By RODRICK DESURI 

Auki 

Small Malaita Road Project Camp Manager, Joe Sanau, has expressed appreciation to the Small Malaita Constituency for the successful delivery of much needed materials and machinery for the road project.

Mr. Sanau said the delivery of the machineries is a significant boost in supporting the road construction upgrade currently underway in the constituency.

He said that with the arrival of machineries, there will be improvement in transportation, access to services, and overall living standards for communities across Small Malaita will improve.

“On behalf of the people of Small Malaita, we would like to thank both the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Solomon Islands Government for your continued support towards improving our infrastructure and community development in the constituency,” he said.

Constituency Development Officer (CDO), Mr. Brown Honimae assured the Solomon Islands government and PRC that Small Malaita Constituency remains committed to ensuring that all machinery and equipment are properly managed and effectively utilized to deliver sustainable and benefits for the people and communities of Small Malaita.

The constituency office launched its Phase II Road Infrastructure Program on July 9, 2025, at Ou’oumatawa, Small Malaita.

The primary goal of the Constituency development plan is to improve the socio-economic well-being of rural communities by providing access to government services and creating an enabling environment for economic opportunities.

The road project was headed by a team directly employed by the Constituency Development Office, in accordance with Section 17 of the CDF Act 2023.

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The Bill and Legislation committee (BLC) have raised concerns about weaknesses in existing laws, including sentencing practices, parole eligibility, and the possibility of capital punishment.

During BLC hearing into the Dangerous Drug amendment Bill with Public Solicitor, BLC members questioned whether current legal frameworks are strong enough to address serious crimes and whether some provisions should be revisited as part of broader legislative reforms.

One issue raised by Leader of Opposition Mathew Wale, was the debate around the death penalty and whether it could ever be considered in the Solomon Islands legal system.

However Public Solicitor George Gray questioned whether authorities, including the Governor-General, would be prepared to authorise such a sentence if the law allowed it.

Mr Gray said that international human rights conventions which Solomon Islands is a party to, largely discourage or abolish capital punishment, emphasising that many countries have moved away from practices such as hanging.

The discussion also focused on how life imprisonment is applied in practice within the country’s justice system.

Gray said that life sentences often include a non-parole period set by the court, meaning offenders can apply for parole after serving a specified minimum term.

“For example, someone convicted of murder may receive life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 15 years. After those 15 years, the person becomes eligible to apply for parole, subject to good behaviour and other conditions,” he said.

The BLC also questioned the rationale behind remission provisions under correctional service regulations, which allow prisoners to be released earlier than their full sentence if they demonstrate good behaviour.

The BLC committee encouraged the Public Solicitor’s Office to review relevant legislation and identify areas where amendments may be needed.

The BLC is considering recommending consequential amendments to several laws to strengthen the overall legal framework when it comes to illegal drugs.

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The Bills and Legislation Committee (BLC) have questioned whether the proposed $15 million fine and life imprisonment penalty in the Dangerous Drugs Amendment Bill 2025 will effectively deter international drug traffickers operating in the region.

During the committee’s inquiry, before Public Solicitor Office, BLC raised concerns regarding sophisticated drug trafficking networks often operating across oceans may not be discouraged by the proposed penalties.

Public solicitor George Gray said that trafficking operations have become increasingly advanced, pointing to reports of narcotics being transported across oceans from South America using specialised vessels.

“If traffickers can travel from South America to this part of the world using narco-submarines, they are clearly organised and sophisticated,” he told BLC.

Meanwhile, the BLC committee also questioned how the proposed $15 million penalty was determined, asking public solicitor whether the amount would truly deter organised international traffickers rather than only local offenders.

The BLC committee suggested that Solomon Islands consider a zero-tolerance approach, particularly toward high-value drugs such as methamphetamine and other highly addictive substances from a policy perspective.

Another major concern raised by the BLC during the inquiry was the legal definition of drugs under existing laws.

The issue emerged following a case last year involving a foreign national who could not be charged because the specific substance was not clearly defined under existing legislation.

The BLC said that the law should adopt a broader and more flexible definition of controlled substances so authorities would not need to return to Parliament each time a new drug appears.

The inquiry also revealed that key agencies including police, customs, health authorities, ports, and aviation regulators have limited data on the scale of drug trafficking entering the country.

Committee members said the lack of reliable data makes it difficult to determine whether Solomon Islands is facing an emerging drug crisis or is already experiencing widespread trafficking.

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

George Gray from the Public Solicitor’s Office warns that weakness in Solomon Islands’ maritime legislation could undermine efforts to combat drug trafficking, particularly through the country’s vast ocean territory.

Appearing before the Bills and Legislation Committee during its inquiry into the Dangerous Drugs Amendment Bill 2025 last month, Gray said the current legal framework does not adequately support enforcement against drug trafficking at sea.

“The submission focused on maritime enforcement under the Delimitation of Marine Waters Act, which defines the country’s maritime zones. However, the Act does not provide for a “contiguous zone,” a maritime area recognised under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) that allows coastal states to enforce certain laws beyond their territorial sea,” he said.

He said this absence limits Solomon Islands’ ability to intercept vessels suspected of drug trafficking before they enter territorial waters.

He said that under the current law, Solomon Islands exercises full sovereignty only within 12 nautical miles of its territorial sea.

