[Published on Thursday, March 5, 2026]

BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Security and reporting gaps at sufferance facilities were highlighted during the Bills and Legislation Committee (BLC) hearing into the Dangerous Drugs Amendment Bill 2025 last month.

Director of the Solomon Islands Maritime Authority (SIMA), Thierry Nerval confirmed that industrial cargo operations at sufferance wharf increased last year.

He acknowledged that there had been reporting issues.

“Yes, we had an issue because we were not informed of the discharging and storage of cargo in these port facilities,” he told the BLC committee.

The BLC also raised concerns about whether similar situations could occur in other provinces such as Malaita and Western Province, where industrial cargo could potentially be discharged without authorities being aware.

In response Mr Nerval said that this is the risk that needs to be managed.

He said that authorities have been working closely with Customs to strengthen security measures at all locations where cargo is loaded and discharged.

He said that the operational landscape has shifted in recent years, with more cargo now entering ports outside Honiara, including privately operated facilities.

“When the Solomon Islands Ports Authority-managed Leroy Wharf commenced operations in 2020, maritime authorities immediately required a security assessment and security plan to be developed. Since then, annual audits have been conducted,” he said.

He said that strengthening port facility security and improving national coordination between agencies remain key priorities.

However, he admitted that inspecting every container and package entering the country is not feasible.

“No country in the world inspects all containers and opens all packages,” he said.

He said that intelligence gathering and vessel profiling are the primary tools used to detect illicit cargo.

“When vessels are cleared through intelligence checks, entry is facilitated. Where intelligence raises concerns, additional controls are imposed,” he said.

He said that intelligence sharing is crucial, particularly with Customs agencies regionally and internationally.

“Customs administrations across the region share intelligence information, which supports monitoring efforts. Two years ago, Solomon Islands signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Papua New Guinea’s maritime administration to improve information sharing. Papua New Guinea serves as a major transshipment point in the region, alongside Vanuatu and Fiji.

“Under the agreement, information about vessel movements and potential issues is communicated promptly, enabling authorities to monitor and, where necessary, control vessels entering Solomon Islands waters,” Nerval said.

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[Published on Thursday, March 5, 2026]

BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The Director of the Solomon Islands Maritime Authority (SIMA), Thierry Nerval, has highlighted the authority’s mandate to strengthen maritime security in Solomon Islands, particularly at port facilities handling international cargo.

Mr Nerval said SIMA was established under the CIMA Act in 2018 and has been fully operational since January 1, 2021. He added that the authority is now financially self-sufficient.

“For the purpose of this committee, our mandate is on maritime security,” Nerval said when he appeared before the Bills and Legislation Committee (BLC) during the hearing into the Dangerous Drugs amendment Bill 2025 last month.

He said that maritime security is governed by international standards and networks, particularly under the SOLAS Convention (Safety of Life at Sea Convention) and the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code).

He said that these frameworks require countries to implement strict security measures to ensure cargo shipped between nations is properly secured and verified.

“As an example, when we receive cargo from Malaysia, China or the United States, we count on these countries to implement these standards and ensure that the cargo shipped to us is secured and that we know what has been put in that cargo.

“Likewise, Solomon Islands must meet the same standards when exporting goods, as destination countries rely on local authorities to ensure compliance,” he said.

Mr Nerval said preventing illegal activities, including the shipment of illicit goods and substances, depends largely on strengthening security measures at port facilities.

He said that under the SOLAS Convention definition, a port facility refers to any point of entry that loads or discharges cargo for international vessels.

“This includes public and private wharves, regardless of ownership. As soon as they receive international cargo from international vessels, they need to implement security measures, noting that measures are adapted depending on the nature and scale of operations,” he said.

He said that the process begins with a security assessment to identify risks and based on the assessment, a security plan is developed and implemented.

He said that SIMA requires all designated port facilities to undergo annual audits where a statement of compliance is issued for five years, subject to yearly inspections.

Mr Nerval said this system has been in place over the past five years at Honiara Port, Noro Port and Leroy Wharf.

He said that maintaining international maritime security standards is critical to protecting Solomon Islands’ borders and maintaining trust with global trading partners.

