BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI) has raised serious concerns over the rejection of Solomon Kalu for the Director General position at the Solomon Islands Independent Commission Against Corruption (SIICAC), questioning both the legality and rationale behind the decision.
SIICAC has remained without a Director General since the expiry of John Kouni’s contract in April last year.
Mr Kalu, a former Chairman of the Leadership Code Commission, a lawyer, and the current Team Leader for Governance at the United Nations Development Programme country office, was recommended for the role by an independent interview panel.
The panel comprises of the Ombudsman Fred Fakarii, Judicial and Legal Service Commission (JLSC) member Dr Patricia Rodie, and Law Reform Commission Chairman Philip Kanairara.
Despite the panel’s recommendation, Attorney General John Muria Junior advised the JLSC to reject Mr Kalu’s appointment, citing his alleged non-compliance with the former government’s “No Jab, No Job” COVID-19 policy.
Mr Kalu was one of three candidates interviewed for the position, alongside former Director General John Kouni and former Law Reform Commission Chairman Frank Paulsen.
In response, Transparency Solomon Islands expressed grave concern over the matter, particularly the prolonged vacancy at SIICAC.
TSI said the rejection of the interview panel’s recommendation based on vaccination status was unacceptable.
TSI further said that the policy was enforced under a State of Emergency that has since been revoked and that many affected workers have since returned to employment.
TSI called for transparent and legally grounded explanations for decisions affecting key governance institutions, warning that weak decision-making could undermine public trust and the country’s fight against corruption.
“Integrity, accountability, and due process are essential if SIICAC is to fulfil its mandate,” TSI said.
A letter cited by Island Sun also confirmed the revocation of the cabinet’s decision for implementation of the ‘No Jab, No Job’ together with the Mandatory Vaccination policy.
According to the letter signed by the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Public Service, Luke Cheka, the cabinet cancelled the policy in its 35th meeting on December 31, 2023 and applied to all public servants.
Based on the signed document, applicants seeking jobs within the Solomon Islands government are no longer required to produce evidence of COVID-19 vaccination.
The letter dated February 2, 2024, was forwarded to secretary to the Cabinet, the Secretary to the Prime Minister’s office, Permanent Secretaries and equivalent, Private secretary government house, Clerk to National Parliament, Provincial Secretaries and Human Resources.

BY MORRIS NAFU

The bad weather has intensified with authorities issuing an Orange Alert yesterday.
A strong wind warning number-five with orange alert was issued by the Solomon Islands Meteorological Service (SIMS), effective immediately for all waters surrounding the Solomon Islands.
Issued at 4pm yesterday, the warning highlights hazardous conditions driven by an active weather system.
SIMS statement highlights an active trough lies just south of the Solomon Islands, connected to a tropical low near the northern parts of Vanuatu.
This setup is expected to bring westerly winds reaching 20 to 25 knots across all Solomon Islands waters.
Seas are forecast to be moderate to rough, accompanied by moderate south to southwest swells measuring 2.5 to 3.5 metres.
Visibility is likely to be poor in areas affected by showers and thunderstorms, adding to the risks.
The meteorological service urges residents and visitors in affected areas to take precautionary measures, as these strong winds have the potential to impact lives and properties.
Sea travellers are strongly advised to prioritize safety, as the conditions could produce dangerous wave patterns hazardous to small boats.
The warning emphasizes sharing this information with people with disabilities to ensure everyone is informed and prepared.
The next Strong Wind Warning update is scheduled for 7:00 AM tomorrow morning. For the latest forecasts and safety tips, residents are encouraged to monitor official meteorological channels.

BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
The recent burning of machinery and equipment at the Gold Ridge mining site in Central Guadalcanal has resulted in losses estimated at several million dollars.
Gold Ridge Community Investment Limited (GCIL) Chairman and Gold Ridge Mining Limited (GRML) Director, Walton Naezon, told this paper yesterday [Jan 27] an exact figure is not yet available on the losses, but stressed that it is in the millions.
The incident occurred on the night of Tuesday, January 20, during which more than ten machines sustained damage.
Mr Naezon said that the total cost of the damage has been formally submitted to the National Government, though he declined to disclose the exact figure publicly.
“We have already made a statement to the government on the actual cost of the damaged machines. The loss amounts to a few million dollars,” Naezon said.
Despite the delay, Naezon confirmed that mining operations at Gold Ridge have resumed, with replacement machinery already on the way.
He said operations are continuing while the company awaits the arrival of new equipment, which is expected to restore full production capacity in the coming months.
“All divisions are now operating. New machines are on their way, and we expect to reach full production once they arrive,” he said.
Community members at Gold Ridge have linked the incident to growing frustration among some landowners over unresolved grievances and unfulfilled promises.
However, Naezon said investigations are ongoing and stressed that reconciliation efforts are underway with nearby settlements, some of which have denied involvement in the incident.
He said the company is working closely with the government to identify those responsible and determine the root cause of the violence.
“These are not Gold Ridge people alone. There is a mix of people with no cultural or land ties to the area who may be influencing local communities,” he said.
He added that following recent dialogue between the company, government officials, and the Landowners Council, agreements were reached with resolutions aimed at addressing concerns of the 17 tribes at Gold Ridge.

