By RODRICK DESURI 

Auki 

The National Youth Congress launched its pioneering apprenticeship project in Auki, Malaita Province on Tuesday this week.

The launch was successful due to a collaborative relationship between the National Youth Congress (NYC) and its partners. 

The programme will take six weeks and is expected to play a significant role in empowering Malaita’s youth and creating more opportunities for their future.

During the opening session, the youth focused on the theme “Safeguard”, emphasising protection and well-being of youth and children participating in the programme. 

Malaita Provincial Youth Coordinator, Frank Samo Sari said the initiative marks another milestone for youths in Malaita Province.

He said the programme aims to equip participants with new knowledge, skills and experiences that can enhance personal development for future employment. 

He said 30 youths attended the opening of the programme yesterday and they expect more members to join in the coming days.

“We have 100 youth members; however, only 30 arrived this morning. So, we expect other members will join us in the coming days,” he said.

Participants will have the opportunity to visit agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sites in the province.

“Firstly, they will visit the agriculture site, where the youth will engage with Goshen Enterprise on taro processing and production at Adaliua Farm. Secondly, they will visit the forestry site to see tree nurseries and planting,” he said.

For feedback, contact: [email protected]

Editor: [email protected]

Suspicion falls on police officers releasing Chinese miner on bail ‘quickly’ amid active investigation on possible hired-hitmen case

BY LORETTA B MANELE

The practice of police officers ‘quickly’ releasing suspects in custody under dubious circumstances is under the spotlight.

It is reported that police officers at the Central police station release certain suspects, who can afford it, while the rest are detained according to process.

On Sunday evening, March 8, a Chinese businessman in the mining industry was arrested and put in custody following an assault incident that afternoon on two Chinese Australians in front of the Meat Lovers shop in Kukum.

The suspect was one of four Chinese businessmen, in the mining sector, who were under the police radar following the incident.

However, a few hours later the suspect was released on bail. He was on a plane to Rennell on Monday morning.

The police officer in charge had released him on bail for ‘medical grounds’.

Police officers close to the matter told Island Sun that it is questionable how quick bail was granted to the suspect on the grounds of ‘medical condition’.

The officers told Island Sun when the suspect was brought in on Sunday evening and questioned, he had not mentioned anything about having a medical condition.

Furthermore, the police officers said the suspect was released on the condition of reporting back to the station at 9am the next day (Monday, March 9).

“The suspect did not report in on Monday morning at 9am, because he had hopped in a flight to Rennell,” the police officers said.

A source on the ground in Rennell confirmed to Island Sun on Tuesday that the suspect was on the island.

The police officers said “it does not make sense that the suspect was released on bail so quick when we are still working on the assault and hijacking incident case which is reportedly said to involve three other suspects”.

The police officers said that it is through the Principal Criminal Investigative Officer or the court that bail should be granted.

The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force Media Unit has not responded to enquiries sent it by this paper yesterday for comment.

Background

Police arrested the Chinese miner following what is reported to an arranged attack on two other miners.

Two Australian citizens, of Chinese origin, were reportedly assaulted and robbed Sunday afternoon, March 8, by three locals outside the King of Meatz Kukum shop.

The locals were reportedly hired by four Chinese men who were senior figures in a mining company, sources told Island Sun on Sunday.

The incident is connected to the mining operation on Rennell island, Renbel province, sources said.

Police Media told Island Sun on Monday, “One of the Chinese businessmen who masterminded the hiring of the locals to harm the two persons has been arrested by police. Investigations have been initiated and ongoing on the matter.”

Four Chinese individuals had masterminded the attack and hired the three locals, police said.

At this stage, it is not clear whether the plan was to kill the two persons or just threaten them, police told Island Sun.

Island Sun has sighted a video which was recorded by one of the two persons during the attack showing the three locals assaulting and robbing them.

The faces of the three local men are clearly visible in the video as they entered the vehicle, assaulted and snatched the vehicle key, and snatched a mobile phone from the two Chinese Australians.

The incident occurred in broad daylight with vehicles passing by. Bystanders reportedly came and persuaded the attackers to return the vehicle keys.

The mobile phone remains missing.

The four men who allegedly masterminded the attack are senior figures of one of the mining companies operating on Rennell, sources told Island Sun.

The two Chinese Australians are also senior members of another mining company, and were embroiled in business disputes with the four men, sources said.

It is understood that an injunction case between the parties is before the courts, to be heard this week.

Meanwhile, this is not the first violent incident to happen connected to extractive operations in Rennell.

The most media-covered incident took place on the morning of Saturday, November 8, 2014, when a prominent landowner of West Rennell was attacked with a 60-centimetre bushknife and got his arm nearly chopped clean off. The attackers were hired by a logging company following dispute with the victim.

