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Repairs set to extend as oncology unit damage deemed worse

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BY JOSES SAREN

Repair work at the cancer day-care is said to go beyond the two-week timeframe initially announced by health authorities.

Damage is worse than first reported, which culminated in a frightening incident earlier this week in which one of the building’s posts collapsed while patients were receiving treatment.

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) announced this week that the cancer day-care service had been temporarily relocated to an adjacent building while urgent repairs were carried out on the clinic’s timber floor, estimating the work would take two weeks.

But George Kadau, assistant supervisor for NRH Carpentry, told Island Sun the repairs go far deeper.

“The original posts were galvanised steel, but because of how close we are to the sea, they rusted and some of them broke down over time. We’re replacing them with concrete posts now, which will last much longer. Because of the extent of the work, it could take more than two weeks to finish,” Kadau said.

The urgency of the repairs was triggered by patients who were present when a structural post gave way during a session last week. One woman, who was connected to an intravenous drip at the time, said she removed the line herself and fled the area along with others and nurses.

NRH has not responded to enquiries by Island Sun for comments.

The repair work is being funded by the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID), though officials have not disclosed the total cost.

The deteriorating state of the clinic comes as the unit faces surge in patient numbers. A woman at the facility, who requested anonymity, said cancer cases had spiked dramatically in recent years.

Island Sun sought comments from the Cancer Care unit but was told the relevant officer was on leave.

Patients with routine or planned appointments have been advised to continue attending as scheduled. For inquiries, they can contact their doctor or nurse directly, or reach the hospital switchboard on 4400, the Cancer Registry on 44093, or the temporary clinic on 44077 or 44078.

Photo credit: Joses Saren

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Credit guarantee scheme expands access to finance for MSMEs

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The Solomon Islands Government has reaffirmed its commitment to improve access to finance for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through the Credit Guarantee Scheme.

The scheme helps businesses secure loans despite having insufficient collateral.

It was established by the Government through the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration (MCILI) and the Ministry of Finance and Treasury (MOFT), and administered by the Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) in partnership with the Development Bank of Solomon Islands (DBSI), Credit Corporation Solomon Islands, ANZ Solomon Islands, Bank South Pacific (BSP) and Pan Oceanic Banking (POB).

The MCILI, MOFT and CBSI on Wednesday this week has signed a revised Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of the Credit Guarantee Scheme.

The scheme provides a guarantee of up to 90 per cent of the unsecured portion of a loan caused by a collateral shortfall, allowing eligible MSMEs to access finance from participating financial institutions.

Businesses must first apply for a loan through a partner financial institution, which will assess the applicant’s creditworthiness. Where there is a collateral shortfall, the institution may nominate the application to CBSI for a guarantee assessment.

If approved, CBSI guarantees the eligible portion of the shortfall, while the partner financial institution pays an administration fee of two per cent of the guaranteed amount, or a minimum of $1,000. The fee is not charged to the borrower.

Under the scheme, guarantees range from $50,000 to a maximum of $300,000. Eligible business ventures include most goods and services sectors, although gambling, alcohol and tobacco-related businesses, logging of indigenous forests, and projects lacking required government approvals are excluded.

The scheme aims to improve access to credit for businesses seeking working capital or expansion and is also available to start-up enterprises on a case-by-case basis, subject to the lending requirements of participating financial institutions.

The initiative will strengthen the growth of MSMEs by reducing collateral barriers while ensuring lenders maintain their normal credit assessment processes before loans are approved.

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BOAT TRAGEDY

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Search ongoing in Bugotu district, Isabel province, following capsized boat. Two survivors and one body recovered so far

BY DOUGLAS VAHIA

Search is ongoing around Bugotu district in Isabel province for a female person following the capsizing of a boat carrying passengers on Wednesday early morning.

Police on Isabel confirmed that of the four people on board, two people have been rescued alive while the body of the third person, a female, has been recovered.

Meanwhile, search is still ongoing for the fourth person who is a female, police said.

Reports said the boat was travelling on Tuesday night from Sigana in Bugotu district to Kilokaka in Hograno district.

Reports said the boat capsized off the coast of Tanakau Point early Wednesday morning. The round-cabin boat had a 15hp outboard motor engine.

The boat driver and another female passenger (boat driver’s wife) are safe. The body was retrieved that Wednesday morning.

Speaking to Island Sun last night, Isabel provincial police commander Inspector Harry Vanosi said police attended to the incident on Wednesday morning and helped with search and rescue operation.

“One officer is currently assisting community members with searching the surrounding seas and coastlines. The weather in the area is very bad with rough seas.

“Search is still ongoing for the fourth person, a female,” Vanosi said.

Vanosi said updates will be made known later today. Island Sun will follow up.

