BY MORRIS NAFU
Betel nut prices in Honiara have skyrocketed in recent weeks, driven by adverse weather conditions that have disrupted supply chains from the provinces and rural areas.
The sharp increase has raised alarms among consumers who rely on the commodity for daily chewing and as a vital income source for many families.
The price hike, which began two weeks ago, has seen betel nut prices rise significantly from their usual range of $1 to $3 per fruit.
Market vendors report that individual fruits now cost between $7 and $8, with bulk purchases also affected.
For instance, a 10kg bag is selling for $700 to $800, while a 20kg bag can fetch up to $1,500 or more, according to suppliers at key markets like Maromaro and other betel nut hubs in town.
“With the season when betel nut is usually produced at low levels, compounded by the current bad weather, we’re running out of supplies from communities around Guadalcanal and other provinces,” said one market vendor.
“Only a few lucky buyers are getting bags at these inflated prices.”
The ongoing weather disruptions have tightened the market, making betel nut harder to come by.
For many Honiara residents, the fruit is more than a habit it’s a cultural staple chewed by people of all ages and a key source of income for low-income households.
However, the price increase is straining budgets, making it increasingly difficult for families to afford their usual supply.
Island Sun understand that resellers in outlying areas are worsening the issue by marking up prices even further reaching $10 per betel nut and fruit leave (dami).

-Police report 2 deaths due to ongoing bad weather
-1 death in Noro, 1 in Honiara. Investigations launched

BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Two deaths have been reported with causes linked to the ongoing bad weather lashing the country.
One man died following a tragic weather-related incident in Noro, Western Province, on the afternoon of Tuesday, January 27, a police statement said yesterday [Jan 28]. Police say they are investigating this incident.
And, last night police called of its search and rescue operation after the body of the missing man was found along the Henderson seaside.
Police said the Noro incident occurred at around 2pm when a large tree collapsed onto a leaf-built residential dwelling during heavy rains and strong winds lashing the area.
Police add that the adult male occupant of the house sustained serious injuries as a result of the incident.
Emergency responders were quickly dispatched to the scene, and the victim was transported to Helena Goldie Hospital for medical treatment.
Despite efforts by medical personnel, he was later pronounced dead, police said.
Police said in the statement that investigations are currently underway, with officers from Noro and Munda working together to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
According to the report, initial assessments suggest the death was linked to the extreme weather conditions experienced at the time.
Meanwhile, police last night reported the death of a man who had earlier been reported missing.
The body was located at the Henderson seaside and police were called in to retrieve it to the morgue, a police statement last night said.
Later family members were called in and identified the body as that of the late Ishmael Fiusilia, the police statement said.
Police had launched a search operation following a report of a missing person believed to have been washed away while attempting to cross the Lunga River near the Crusher Area, the statement said.
“Police are urging members of the public to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions during periods of bad weather, particularly in areas where large trees and unstable structures may pose a risk.”
The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force, meanwhile, extends its deepest condolences to the family, relatives, and community affected by the tragic incidents during this difficult time.

