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Kirakira wharf is months away from completion

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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Only months remain before the completion of the first ever wharf for Kirakira – the provincial town of Makira Ulawa province.

This is the progress so far on this historic project, said Premier Stanley Siapu, even though it falls short of its initial schedule.

In a recent interview, he said there are lot of hindrances for the delay and major among them are weather and delay in mobilization of materials to the project site.

However, Siapu highlighted the smooth and progressive implementation of the project, noting its completion will be a boost to economic development in the province.

He also said the project will lay foundation for the cocoa processing plant project at Kirakira which is now halfway through implementation.

The premier noted that the project reached phase 1, which is the completion of the building to house the machineries for the factory.

He said his government is currently liaising with the national government through the Ministry of Commerce, Industries, Labour and Immigration (MCILI) and the Ministry of National Planning and Development Coordination (MNPDC) on the second phase of the project.

Siapu further highlighted that the completion of Kirakira wharf shipping service to the province is an issue that continues to remain a challenge for the province.

Generally, he said the project will support infrastructure development, enhance logistic and boost the productive sector in the province.

This SBD $21.9 million project is funded by the Asia Development Bank (ADB) through the national government and implemented by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).

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Western PDOC to carry out further assessments

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BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

THE Western Provincial Disaster Operation Committee (WPDOC) will carry out further assessments following the recent spell of bad weather affecting parts of the province.

Deputy Provincial Secretary, Colin Potakana, said the Provincial Disaster Operation Centre has received several reports from communities impacted by the adverse weather conditions.

He said the reports include damage to food gardens caused by flooding and landslides and other communities have reported damage to residential properties.

Potakana said assessments will be conducted to determine the extent of the impacts and to identify the necessary support required to assist affected households and communities.

He also encourages communities that have experienced disaster-related incidents to promptly report to the Western Province Disaster Office to ensure timely response and assistance.

Meanwhile, Potakana warns communities to take extra precautions as the province is currently within the cyclone season, which runs from now until April.

“We are currently in the cyclone season, and my message to community leaders and people of Western Province is to be very careful and take necessary precautions,” he said.

Potakana said inter-island travels must be stopped when severe weather is looming to avoid danger.

“Please minimise risks and stay safe,” he said.

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No jab, no job policy no longer applies: PM

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BY LORETTA B MANELE

Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has confirmed to local media that the “No jab, no job” policy during the Covid 19 era no longer applies today.

He made the confirmation at his press conference on Monday this week in response to local media questioning the appointment of the Director General for Solomon Islands Independent Commission Against Corruption (SIICAC).

Manele said this is a very important appointment thus it is also important that they take into account that there is procedural independence in some of these processes.

He told local media that SIICAC is an independent body and recruitment is not handled by politicians.

“SIICAC is an independent body and recruitment is handled by the justice and legal services commission and not politicians in terms of recruitment process,” said Manele.

He said the then Covid 19 policy on recruitment where applicants for public service postings had to get vaccinated, is no longer applicable today.

“In terms of the Covid Policy on recruitment, that no longer applies, that policy was revoked on 31st December 2023.

“That policy no longer applies in this case, it is the process we have to comply with,” he said.

Manele said now that covid is no longer around and the policy was rescinded on December 2023, there will be re-consideration of those who have applied.

“We are looking at different factors, what was then in terms of the Covid policy but now that covid is no longer around and the policy has been rescinded on December 2023, this will go into the re-consideration of those who have applied.

“So, we hope this can be done as soon as possible,” he said.

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Wairokai community calls for police outpost

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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

A member of the Wairokai community in West Are’are, Malaita Province, Nelson Puiaraha Waitoru, calls for the establishment of a police outpost in the area.

His plea comes in response to an alarming increase in criminal activities within the community and the growing concern for the safety of residents, especially women and children.

In a social media post this week, Waitoru highlighted that Wairokai has become one of the top five communities in West Are’are with a significant rise in criminal incidents.

