,” he said before flying back to Auckland. He was especially thrilled with the behaviour of the crowd.

“I was so pleased with the turnout of the crowd and their behaviour at the game,” he said. Because of the huge response from the crowd he said the Oceania will consider Solomon Islands to host more international matches.

“For me personally I would bring more Oceania matches to Honiara because of the huge response,” he said.

Source: Solomon Star