BY SYLVANA TEKUMAHA

The North Guadalcanal Constituency (NGC) office, under the leadership of their Member of Parliament Dr Paul Popora Bosawai, handed hardware and building materials to 15 schools last Friday.
The support, worth $190,000, is part of the $3.2 million allocated under the 2025 Constituency Development Funds (CDF) budget for NGC, under the Preferred Supplier Arrangement (PSA) component, a statement by the Ministry of Rural Development (MRD) yesterday said.
“Education remains one of the top priorities for our constituency,” Mr Bosawai said.
This assistance demonstrates NGC’s ongoing commitment to education development and improving learning environments for both students and staff.
“This support underscores our confidence that education is the foundation for a brighter future. A path to success is through education. Education provides us with opportunities to prosper and excel. So, we are investing in the future.
“We are committed to working alongside schools to ensure students have the resources and opportunities they need to succeed, ” he said.
Bosawai also said that the transformative power of education is the most effective means to eliminate poverty.
“Education is the key to unlocking opportunities and lifting communities out of poverty. It is the foundation upon which individuals can build better lives, secure sustainable employment, and contribute meaningfully to national development,” he said.
Meanwhile, school leaders from Pitukoli Community High School, and Navola Primary School expressed profound gratitude to the NGC office for the generous assistance.
They said that the support will help schools in their development programs—particularly in building classrooms, staff houses, and other essential school infrastructure to provide a more conducive learning environment and space for students.
Bosowai reaffirmed his dedication to education development, emphasising it remains one of the top priorities for the constituency with its importance to ensure there is quality of education.
The recipient schools are: Pitukoli RTC, Pitukoli Community High School, Sali Kindy and Primary, Binu Primary School, Nguvia Primary School, Suagi Catholic Primary School, Suagi Anglican Primary School, Nguvia Eden Private School, Nguvia Community High School, Tenavatu Community High School, Navola Kindy ECE School, Vutu Kindy School, Ghaobata Community High School, Tumurora Community High School, and Sir Jacob Memorial School.

BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) says it always upholds its core values when making decisions on allegations against its officers.
RSIPF was responding to allegations that police officers providing security at the Gold Ridge mining site were alleged to be involved in stealing gold ore.
A few officers are accused of collecting high-grade mineral soil in bags of rice and later panning the soil for gold and selling it for personal gain after their shifts.
In a response issued to Island Sun on Tuesday this week, the RSIPF Media Unit said that the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) is a neutral, transparent, and disciplined organisation that always upholds its core values to keep its integrity when making decisions on such allegations.
“This commitment to integrity ensures that the RSIPF maintains community trust and confidence. By prioritising accountability and fairness, the organisation aims to foster a safer environment for our people through its services,” the RSIPF Media Unit said.
The RSIPF Media also called on landowners who come across the unlawful action from its officers to reach out to the Police and report such behaviour to the Police.
“To address the concerns of Land Owners (LOs), the RSIPF is urging these individuals to come forward and report the issue to the Professional Standards Internal Investigation (PSII) Department of the RSIPF.”
The RSIPF Media further said that this proactive approach not only empowers landowners but also reinforces the RSIPF’s dedication to transparency and fairness in dealing with such allegations.
Following the allegation few of the officers were suspended following a collaborative investigation involving NCID officers and personnel on the ground, adding that the matter was treated with urgency due to its seriousness.
A senior source within the RSIPF National Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) confirmed this to this paper on Tuesday this week.

