Asian Development Bank officially opens resident mission here as Solomon Islands projects reach USD$362 million

BY NED GAGAHE

The President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Mr Masato Kanda, yesterday officially opened ADB’s new Resident Mission in Solomon Islands, describing it as “a new beginning” in the Bank’s 53-year partnership with the country.

Speaking at the opening ceremony in Honiara, Mr Kanda said ADB’s presence in Solomon Islands dates back to 2008, but the establishment of a full Resident Mission signals a strengthened and long-term commitment.

“For more than 50 years, ADB has partnered with Solomon Islands to achieve its development goals, bringing tangible benefits to the people,” Mr Kanda said.

He said the milestone comes as ADB’s portfolio in Solomon Islands has expanded significantly to USD$362 million, making it one of the Bank’s largest in the Pacific region.

ADB-supported projects in Solomon Islands span key sectors including transport, energy, urban development, education, and public financial management reforms, including tax reform support.

Mr Kanda revealed that ADB also has a strong pipeline of nearly $200 million in new investments programmed over the coming years.

“Development does not happen from a distance. The Resident Mission moves our work closer to you. It puts ADB closer to the government and the people we serve,” he said.

He added that the strengthened presence will improve dialogue with the Government, increase responsiveness, and expand cooperation with development partners.

Mr Kanda said the Resident Mission will also support ADB’s growing focus on private sector development in the Pacific, helping create conditions for businesses to thrive and generate employment opportunities.

He welcomed newly appointed Country Director Anthony Gill, who will lead ADB operations in Solomon Islands.

“Tony will lead ADB operations in Solomon Islands and, with his team, will build on our 53-year strong partnership,” Mr Kanda said.

Mr Kanda highlighted major ongoing projects, including the Tina River Hydropower Project, which aims to secure clean and reliable energy for Honiara, and ADB’s support to the Honiara campus of the University of the South Pacific, designed to expand access to quality education and empower young Solomon Islanders.

“Our goal is clear: to make life better for Solomon Islanders,” he said.

Mr Kanda concluded by calling for collective effort to build a Solomon Islands that is more connected, resilient, and prosperous – not only for today, but for future generations.

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Rokera to host 2026 Small Malaita Mini Games

BY RICHARD MENANOPO

Rokera in Small Malaita has emerged as the chosen battleground for the 2026 Small Malaita Mini Games, setting the stage for one of the year’s first major sporting showpieces as preparations begin to gather momentum.

The announcement was made in a media statement issued by the Small Malaita Mini Games Organising Committee (SMMGOC), with Secretary Baddley Alaha confirming that preparations are now progressing following endorsement of the proposed venue.

Organizers explained that Rokera was selected after a formal submission by KS TUNA Football Club of Koukousurisau and Aerial Harbour Football Club of Parasi under the leadership of Malaita Provincial Assembly (MPA) member, Christian Saoia.

“The Games Organizing Committee endorsed the proposal based on Rokera’s demonstrated readiness, facilities, and logistical capacity to successfully host the Games”, the statement said.

Details outlined in the statement show that the venue will provide two football playing grounds, two netball courts and two volleyball courts, along with additional open spaces to cater for other outdoor sporting activities.

Its accessibility and the availability of transport, accommodation and communication services are also expected to ensure athletes, officials and spectators are well supported throughout the games, the statement said.

The SMMG Council Chairman, Mr. Stanley Waita has expressed confidence in Rokera’s readiness to deliver a successful event.

“Rokera, together with its football clubs and wider community, will deliver a well-organized and successful Mini Games in 2026”, Waita said in the statement.

While the number of participating teams and athletes is yet to be confirmed, the Mini Games are anticipated to attract strong interest, including possible participation from Honiara-based athletes seeking early competition in the new sporting year.

The statement noted that the SMMG Council will work closely with the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) and key stakeholders to coordinate preparations and ensure all necessary arrangements are in place ahead of the event.