“Beyond that, the country’s powers in the 200-nautical-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) are restricted mainly to the management and conservation of natural resources. This creates a gap in enforcement. Without a contiguous zone, authorities may not have the legal authority to intercept suspected drug traffickers before they reach our shores.

“The submission also raised concerns about the increasing use of so-called “narco-submarines” by international drug traffickers. Such vessels have been detected in parts of the Pacific, including reports of suspected sightings in Solomon Islands waters near Lord Howe, Dai and Ramos Island,” he said.

He said that drug traffickers are unlikely to transport large quantities of narcotics through airports and are more likely to use maritime routes across the Pacific.

“To strengthen enforcement, the office recommended amending the Delimitation of Marine Waters Act to formally establish a contiguous zone extending up to 24 nautical miles from the baseline. This would allow authorities to exercise limited enforcement powers relating to customs, immigration, fiscal and sanitary laws,” he said.

He said that this will help close this legal gap and improve Solomon Islands’ ability to combat illicit drug trafficking through its maritime boundaries.

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[Published on Friday, March 6, 2026]

BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The Director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Solomon Islands (CAASI) has warned that vulnerable entry points within the aviation system could facilitate the smuggling of dangerous drugs into the country, despite existing security measures.

Brian Halisanau made the statement when appearing before the Bills and Legislation Committee (BLC) during its inquiry into the Dangerous Drugs Amendment Bill 2025 last month.

Mr Halisanau said while civil aviation service providers are responsible for preventing dangerous articles including illicit drugs from being introduced onto aircraft, there remain gaps that could be exploited.

“The current amendment concerns the introduction of dangerous drugs into the country. For civil aviation, threats are mitigated through entry point security control measures of neighbouring states. However, vulnerable points can also facilitate entry,” he said.

He identified insider threats, limited surveillance of general aviation, and intermodal transport as areas of concern.

He said that general aviation private and non-commercial flights poses monitoring challenges, particularly when aircrafts enter from remote locations.

He also highlighted scenarios where individuals may enter Solomon Islands by outboard motorboat or yacht before using domestic flights to transport drugs to Honiara.

“These are areas where we recognise there is room for improvement,” Mr Halisanau said.

He said there is need to strengthen airline agent capacity at outer airports to ensure baseline security screening measures are effectively implemented.

According to Mr Halisanau, standard aviation security measures include the screening of passengers, cabin baggage, checked baggage and cargo for commercial aircraft both departing and arriving in Solomon Islands.

“The screening of persons, their cabin baggage, hold baggage as well as cargo are fundamental measures that are adopted,” he said.

He said that CAASI also supports increasing penalties under the proposed amendment, saying tougher punishment would act as a deterrent to smugglers and others involved in drug-related offences.

“It will serve as a strong deterrent for the public and smugglers, controlling behaviours that threaten Solomon Islands society,” he said.

However, he said that enforcement alone is not sufficient.

“CAASI is advocating for a mix of screening methods that specifically target drug detection, as well as strengthened joint intelligence systems among relevant authorities,” he said.

Mr Halisanau said that such procedures are already provided for under the Solomon Islands National Civil Aviation Security Programme, which brings together stakeholders responsible for aviation security.

He said continued coordination and system improvements would be critical to prevent aviation channels from being exploited for drug trafficking.

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[Published on Friday, March 6, 2026]

BY MORRIS NAFU

A significant portion of the environmental damage in Bloody Ridge National Historical Park in East Honiara is said to have been caused by excess illegal access roads, according to the park’s 2025 Annual Report released earlier this week.

The report highlights a growing crisis where unauthorized routes are facilitating littering, ecological disturbances, and heavy vehicle usage that has led to severe road erosion.

Beyond the environmental toll, these illegal paths have created safety risks for visitors and placed an additional operational strain on park rangers tasked with enforcement.

In response to the degradation, the Ministry responsible for the park implemented a series of measures designed to manage access while attempting to maintain community stability.

These actions included the introduction of resident vehicle permits, targeted awareness campaigns, and the gradual closure of specific illegal routes.

While these steps were deemed necessary to protect the ecological integrity of the park, the report acknowledges that the enforcement measures occasionally resulted in community tensions and security incidents.

A significant complication identified in the report is the logistical challenge of identifying alternative access routes for surrounding communities when illegal roads are closed.

In many instances, the proposed alternative roads are located outside the official park boundaries.

This creates a jurisdictional hurdle. Because these alternative routes fall under the responsibility of other ministries responsible for road planning and infrastructure, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MCT) faces difficulties justifying involvement under existing government procurement systems.

Specifically, it is difficult for the ministry to utilize park resources for infrastructure works that extend beyond the park boundary.

Despite these involved constraints, the park team was compelled to dedicate substantial time, funding, and operational resources toward facilitating or constructing alternative access routes.

These interventions were deemed essential to reduce community backlash and allow enforcement measures to proceed safely.

However, the financial cost has been significant. The diversion of funds to build or facilitate roads outside the park has placed additional pressure on the park’s limited budget.

The report further noted that spending has diverted money that was originally intended for core conservation and development activities within the Bloody Ridge National Historical Park.

As the Ministry continues to balance the need for environmental protection with the infrastructure needs of the surrounding communities, the tension between conservation goals and community access remains a critical challenge for the park’s future management.

Bloody Ridge battlefield is a site of iconic status receiving worldwide recognition.

It is sometimes referred to as the turning point of WWII in the Pacific.

In recognition of its historical importance Bloody Ridge was declared a national park in 2017.

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