BY JUNELYN KELLY
A greater diversity of voices is needed in Solomons politics, British High Commissioner HE Paul Turner has said.
Mr Turner uttered this in his keynote at an event organised by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD).
The WFD workshop debated the barriers to women participating in politics in Solomons.
Minister for Gender & Youth, Kathy Nori and Leader of the Opposition, Matthew Wale joined Turner on a high-level panel to discuss the financial and cultural barriers to women’s participation in politics.
Also on the panel were Chief Election Officer, Jasper Highwood and Dr Alice Pollard who gave a very personal account of her struggles standing as an electoral candidate and the disappointments that followed in losing elections.
Turner said that across the world, diverse voices strengthened democracies and in the case of Solomons this meant a far greater number of women needed to be elected in national and provincial assemblies.
He said that since independence in 1978, only eight women in total had ever been elected to the national parliament in Solomons, one of the lowest anywhere in the world.
Turner highlighted recent research by WFD which showed how financial constraints limit women candidates.
Campaigning required significant resources and women were less likely to have access to personal income, land and financial assets.
He said more targeted financial support needed to be provided to women candidates and called for greater transparency of campaign financing and more equitable allocation of resources to level the playing field.
Minister Nori outlined the challenges she had experienced in securing a Parliamentary seat.
She said that women needed to overcome local expectation that they should be family based and focused on being the providers rather than the leaders of their communities.
This shift in mindset had to happen across the Solomons for women to have a chance of reaching their political aspirations but many were put off by the struggle.
Opposition Leader Wale underlined the importance of woman using their local Kastom and cultural networks to garner support and build up local recognition.
He accepted this was more difficult for women and urged potential women candidates to join political parties so they could draw on the experience and resources that parties can offer.
He said the problem with parties having reserved quotas for women candidates is that many women did not want to join political parties and opted instead to be independent candidates.
The panel agreed that a greater number of women in national and provincial assemblies would mean greater focus on important sectors such as health, education as well as community stability.
Turner underlined his personal experience from working in Northern Ireland and the Balkans in the 1990s and 2000s.
He said it had been locally organised women’s groups that had been instrumental in reaching out across divided communities in Sarajevo and Belfast, organising political groupings to work for long term peace.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI
Opposition Leader Matthew Wale wishes the Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT) well in the implementation the 2026 National Budget.
Wale made the remarks in a recent interview with Insight, reflecting on statements made by Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele last year, in which the Prime Minister said 2026 would be a more disciplined year in terms of budget implementation.
Prime Minister Manele also assured Solomon Islanders of a new direction, saying the government will work to better align the budget with its priorities.
Wale welcomed the Prime Minister’s sentiments, saying that regardless of political differences, all Solomon Islanders want to see the government succeed.
“These are good sentiments. There is a desire for a clear direction in implementing the budget to meet the priorities that have been set,” he said.
The Opposition Leader said what he expects from the government is to maximise revenue collection and ensure spending is confined to what has been legally appropriated and prioritised.
However, Wale pointed out that the 2026 budget remains a deficit budget, only slightly reduced compared to two years ago.
“We’ve had four or five years of deficit budgets going back, and that’s the first problem,” he said.
“If revenue does not perform and the government fails to collect enough, the budget is made on the assumption that the government will borrow.”
Wale noted that borrowing is not guaranteed and depends on lenders agreeing to provide funds.
He said delays or failure in borrowing would directly affect budget implementation.
“In those situations, ministries could end up sitting idle or cutting back on what they originally planned, meaning development services cannot be delivered,” he said.
Instead, ministries are forced to focus on recurrent expenditure such as salaries and office expenses.
“I think the credibility of the budget hangs on whether funds will actually be available to implement it. Revenue is one, and borrowing is the other,” Wale said.
He wished the government well, expressing hope that it will secure sufficient revenue and spend it wisely.

BY MORRIS NAFU

The illegal drug Methamphetamine (Meth) has been reported in Kirakira, with rising concerns over its spread to the provinces.
Makira-Ulawa Provincial Secretary Christopher Waiwori issued a strong call yesterday [Jan 28] for Government and Border Security authorities in Honiara to implement enhanced measures for detecting illegal drugs in all personal items and belongings of traveling passengers, whether at wharves or airports.
This appeal comes in the wake of recent reports highlighting illegal drug activities in the province, particularly in Kirakira town.
Waiwori described the situation as a “wake-up call” for the Provincial Government, law-enforcement agencies, and the general public across Kirakira and the broader Makira Ulawa Province.
Waiwori in a statement yesterday confirmed credible reports and growing concerns that illegal drugs, including methamphetamine commonly known as Meth or “Ice” are now circulating within Kirakira.
Claims suggest that some of these substances are being mixed or concealed in everyday consumer products, such as Colgate toothpaste and other items.
“This situation poses a grave threat to public safety, health, and social order, particularly to our youth, students, and vulnerable members of our communities,” Waiwori warned.
He emphasized that possession of illegal drugs is a criminal offense, reminding the public that anyone found possessing, supplying, distributing, manufacturing or preparing to manufacture methamphetamine without a lawful license will face prosecution under the Dangerous Drugs Act (Cap. 98) and the Pharmacy and Poisons Act (Cap. 105).
Waiwori noted that Kirakira Police intensified operations last week, leading to the arrest of several suspected youths.
Investigations have revealed that the illegal drugs are being transported from Honiara to Kirakira, raising fears that the substances may have already spread to other communities within Makira Ulawa.
In response, the Makira Ulawa Provincial Government in collaboration with the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) in Kirakira, plans to introduce strict measures to address, manage, and control the further spread of these illegal drugs in the province.
Waiwori also highlighted that marijuana usage remains an ongoing issue, with the RSIPF Makira set to conduct surprise spot checks in and around Kirakira to curb this activity.
“Addressing this illegal drug issue requires not only strengthening coordination with the Kirakira Police and law enforcement agencies, but also the cooperation of everyone from households to communities through awareness and prevention measures and most importantly, support for enforcement and intelligence gathering initiatives,” Waiwori said.
The provincial authorities are urging the public to report any suspicious activities to help combat this growing threat.