“Further updates on preparations, confirmed sporting codes, and event schedules will be announced in due course”, the statement said.

Photo: Supplied

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BY TONY IROGA

THE Solomon Islands National University Knight’s Floorball Club (SINU-KFC) yesterday received membership share worth of $500 voucher.

The membership voucher was donated by Junior Samani from Rendova, Western province.

In an interview yesterday SINU-KFC captain Ben Besa Jatobatu said the membership is purposely for the club to have access facilities within Honiara City Council.

With limited facility and gym available to train in, the donation is timely said Mr Jatobatu.

He said each day of training, the club will pay for facility worth $100, for Club member individual will pay $10 for each day of training session.

“We really happy to have the membership and access to the facility, as we start the Club last year and the club has only limited facility to trained.

“The club looks forward to create its players the opportunities to have access to gym facilities available,” he said.

He said so many players have high potential to go far in floorball but have limited resources, so with this initiative it will give the chance to players to use the gym for strength and muscle build-up.

“The club management would like to give a special thanks to the sponsor Junior Samani for the donor and help towards the Club,” he said.

The voucher is valid for this month.

Photo: Supplied

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By RODRICK DESURI 

Auki 

The Trades Transportation Company has completed repair work on four wooden bridges along the South Road in Malaita Province.

The wooden bridges were repaired after road users and vehicle owners raised concerns over the bridges’ strength, as they were built long ago. 

In a media release yesterday, the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) thanked the Trades Transformation Company (TTC) for successfully repairing the four key timber bridges along the South Road.

The Trades Transformation Company is also grateful that the bridges have been repaired to improve safety and accessibility for road users across the Central Region of Malaita Province. 

MID encourages the community near the road assets to take ownership and look after them.

“I encourage the community members living near these bridges to look after them. These are road assets for the good of all travelers on the South Road,” he said.

It was said that another bridge is slated for repair soon, though it is under the contingency allocations.

In the meantime, the repair and maintenance of the Maoa to Hauhui section (33km) will be completed soon.

The bridges repair work, road upgrade and maintenance are possible through the National Transport Fund (Australia) and the World Bank; building durable climate-resilient infrastructure.

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By RODRICK DESURI

Auki

More than 50 cloth vendors, mainly mothers in Auki, Malaita Province are asking what had happened to the $30,000 they had given to the Malaita provincial government.

The money was purposely for the provincial government to locate a space for the vendors to sell clothing.

The vendors last year contributed more than $30,000 and submitted the money to the Malaita Provincial Government last year, purposely to support the establishment of a new market area.

However, to date there is no progress on the proposed area near the betelnut market as construction work stopped in December.

In an interview with one of the vendors, Tafilia Lui said they are being left in the dark and are worried that their contributions may have been lost and used for other matters,

She said if the provincial government is not prioritising their need, they should not accept and agree on the agreement they made last year.

She said the hearsay information they heard is that Malaita Provincial Government is facing a hard wall as funds are not available to progress any work.

“This is frustrating when we have given our earnings (money) to establish a permanent market area, but the work isn’t progressing.

“We also worry that our contributions (money) might be gone and used for other matters without prioritising our need.

“Only what we head from the government staff and officials is that the government doesn’t have money and is waiting for their first quarter fund,” she said.

In the meantime, she appeals to the Malaita Provincial Government to quickly work on the area as they have waited for long.

She said they (cloth vendors) need the area to be cleared and fully fenced before they can restart their marketing.

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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

The national government, through the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID), is working to revive the Public Works Department (PWD).

This move follows the recognition of the need to re-establish the crucial department, which was previously operated and then abolished by the government several years ago.

Minister for Infrastructure Development, Ricky Fuo’o, announced this important initiative during a press conference held by the ministry last week.

Minister Fuo’o explained that MID is actively working to re-establish the PWD to improve planning, construction, and maintenance of public infrastructure, such as roads and bridges.