He pointed out that the community has seen a troubling number of arrests related to drug offenses, illegal beer sales, the production and sale of kwaso (homebrew), and disturbances due to alcohol-related issues.

Waitoru also referred to a recent violent incident on January 25, 2026, in which a high school student was stabbed and another was wounded at Wairokai.

He confirmed that Auki police responded to the incident and arrested the perpetrator, who was then taken to Auki.

Additionally, Waitoru reported that police have made efforts to apprehend two kwaso producers in the community, but both individuals managed to escape, marking the second time they have evaded capture.

Waitoru expressed gratitude to Wairokai community for their cooperation in assisting the police with information related to criminal activities.

He urges the residents to continue to stand together in the fight against these illegal activities that have plagued the community for years.

In a related incident last month, Auki police arrested a 64-year-old former police officer for illegal sale of alcohol during the Christmas and New Year period in 2026.

During the arrest, authorities confiscated 12 cartons of beer and dismantled a kwaso distilling operation.

According to the Provincial Police Commander (PPC) for Malaita, Michael Ramosaea, the suspect was charged with selling liquor without a license and violating restrictions on alcohol production.

The suspect was granted bail and will appear before the Auki Magistrate Court.

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52-year-old man in court over rape allegation case

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BY SYLVANA TEKUMAHA

A case involving a 52-year-old man accused of raping a 10-year-old at GPPOL was committed to the High Court yesterday for its first mention on February 27.

The defendant, who could not be named to protect the identity of the victim was charged with three counts of rape and one count of indecent act.

The incident occurred between 2024 and 2025 on several occasions at different locations, with the use of money by the defendant to lure the complainant.

The alleged complainant’s father was a good friend of the defendant for years and often visited the victim’s house and likewise, the complainant would also visit the defendant at his house.

The first incident occurred when the defendant visited the complainant’s house when her father was not home, he gave $20.00 to the complainant’s mother to go and buy betel-nut, leaving him and the complainant alone.

The second incident occurred when the defendant came over to the complainant’s house and lied to her to go and get money at his house. The complainant followed the defendant to his house, the defendant took her into his room and raped her.

The third incident occurred in 2025 when the defendant took the complainant into his room to commit the offence again.

The last incident occurred before June 2025. The defendant told the complainant to follow him to get $5.00, before going to school and she did. When the complainant came to the defendant’s house, the defendant pulled the complainant into his room and commit the offence again.

The incident was reported to the Tetere Police on October 10, 2025.

The defendant appeared before the Magistrate court yesterday for committal ruling.

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Sentencing for female driver today

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BY SYLVANA TEKUMAHA

Sentencing for a woman accused of reckless driving is expected today.

The sentencing was supposed to have been done yesterday, however, the matter was adjourned for today.

The accused reportedly had driven a vehicle and crashed it into the King George VI Tutor’s office building, causing injuries to two female students.

The incident occurred on August 15, 2025.

The accused, Victoria Anna Mosese was also reportedly under the influence of alcohol when the incident took place.

Police later attended the scene and brought her in for questioning at the Kukum police station.

Ms Mosese was then charged with two counts – Reckless and dangerous driving, and presence of alcohol in person’s blood.

Mosese was bailed to attend court and pleaded guilty to count 2, while she pleaded not guilty to count 1.

A trial was conducted from December 11 – 12, 2025, after the trial she was convicted by the court for count 1.

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SINSO releases first ever Supply and Use / Input Output Tables

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BY SYLVANA TEKUMAHA

The first ever Supply and Use, and Input and Output Tables (SUT/IOT) was published by the Solomon Islands National Statistics Office (SINSO) yesterday, adding a key statistical and development milestone for the country.

A statement from the Statistics office of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury (MoFT) yesterday said that the SUT /IOT for the Solomon Islands is benchmarked to 2012 expanding from the National Accounts/Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at current and constant 2012 prices.