By RODRICK DESURI
Auki
Heavy rains and strong winds have left sick patients and their carers scrambling for shelter at the Kiluufi hospital yesterday [Jan 28].
Patients and guardians were queueing at the outpatient department to submit their cards and wait for their medical treatment when nature unleashed torrential rains and strong winds, reports reaching Island Sun said.
Herlison Aubongi, who was at the scene yesterday, described the incident as ‘quite chaotic’ as the sick patients, their carers and members of public frantically searched for any place within the hospital to take shelter.
He said when the heavy rain and strong winds struck, the people were moved all over the wards searching for a space to hide in the hospital.
“Here, the patients are worrying and suffering. To make it worse, strong winds with the rain struck them when they were queuing at the outpatient,” he said.
Solomon Islands has been placed under Orange Alert by the weather authorities as heavy rains and strong winds continue to be updated every day.
An active trough lies just south of the Solomon Islands and is linked to a tropical low located east of Vanuatu, the Meteorological Service (SIMS) said.
SIMS said westerly winds are expected to reach 20 to 25 knots, with gusts up to 30 knots over all waters of the Solomon Islands.
Warnings are also announced for potential floods and rough seas.

BY SYLVANA TEKUMAHA

Solomon Airlines Chairman Frank Wickham has announced the appointment of Matthew Findlay as the airline’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

A Solomon Airlines statement yesterday [Jan 28] said Mr Findlay will commence duty on February 16, prior to that Solomon Airlines and Findlay will attend to all final regulatory requirements of The Civil Aviation Authority of Solomon Islands (CAASI).

“Matthew’s extensive experience and exposure to the challenges of Pacific aviation will enable Solomon Airlines under his leadership, to further solidify our operational aspirations and to realise enhanced growth opportunities,” Wickham said.

Solomon Airlines Interim CEO Paul Abbot welcomed Mr Findlay, describing his appointment as ideal to support the national carrier to release its potential and continue its strategy to connect the Solomon Islands to countries throughout the Pacific region and beyond.

There will be a transition in the executive leadership in 2025 with the appointment of Abbot as Interim CEO for a 6-month period during which time Solomon Airlines conducted an executive search for a permanent candidate for CEO.

Wickham thanked Abbot for his support and commitment to Solomon Airlines as Interim CEO for the past 7 months, during a particularly difficult era for the national airline, and wished him well in the future.

Findlay said, “It’s an exciting time for Solomon Airlines and for Solomon Islands as the company navigates current challenges in some markets, and explores vast potential in others, to support the nation in diversifying its economy.”

“The Solomon Islands and the broader Pacific region offer much untapped potential for tourism, trade and air connectivity between nations and larger global markets,” he said.

As he steps into the role of Chief Executive Officer at Solomon Airlines, Findlay leaves behind a successful aviation consulting business, highly regarded by national, state and territory tourism, airport and airline stakeholders.

He served clients across Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific, Findlay brings a wealth of industry respect and a proven track record of fostering strong professional relationships throughout the Pacific region.