In September 2016 then Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare ordered an urgent investigation into “deepening violence” in West Rennell logging operations. The violence resulted in at least two people sustaining knife wounds. An attacker was taken into police custody in Honiara.

In May 2017 two cases of alleged arson occurred near Kanava Village in West Rennell. Police investigators from the National Crime Intelligence department were deployed from Honiara to assist.

In January 2020 an Indonesian national employed by the Bintang Mining Company was fatally stabbed on Rennell Island following an argument with two local men. The victim died at the Tigoa clinic, and two suspects in their 30s were arrested.

For feedback, contact: [email protected]

Editor: [email protected]

BY BEN BILUA

BUALA police in Isabel Province are conducting a manhunt for a mentally ill young man who allegedly burnt down his family’s home earlier this week.

The incident occurred on Sunday at a village near Kolosori in the Maringe area of Isabel Province.

Reports reaching Island Sun state that the young man set fire to the house following an argument with his mother.

Attempts by the mother and several youths from Kolosori village to extinguish the flames were unsuccessful as the fire quickly engulfed the dwelling.

Speaking to this paper yesterday, community elder, Mr. Reuben Dotho said the incident has caused fear and concern among villagers.

He said the young man became mentally ill last year and had since been involved in several incidents affecting community property and food gardens.

“The first incident happened last year when he damaged our water supply pipeline. Police were called and arrested the boy but he was later released,” Dotho said.

He said the young man allegedly continued to cause trouble in nearby communities by burning down garden huts after being released.

Dotho said Sunday’s incident began after an argument between the mother and her son.

“After the argument, the mother went to sleep in a nearby leaf hut while the boy remained in the family house,” he said.

Dotho said the mother later saw smoke coming from the house. She ran to the house and tried to put out the fire but it was already too strong.

Dotho said the situation became more frightening when the young man allegedly attempted to attack his mother with a machete.

The mother fled to Kolosori village to seek help and returned with several young men, but by the time they arrived the house had already been burnt to the ground.

“The young man escaped while they were trying to put out the fire,” Dotho said.

Police are continuing their search for the suspect.

For feedback, contact: [email protected]

Editor: [email protected]

BY NED GAGAHE

Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele says the recent high-level summit in Honolulu, Hawaii, has marked a significant “reset” in relations between the Solomon Islands and the United States.

Speaking to local media during a press conference on Sunday March 8, 2026, the Prime Minister said the meeting provided an opportunity to strengthen cooperation and secure new commitments that can support the country’s development priorities.

As Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), Manele delivered the keynote address at the summit, calling on development partners to move beyond discussions and focus on practical, finance-ready projects tailored to the Pacific context.

“I urged our partners to shift from dialogue to implementation by supporting projects that are ready for investment and that respect the unique circumstances of Pacific Island countries,” he said.

During the summit, Manele held talks with Christopher Landau, the United States Deputy Secretary of State, where both sides discussed ways to deepen bilateral cooperation.

The Prime Minister revealed that the Solomon Islands Government is finalizing an Investment Incentive Agreement with the United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) this year.

He said the agreement can help unlock private investment opportunities in the country.

Manele also used the opportunity to pitch the Bina Harbour Tuna Project to US private investors, describing it as a transformative industrial hub that could boost the country’s fisheries sector and create employment opportunities.

On the margins of the summit, Minister for National Planning and Development Coordination Trevor Manemahaga and Rexon Ramofafia and Minister for Finance and Treasury met with the Millennium Challenge Corporation to further discuss the Bina Harbour project.

Government officials also held discussions with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on how to strengthen collaboration to ensure national development projects are identified and implemented in a timely manner.

In another development, the Prime Minister announced that negotiations have been completed for the return of the Peace Corps to Solomon Islands in 2026.

The programme will bring volunteers with specialized skills to support rural communities, particularly in education and community development.

Manele also formally requested US support to establish a Pacific Islands Forum Trade Office in the United States. The proposed office would help exporters from Pacific countries gain better access to the American market.

The Prime Minister noted that similar PIF trade offices already operate in other major markets.

Security cooperation was also discussed during the summit.

The United States has committed to increasing assistance to help clear Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) left behind from World War II across Solomon Islands.

Officials from Solomon Islands also discussed commitment to strengthen cooperation on the recovery and repatriation of fallen US service members believed to be buried in Solomon Islands.

In addition, officials met with leaders and faculty at the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies to explore opportunities for Solomon Islands officials to participate again in executive-level security training programs.

Prime Minister Manele said while such international partnerships are vital for the country’s long-term development, the government remains mindful that the benefits must ultimately reach ordinary citizens.

“Our engagement with the world is about ensuring the security, prosperity and wellbeing of our people at home,” he said.

He added that Solomon Islands will continue to strengthen partnerships with international partners as it navigates an increasingly dynamic global environment.

Photo credit: Press Secretariat, OPMC

For feedback, contact: [email protected]

Editor: [email protected]