As stated, this is the first SUT/IOT complied for the Solomon Islands by the SINSO with technical support from the Asian Development Bank (KSTA 6565).

“The SUTs form an integrated and central framework expanding from the recommendations of the System of National Accounts (2008 SNA) for the compilation of a single and coherent estimate of GDP comprising the three main approaches of production, income and expenditure with close associations to other parts of the SNA framework,” the statement said.

The Statistics office said basically, the SUTs shows how products (goods and services) are supplied into the Solomon Islands economy through domestic production and imports in the supply side, and how these products are used through intermediate consumption and final consumption by households, non-profit institution serving households, general government, gross capital formation and exports.

The SUTs also encompasses linkages between the gross value added (GVA), industry inputs and outputs and can also reveal connections of different institutional sectors such as government and non-financial corporations of the SNA framework. 

It also provides analytical resource in its own right presenting interactions between producers and consumers.

The statement said an important use of SUTs is it acts as the basis for producing input-output tables (IOT), and other related products and indicator analyses.

“The IOTs reveal the linkages between final uses and intermediate uses of goods and services disaggregated by industry outputs (industry-by-industry tables) or by product outputs (product-by-product tables), and separately also shows the consumption of goods and services produced in the domestic economy and those imported goods and services.

“The past and current compilation of the GDP estimates by SINSO have been undertaken outside the SUT framework. Hence, going forward into the medium-long term, SINSO aims to align the GDP compilation system within the SUT framework,” said the statement.

The Statistics office noted in the statement that further information about the publication and information about the statistics can be obtained from the publication No.2/2026 and downloaded also from the SINSO website https://statistics.gov.sb   

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Australia lights up State Ridge community in Central Honiara

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BY ALICE CAMPBELL

The Solomon Islands-Australia Community Partnerships programme has helped another community.

The State Ridge community in Central Honiara welcomed the official handover of 20 new solar-powered streetlights, funded under the partnership programme recently.

The 20 new solar lights will help to improve the safety of all in the community, particularly women and children. Photos credit – Australian High Commission

The project will improve safety and security for the State Ridge community in both the Central Honiara and East Honiara Constituencies, a statement by the Australian High Commission yesterday said.

High Commission officials, led by Minister-Counsellor Stephanie Aeuckens, were warmly welcomed to State Ridge by the community, Constituency Development Officer for Central Honiara, Mr Rexford Paul, and Constituency Project Officer for Central Honiara, Mr Tony Chris, for the event to celebrate the milestone. 

Minister-Counsellor Stephanie Aeuckens and High Commission staff were warmly welcomed by the State Ridge Community

This project builds on 10 solar-powered streetlights funded earlier under the Community Partnerships programme.

The extension of this solar lighting project came following the overwhelming positive feedback from the State Ridge community.

Australian High Commissioner Jeff Roach said this project is a shining example of the strong commitment and partnership between Solomon Islands and Australia.

“Solar lights are a simple but hugely effective resource,” he said.

“They help keep people safe at night and improve the community for everyone.

“We’re so thrilled that the community valued the first project so highly that they wanted to extend it further.”

Project Coordinator, Julian Houkura, said that for many years the community did not have any lights on the road, and the installation of the first ten solar lights saw a decrease in instances of harassment and anti-social behaviour.

Mr Rexford Paul, Project Coordinator Mr Julian Houkura and Minister-Counsellor Stephanie Aeuckens cutting the ribbon

“Today, we are happy to have these additional streetlights. This project will help to ensure more members of the community, especially women, youths and children, can go about their daily activities without fear.”

This project is another example of the power of collaboration between Australia and local communities in Solomon Islands

This project is one of more than 100 community projects funded in 2025, across all provinces of Solomon Islands, the high commission statement said.

These projects are worth more than $25 million in direct investment to Solomon Islands’ economy.

Round 1 of this year’s Solomon Islands-Australia Community Partnerships is currently open, the statement said.

The Australian High Commission is accepting applications until March 8, 2026.