Outside of the aviation industry, he will resign his role as Club Secretary for Nelson Bay Junior Rugby Union Club, but remains a keen rugby follower and hopes to make a contribution to the sport in the Solomons.

Findlay’s wife Shelley and three teenage children will often join him upon his relocation to Honiara.

The appointment comes after a rigorous shortlisting and selection process including consultation with the Ministry of Finance and Treasury. Findlay has an extensive career in the aviation industry in Oceania, Europe and North America.

Abbot will assist through a transition period to the new CEO.

BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Government, through the Ministry of Public Service (MPS), has described the report concerning Solomon Kalu and the position of Director-General of the Solomon Islands Independent Commission Against Corruption (SIICAC) as inaccurate and misleading.
The Ministry said that no appointment was ever made, saying Mr Kalu was never appointed to the position of Director-General of SIICAC and that there was no rejection of an appointment, as has been ‘widely and incorrectly reported’.
MPS said that while Kalu was recommended by an interview panel, the Judicial and Legal Service Commission (JLSC) ultimately determined that he should not have been shortlisted or considered for appointment.
MPS said that the process, therefore, concluded before any appointment arose.
MPS adds that the JLSC is an independent constitutional commission established under section 117 of the Constitution of Solomon Islands and exercises its powers under section 118 of the Constitution.
Following its deliberations, the Commission formed the view that, in light of relevant considerations, Kalu was unsuitable for appointment as a public officer, and that the post should be re-advertised.
MPS said that this was a collective decision of the JLSC, made independently and based on its own assessment.
The public commentary has incorrectly suggested that the Attorney-General rejected or directed the outcome of the JLSC process, which is factually and constitutionally incorrect, the MPS statement said.
The MPS said that the Attorney-General did not make, direct, or influence that decision, nor did he advise that Kalu be removed from the shortlisting.
The statement said that AG’s role was limited to providing legal advice on whether past conduct was a relevant consideration, advice originally sought during a separate Leadership Code Commission selection process and later treated as relevant by the JLSC in its own deliberations.
MPS said that the advice was advisory only, formed part of the material available to decision-makers, and did not bind the Commission or determine the outcome, as the final decision rested solely with the JLSC.
The Ministry emphasises that constitutional commissions operate free from political or ministerial control and that their decisions are made on merit, in accordance with the law, and are not directed by any individual member, including the Attorney-General.
Mischaracterising lawful advisory processes as personal or political decisions risks undermining public confidence in constitutional governance, the Ministry said.
The Ministry is concerned that inaccurate and incomplete reporting has led to unwarranted personal attacks against the Attorney-General, as such commentary risks undermining public confidence in constitutional governance and the independence of national institutions.
The Ministry urges media organisations and commentators to report responsibly and accurately on matters involving constitutional bodies and public office holders.
On Monday this week Solomon Star reported that the Attorney General had advised the Judicial and Legal Service Commission (JLSC) to reject a recommendation by an independent panel for Mr Kalu to be appointed Director General of SIICAC.
The report said the Attorney General had used the reason that Kalu had not complied with the previous government’s (DCGA) ‘No jab, no job’ policy which was activated during the covid-19 era to force public servants to be vaccinated.
This policy was cancelled by DCGA on December 31, 2023.
The independent panel had interviewed applicants for the SIICAC Director General position.
Three people were interviewed – Kalu, former Director General John Kouni and former Law Reform Commission Chairman Frank Paulsen.
The panel comprised of the Ombudsman Fred Fakarii, Judicial and Legal Service Commission (JLSC) member Dr Patricia Rodie, and Law Reform Commission Chairman Philip Kanairara.
Transparency Solomon Islands and the Council of Trade Unions have criticised government over this matter, questioning the legality and rationale behind the usage of a defunct government policy to block Kalu’s appointment for the job.
SIICAC has remained without a Director General since the expiry of John Kouni’s contract in April last year.