The initiative is designed to address the inefficiencies associated with over-reliance on private contractors, starting in Honiara and gradually expanding to provincial areas.

A statement from MID outlines that, as of May 2025, the ministry will be in the planning phase, developing business plans and case studies to guide the return of the PWD. The department is expected to begin operations in Honiara before extending to the provinces.

The re-establishment of the PWD will take over routine maintenance, emergency repairs, and quality control of infrastructure, reducing the dependency on private contractors.

The scope of the department’s work is expected to cover road maintenance, drainage systems, and public buildings.

Minister Fuo’o revealed that MID is collaborating with the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, as well as the Ministry of Police, National Security, and Correctional Services, to establish an authority that will house the new department.

He pointed to the example of Fiji’s Land Transport Authority as a model, suggesting that a similar approach could be adopted in Solomon Islands. This would provide the financial backing needed for the department’s operations.

“We are working closely with the Ministry of Finance to ensure that part of the revenue generated from road usage is allocated to fund this new authority.

Minister Fuo’o said they are grateful for Australia’s DFAT (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) for supporting this important undertaking.

Photo: Supplied

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By RODRICK DESURI 

Auki 

Cloth vendors in Auki, Malaita Province, are pushing for space as they wait for the establishment of their new market area.

The vendors are frustrated and are advocating for space in Auki to sell second-hand clothes after they were forced to leave the NPF area earlier this year.

One of the vendors, Tafilia Lui said they are struggling as they are really trying their best to earn money to support their families.

She said that it shows the Malaita Provincial Government is turning a deaf ear and a blind eye to their struggles.

“Now we don’t think that our provincial government is seeing our struggles. But this is the only way that we can earn money to support our families and children’s tuition fees.

“The government is turning a deaf ear and a blind eye to us,” she said.

Lui also questioned why the provincial government has not acted on their agreed agreement from last year.

“We have agreed and contributed more than 30 thousand dollars to the government in the hope that the money will kick-start the work on the new market area for us, but to date, the construction work on the new area has been stopped since last year,” she said.

Meanwhile, she said that if the government is focusing on other matters, an assurance should be given to them.

The vendors are now looking for any space in the Auki town area to kick-start their small business operations.

Island Sun reached out to the office of the Malaita Provincial Government last night, but there was no response.

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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

The Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID), through the Lands and Maritime Connectivity Project (LMCP), will be carrying out comprehensive maintenance on the stretch of road from Heritage Park Hotel to the Honiara City Council (HCC) roundabout.

This section of road is one of the oldest and most deteriorated in Honiara, requiring a full upgrade to ensure durability and safety for vehicle use.

In a recent press conference, Minister for Infrastructure Development, Ricky Fuo’o, emphasized the importance of maintenance on this road section, explaining that the ongoing patching work is a temporary solution until the full upgrade can be completed.

Minister Fuo’o stated, as many aware, the ministry has been carrying out patching work on the road from Heritage Park Hotel roundabout to the HCC roundabout.

He went on to explain that the road, one of the oldest in Honiara, has suffered from water infiltration and debris accumulation over the years, weakening its foundation.

Fuo’o sad due to this deterioration, regardless of whether the road is sealed with cheaper materials or asphalt, it won’t last.

However, for the time being, the ministry will continue patching the road until the LMCP project can fully address the issue. This approach will also help save costs in the short term.

He said the comprehensive maintenance will involve removing the existing road foundation and digging down 1.5 meters before compacting the base.

Only after this process will the road be properly sealed, ensuring its long-term durability, Fuo’o explained.

The minister acknowledges public concerns regarding the poor condition of the road and reassures the public that the ministry is working on a permanent solution. The road’s foundation is beyond repair with simple patching, and that’s why full maintenance is necessary.

Fuo’o calls for public understanding while the ministry, in partnership with the LMCP, works towards upgrading this crucial stretch of road in the heart of Honiara.

Photo: MID

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