The deceased is Elina Lakamanga, a Mathematics lecturer at the University of Papua New Guinea. Her daughter, Yvette Lakamanga, is the missing person. Yvette is a final-year student at the University of Technology in PNG.

The mother and daughter had travelled from PNG for holidays and family visit at their home village of Kilokaka village. They had dropped off from the ship, MV Uta Princess, at Sigana, and were reportedly picked up by late Elina’s brother and his wife, and were on their way home when the tragedy struck.

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Yifan’s historic Solomon Islands appearance highlights growing local chess talent and push for more women participation

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BY RICHARD MENANOPO

World-renowned chess Grandmaster Hou Yifan has left a lasting impression on the Solomon Islands chess community following her historic first visit to Honiara, where she shared her experience and inspired local players through a special chess exhibition.

The Solomon Islands Chess Federation (SICF) said the visit by the former Women’s World Chess Champion was a significant moment for the development of chess in the country, as local players had the rare opportunity to compete and interact with one of the world’s leading figures in the sport.

Grandmaster Hou Yifan’s visit included a simultaneous chess exhibition where she faced 15 Solomon Islands players at the same time, providing a valuable learning experience for the country’s emerging chess talents.

The exhibition also highlighted the progress of local players, with Solomon Islands chess player Fred Resture producing an impressive performance to secure a draw against the highly decorated Grandmaster.

SICF President Simon Chottu said Hou Yifan’s presence in Solomon Islands was a major inspiration, particularly for young players and women involved in the sport.

“Her visit has been a tremendous inspiration to our players, especially our young people and women. We are honoured that she chose to spend time with the Solomon Islands chess community, and we look forward to building on the momentum created during her visit,” Chottu said.

The federation said the visit also aligned with its ongoing efforts to increase women’s participation in chess, with four female players taking part in the exhibition as part of a broader push to encourage more women and girls to become involved in the sport.

For SICF, the visit represents more than just a one-off event, but an opportunity to strengthen chess development pathways and create greater opportunities for local players through regional partnerships.

The federation also acknowledged the support of Oceania Chess Confederation Deputy President Jamie Kenmure, who accompanied Grandmaster Hou Yifan during the visit and continues to support chess growth across the Pacific region.

Hou Yifan’s visit marks another important milestone for Solomon Islands chess as the sport continues to expand its reach and attract new interest among young athletes and communities.

Chess in Solomon Islands has been steadily developing through the efforts of SICF, with the federation focusing on increasing participation, developing local talent, and creating more opportunities for players to compete and learn through regional and international connections.

The visit by Grandmaster Hou Yifan adds to these efforts by providing local players with exposure to elite-level chess and motivation to further pursue the sport.

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SIAC and SIMC continue athlete preparation through anti-doping awareness session

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BY RICHARD MENANOPO

Team Solomons athletes and coaches have taken another step in their preparations for the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow after attending an Anti-Doping and Clean Sport Awareness Session in Honiara.

The session, organised by the Solomon Islands Athletes Commission (SIAC) in collaboration with the Solomon Islands Medical Commission (SIMC), saw five athletes and one coach from Team Solomons take part in the first awareness programme as the two sports prepare to depart early for their respective training camps before joining the rest of the delegation in Glasgow.

The awareness session was delivered by ORADO instructors Jerolyn Vili and Team Solomons Medical Personnel Reuben Maau, focusing on important areas including Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) and the testing process.

According to SIAC, the session was designed to provide athletes with a better understanding of their responsibilities in maintaining clean sport practices while representing Solomon Islands on the international stage.

The interactive presentation included practical activities aimed at making the learning process engaging and relevant for athletes and coaches.

SIAC stated that the initiative reflects the continued commitment by both SIAC and SIMC towards promoting integrity, fair play, respect and athlete representation as part of Team Solomons’ Commonwealth Games preparations.

“Clean sport education is an important part of preparing athletes before they compete at major international events,” SIAC highlighted through its official communication.

The athlete awareness programme will continue next week, with SIAC and SIMC scheduled to host another pre-departure session on Wednesday 15 July at Sport Legacy House.

The upcoming session will cover further topics including Anti-Doping and Clean Sport Education, Code of Conduct, Safeguarding and the final pre-departure briefing for Team Solomons athletes and coaches.

The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow will see Solomon Islands join athletes from across the Commonwealth as they compete for national pride, with preparations continuing across various areas to ensure Team Solomons is ready both on and off the field.

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NOCSI fundraising committee announces venue change ahead of major Team Solomons support event

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BY RICHARD MENANOPO

The National Olympic Fundraising Committee has announced a change of venue for the upcoming Justin Wellington and Demas Saul Corporate Dinner and Live Show as preparations continue for the Team Solomon fundraising drive ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

The committee confirmed that the event, initially scheduled to be held at the NHA Dining Hall, will now take place at Cowboys Bar & Grill due to unforeseen circumstances beyond the organisers’ control.