Photos: AHC

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RSIPF to participate in Dubai world SWAT challenge

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BY MORRIS NAFU

The Royal Solomon Islands police force (RSIPF) will take part in an international special weapons and tactical (SWAT) challenge for the first time.

This international tourney takes place in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from February 7-11.

Eight officers of RSIPF left the country to participate, a statement by RSIPF yesterday said.

Solomon Islands is also the only South Pacific country to take part.

The UAE SWAT Challenge aims to strengthen cooperation between tactical teams, showcase the latest international practices in rapid response and intervention operations, and measure readiness in dealing with complex and demanding scenarios, the statement said.

Participation in the UAE SWAT Challenge is open to police officers from around the world who can be registered in teams.

The eight RSIPF officers who participated in the SWAT Challenge successfully completed a 40-day specialised training programme at the China-Pacific Island Police Training Centre (CPPTC) in China recently, the statement said.

Pistol shooting training China in preparation for the UAE SWAT Challenge
Obstacle course
Fast rope descending
Obstacle course training in China

In June 2025, the China Police Liaison Team (CPLT) to the Solomon Islands assisted the RSIPF in the selection and establishment of the first SWAT team.

CPLT delivered months of intensive training, following a remarkable SWAT capability demonstration inspected by the Honourable Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands and some cabinet members in August 2025 before the Pacific Forum Leaders Meeting in Honiara.

The cross-national training programme was designed to align closely with the competition requirements, focusing on key events such as shooting, obstacle courses, tactical roping down, and assault tactics.

The Solomon Islands SWAT team is led by Acting Deputy Commissioner of Operations, Mr. Simpson Pogeava.

Photos: RSIPF

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Australia’s programme trains 13 on hospitality drink preparation skills

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BY ALICE CAMPBELL

Thirteen Solomon Islanders recently completed a hands-on workshop in Hospitality Drink Preparation Skills, delivered through the Pacific Australia Skills programme.

These professionals are stepping forward with newfound confidence and skills that can open doors to work, small businesses, and future opportunities, a statement by the Australian High Commission yesterday said.

Australian High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, Jeff Roach, acknowledged the importance of training that is practical and responds to the needs of industry, and enhances employability for Solomon Islanders.

“Australian programs are creating jobs and building a skilled workforce in Solomon Islands, focused on long-term economic growth and creating opportunities for young people and women.

“We know that jobs and growth are the top priority for the Solomon Islands Government, which is why we’re so proud to support this work,” he said.

The workshop included real workplace skills, from coffee preparation to non-alcoholic and low-alcohol beverages, equipping participants with experiences they can take straight into cafés, restaurants, hotels, resorts, and events across Solomon Islands, the statement said.

Students work together, gaining practical, hands-on experience during the workshop
Students proudly showcasing their end products after a hands-on practical in cocktail and smoothie preparation

Most of the participants were women, reflecting the important contribution that women are making to the country’s hospitality and tourism sector.

Participant Pat Ella Lomo, a tutor at the Solomon Islands National University’s Tourism and Hospitality Department, said the workshop had enhanced both her technical skills and her confidence as a hospitality professional and trainer.

Ms Lomo said the workshop also highlighted the real potential of hospitality as a career pathway for young Solomon Islanders.

Pacific Australia Skills Country Director for Solomon Islands, Atenasi Ata, said the sessions were designed to reflect real workplace expectations and industry standards.

“Learners are now better prepared to grow in their roles and contribute to further growth and development of the hospitality industry,” Ms Ata said.

Group photo of the 13 participants and Pacific Australia Skills staff upon completion of the Statement of Participation in Hospitality Drink Preparation Skills workshop

The Pacific Australia Skills programme will continue to deliver inclusive, accessible and high-quality skills training workshops, trainings and upskilling opportunities that encourages Solomon Islanders, particularly youth and women and people with disabilities, to participate meaningfully in the workforce.

Photo: AHC

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