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[Published on Thursday, March 5, 2026]

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

COMMUNITY leaders and anti-mining activists in Isabel Province are alleged to have identified the company that will be carrying prospecting at Poku.

According to reports, WIN-Win Mining is the company but the operation will be contracted to another company.

A report alleged that Win-Win has subcontracted the operation to China Railway Company Limited.

A community leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that China Railway Company Limited will carry out the prospecting instead of Win-Win.

“From what we gathered, both tenements — Jaho and Poku — are under Win-Win prospecting licenses.

“We know that Solomon Islands Resource Company Limited is a shadow company of Win-Win,” the source claimed.

The source said community leaders expressed concern about the potential social and environmental impact of the operations.

“We are lost for words to describe how these operations will impact our social setting, especially the environment which has fed us for hundreds of years,” the source said.

The latest development at Poku brings the total number of mining operations in Isabel to four, following the recent closure of the Suma mining operation.

Reports reaching Island Sun confirm that a ship loaded with heavy equipment was sighted sailing past Lelegia Village en route to Poku, where the new operation is expected to begin.

Multiple sources from nearby communities also confirmed that mining equipment has already landed at Poku, near Koisisi and Fanavi villages.

“There are 10 dump trucks, two Hilux vehicles and 20,000 litres of fuel onboard the ship,” one source told Island Sun earlier this week.

Authorities have yet to publicly comment on the new prospecting activities.

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[Published on Thursday, March 5, 2026]

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

CONCERNS are mounting over the balance of power between the national government and provincial administrations, with critics arguing that existing laws continue to centralise authority at the expense of meaningful decentralisation.

In his post on Facebook, Mr. Edward Biku II has raised strong concerns about the shift from the Provincial Government Act 1981 to the Provincial Government Act 1997.

He said the transition is a fundamental change that altered the governance structure of the Solomon Islands.

According to Biku, the 1997 Act consolidated power back to the central government, significantly limiting provincial autonomy.

He argues that the 1981 framework recognised the importance of decentralisation and provided provinces with meaningful authority to govern their local affairs.

Biku said the existing provincial laws require ministerial assent before taking effect. 

He said provincial finances are largely dependent on discretionary grants from the central government, and provincial governments may be suspended on what critics describe as broad and undefined grounds.

“This is not federalism. It is administrative decentralisation under central control,” Biku said.

He said the country must be serious about promoting national unity and long-term political stability.

Biku is advocating for a modern reform agenda that would include constitutional entrenchment of provincial powers, a guaranteed revenue-sharing formula, and a clear division of responsibilities between national and provincial governments.

He said judicial safeguards to prevent political suspension of provincial governments, as well as the establishment of independent electoral and boundary bodies must be addressed.

“Federal transition is not about weakening the nation.

“It is about strengthening it through shared sovereignty and accountable governance,” Biku said.

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BY NED GAGAHE

Illegal access roads through the Bloody Ridge Historical Park continued to be a major management challenge during 2025, according to a recent annual report.

The report said shortcut traffic from surrounding settlements contributed to a large proportion of environmental damage, littering, and disturbances recorded during the year.

Heavy vehicle use also caused road erosion, safety risks, and additional strain on ranger operations, the report said.

Several measures were implemented to manage access while maintaining community stability, including the introduction of resident vehicle permits, awareness campaigns, and the gradual closure of certain routes.

These actions were necessary to protect the integrity of the park, although they occasionally resulted in community tensions and security incidents.

A significant complication has been the need to identify alternative access routes for surrounding communities when illegal roads were closed through the park.

In many cases, the proposed alternative roads are located outside park boundaries and fall under the responsibility of other ministries responsible for road planning and infrastructure.

As a result, it has been difficult for the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to justify involvement under existing government procurement systems, as it is difficult to use park resources for works beyond the park boundary.

Despite these constraints, the report said the park team was required to dedicate substantial time, funding, and operational resources towards facilitating or constructing alternative access routes.

“These interventions were necessary to reduce community backlash and allow enforcement measures to proceed safely. However, the costs were significant and placed additional pressure on the park’s limited budget, diverting funds that were originally intended for core conservation and development activities within Bloody Ridge National Historical Park,” the report said.

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