The updated schedule will see the Corporate Dinner and Live Show held on Saturday July 4 at Cowboys Bar & Grill, while a general standing live show is also being considered for Monday July 6 at the same venue.

The committee calls on the public, supporters and those planning to attend the event to take note of the venue change and assist in sharing the updated information.

National Olympic Fundraising Committee Chairman Michael Chan said the committee appreciates the continued support from sponsors, partners and the public as the fundraising campaign gathers momentum.

The fundraising event will feature regional entertainment acts including PNG singer and songwriter Demas Saul, Justin Wellington, Trabol Sum, Mia and Chelsea, who are supporting the initiative which aims to raise funds for Team Solomon’s participation at the Commonwealth Games.

The committee has also acknowledged the support of sponsors who have already committed to the fundraising drive, with Solomon Islands Submarine Cable Company Ltd coming on board as Gold Sponsor, Solbrew Company Ltd as Silver Sponsor, while SolRice Company Ltd and Telekom Company Ltd have joined as Bronze Sponsors.

The National Olympic Fundraising Committee said the support from businesses and the public will play an important role to help Solomon Islands athletes prepare for the international sporting event.

The National Olympic Fundraising Committee was established by the National Olympic Committee of Solomon Islands (NOCSI) to lead fundraising initiatives and support Team Solomon athletes participating at major international sporting events. The committee is currently focused on raising financial support for the country’s delegation to the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, scheduled from July 23 to August 2.

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EELS ELIMINATED

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Leimata Simon’s hat-trick inspires Vanuatu side to biggest OFC Women’s Champions League win as tournament hosts bow out of semi-final race

BY RICHARD MENANOPO

Solomon Islands’ representatives and hosts Henderson Eels FC have been eliminated from the OFC Women’s Champions League 2026 after suffering a heavy 6-0 defeat to Vanuatu’s Tafea FC in their second Group A match at the National Stadium in Honiara last night.

The result leaves the Eels without a point from their opening two matches and ends their hopes of reaching the semi-finals with one group match still remaining.

Tafea FC captain Leimata Simon was the star of the night, producing a historic hat-trick to inspire her side to their biggest-ever victory in the competition.

The Vanuatu forward scored twice in the first half before completing her treble in the second half, becoming the first player from a Vanuatu club to score a hat-trick in OFC Women’s Champions League history.

Tafea wasted little time asserting control of the match, dominating possession and keeping the hosts under pressure from the opening whistle.

The breakthrough came in just the eighth minute when Simon headed home after a well-timed delivery from Jane Alatoa caught the Eels defence off guard.

Despite efforts from Madeline Arakau and Captain Ileen Pegi to lift the Eels’ attacking threat, the hosts struggled to create clear opportunities against a disciplined Tafea outfit.

Simon doubled the advantage just before the break, capitalising on another ball played behind the Eels defence to send Tafea into halftime with a 2-0 lead.

The second half saw Tafea continue their dominance, scoring three goals within the opening 12 minutes to put the result beyond doubt.

A defensive mistake while attempting to play out from the back allowed Liyo Eramol to make it 4-0 in the 49th minute, before Simon completed her hat-trick five minutes later with another composed finish.

The visitors continued to punish the Eels, with substitute Nettie Kalsau heading home in the 57th minute before Pindy Erikan completed the scoring late in the match.

The defeat was a disappointing result for the tournament hosts, who entered the competition after making the semi-finals in last year’s OFC Women’s Champions League in Tahiti.

Meanwhile, three-time runners-up Hekari Women FC of Papua New Guinea fought back from behind to defeat Fiji’s Ba Women FC 3-1 in the opening match of yesterday’s double-header at the National Stadium.

Ba took the lead through Narieta Leba in the first half before Hekari produced a late comeback with goals from Maria Veronika, Nenny Elipas and Phylis Pala to secure three valuable points.

The result was a much closer contest compared to last year’s semi-final meeting in Tahiti where Hekari defeated Ba 6-1, showing the Fijian side’s improvement against one of the region’s strongest women’s football teams.

Following yesterday’s results, Tafea FC moved to the top of Group A on four points, level with Hekari Women FC but ahead on goal difference, while Ba Women FC remain in contention on three points.

The OFC Women’s Champions League 2026 continues on Friday with more group-stage action before the final round of matches on Saturday, where teams will battle for places in the semi-finals.

The tournament, hosted by Solomon Islands, brings together the best women’s football clubs from across Oceania, with the champions earning regional honours and the opportunity to represent the Pacific on the international stage.

Photo credit: OFC Media via Phototek

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WorldFish, KGA equip Western students with organic farming skills

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BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

SECONDARY school students in Western Province are spending part of their school holidays learning practical organic farming and nutrition skills through a training programme that aims to strengthen food security and promote healthier lifestyles.

WorldFish, in partnership with the Kastom Gaden Association (KGA) hosted a one-day organic farming and nutrition training in Gizo on Wednesday, bringing together 36 students from six secondary schools across the province.

Participants ranging from Form One to Form Seven, represented RC Nicholson College, Beulah Provincial Secondary School, Gizo Community High School, Goldie College, Kukudu Adventist High School and Patupaele Community High School.

The initiative forms part of the Island Food Systems Programme, through which WorldFish has established integrated fisheries and agriculture activities, including a demonstration garden at its Nusatupe Hub.

It designed to provide practical training in organic farming to strengthen sustainable agriculture, improve household nutrition and enhance food security for communities in Gizo and surrounding areas.

Trainers from Kastom Gaden Association and WorldFish Research Fellow, Wilsman Rau and Dr Jillian Tutuo led the training.

Tutuo delivered an interactive presentation on nutrition, encouraging students to adopt healthier eating habits by consuming more locally grown and traditional foods.

She highlighted the importance of balanced diets in preventing non-communicable diseases and urged young people to reduce their reliance on imported and highly processed foods.

Students received both classroom and practical lessons on key organic farming techniques, including nursery management, the importance of different nursery types, soil preparation and mixing, seed sowing, seed germination, pricking out seedlings, soil sterilisation, rapid plant multiplication and seed testing.

The students also gained hands-on experience by transplanting seedlings, applying mulching techniques and producing compost, giving them practical skills they can use in home gardens and community farming projects.

Students described the training as both timely and relevant, saying they were increasingly concerned about the growing number of diabetes cases and other health issues linked to processed food consumption in Solomon Islands.

The students said the programme has inspired them to establish home gardens and encourage healthier eating habits within their families and communities.

WorldFish and the Kastom Gaden Association say initiatives such as the training play an important role to build resilient island food systems by equipping young people with practical agricultural knowledge while improving nutrition and strengthening community food security.

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Communities in Malaita praise little drop of rain

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BY RODRICK DESURI 

Auki 

Communities in Malaita Province have praised and preserved little water from the downpour on Wednesday night. 

They said the Wednesday downpour helped so much to fill up their water tanks that they use for drinking. 

Stephen Tolinao from Malu’u, North Malaita, said the residents were very happy about the downpour. 

He said the Wednesday night downpour has filled a few litres of water in the tanks, which had been empty for almost two months. 

He said the downpour was also a blessing for watering their food gardens that have not seen rain for almost two months. 

“We are thankful and very happy that we received rainfall last night. It really gives us water and also waters our food gardens,” he said. 

Adrian Sammy from West Kwara’ae also expressed the same, saying that they were not only glad for the downpour but also thankful to God for His blessing.

He said the rain was a blessing from God because people were praising Him for the rain.

“We really thank our Almighty God for the rain. As we have known, we have struggled to get water for almost two months. So, I am really happy that God sees our need and gives us rain.

“Even though we don’t get enough water that we need, it shows that God is always with us,” he said.

Almost all communities in Malaita Province have received water from the rainfall on Wednesday night.

Meanwhile, the Director of the Disaster Office in Auki has encouraged communities to preserve the little water they have, as they still don’t know when the El Niño period will end.

He said rainwater needs to be preserved for drinking only, and water from wells and boreholes should be used for washing and showering.

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East Honiara delivers materials for Aekafo footpath project

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Residents of Aekafo Community at Gilbert Camp are one step closer to having improved access following the delivery of construction materials for the Community Footpath Project by the East Honiara Constituency Office on Tuesday this week.

The project is being funded through the East Honiara Constituency Office under the leadership of Member of Parliament for East Honiara Morris To’iraena as part of its community infrastructure development programme.

A handover ceremony was held to mark the delivery of the materials, attended by community leaders and residents.

Community members welcomed the project and said that the new footpath will improve access and safety for people living in the area.

The occasion was marked by emotional scenes, with some residents expressing their appreciation for the long-awaited development.

Chairlady of the Aekafo Community, Mrs. Mary, thanked MP, To’iraena and the East Honiara Constituency Office for supporting the community through the project.

She said that the footpath will benefit residents by making daily travel easier and safer, particularly for children, the elderly and other community members who rely on the route.

Mrs. Mary also acknowledged the constituency office for responding to the needs of the community and delivering on its commitment to improve local infrastructure.

The Aekafo Community Footpath Project forms part of the East Honiara Constituency’s broader efforts to improve public infrastructure and basic services across communities within the constituency.

Once completed, the footpath is expected to provide safer pedestrian access and improve connectivity for residents, contributing to better living conditions and supporting ongoing community development initiatives in East Honiara.

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