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo
TRADERS and shoppers at Gizo Market have seen a noticeable drop in the availability of fresh crops this week, with many attributing the shortfall to prolonged bad weather conditions affecting agricultural supply routes and farming activities across Western Province.
Local vendors say that strong winds and rough seas over the past several weeks have restricted small craft to travel between nearby islands and Gizo, making it difficult for rural farmers to bring fresh vegetables, fruits, root crops and other garden produce for sale.
Many of the island communities that normally supply Gizo such as Kolombangara, Simbo, Ranogga and Vella La Vella have had to suspend trips due to the unsafe marine conditions.
Shoppers are feeling the impact at the checkout with less supply coming in, prices for some vegetables and root crops have climbed, placing additional strain on household budgets.
Market Manager Moffat Maeta confirmed that there are less produce coming into the market forcing food price to increase.
“Yes, I have seen a huge decline in produces coming into the market since last week. This is due to the bad weather for sure.
“The market is also empty as not many women came to sell their goods because weather is too cold,” he said.
One of the market vendors from Ranongga known as Mrs Haret said very few boats came across from Ranongga to Gizo with market.
“The sea is too rough and the wind is too strong. Most of the canoes have stayed ashore. We are only getting produce from Gizo Island itself,” she said.
The Solomon Islands Meteorological Service has issued recent weather statements warning of strong winds and heavy rain, which are expected to continue to affect the province in the coming days.
These conditions are consistent with the seasonal weather patterns that will continue to disrupt travel and stall crop transport across the island chain.

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo
FORMER Chief Education Officer of Western Province has called on education providers within the province to urgently review and strengthen the academic performance of schools.
Provincial Member of Assembly for Ward 10, Freedom Tozaka, said every secondary school in Western Province must place greater emphasis on academic excellence to improve overall education outcomes.
“Only one secondary school in Western Province was listed among the top 10 secondary schools in 2025. This is encouraging, but we can do much better,” he said.
Tozaka said improving school performance should be a collective effort, involving school leaders, the Western Provincial Government, education providers and other key stakeholders working together with a shared commitment.
He said there should be an Education Conference in Western Province to discuss effective strategies for improving the delivery of education services.
“I am calling for an urgent Education Conference for all key stakeholders in Western Province, to be held no later than June 2026,” Tozaka said.
He said Western Provincial Government to allocate funds and include the conference in its budget, adding that the event should bring together education providers, school leaders, community leaders, business representatives and other resourceful individuals.
“This conference will provide an opportunity for every actor to review current practices and identify ways to strengthen academic performance across all schools in the province,” Tozaka said.
He said such a coordinated approach would help establish effective strategies and lay a strong foundation for schools to deliver quality education services throughout Western Province.

BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Several police officers providing security at the Gold Ridge mining site in Central Guadalcanal have been suspended following allegations of stealing gold ore, according to sources within the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF).

The officers, who were part of a security operation at the mine, 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.

A landowner and miner from Bita village, Aldrin Smith, told Island Sun last week that alleged misconduct by police officers was one of the contributing factors that led to the burning of machinery and equipment at the Gold Ridge mining site on Tuesday, January 20.

Mr Smith said landowners were often treated harshly during security operations, creating fear and anger within the community.

“They chased us badly, and we were afraid to return to work the next day, even though mining is how we earn money. When they chased us, they took our bags of high mineral soil and kept them for themselves, leaving us with nothing when we went home,” he said.

Mr Smith alleged that the practice has been ongoing and that seized mineral soil was not returned to the company, but instead taken by officers for personal benefit.

A senior source within the RSIPF National Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) confirmed that the allegations had been investigated, and officers found involved have been suspended.

“The NCID was aware of these concerns. There is serious concern about how police officers handle these soil samples and lost in their hands. Such behaviour cannot be tolerated,” the spokesman said.

He said the suspensions followed collaborative investigations involving NCID officers and personnel on the ground, adding that the matter was treated with urgency due to its seriousness.

“This is a concern for both the police and the public. We must deal with such behaviour firmly to maintain discipline and public trust,” he said.

Police officers deployed to the Gold Ridge security operation include members from the Police Response Team (PRT), Central Response Unit (CRU), Central Police Station, frontline units, Henderson Police Station, Kukum Traffic Station, and White River Police Station.

The spokesman said that investigations into the matter are ongoing.

BY RODRICK DESURI
Auki
The ongoing bad weather has affected Goshen Enterprise, a leading business on Malaita province.
The weather is affecting the full series of operational, marketing, and support activities of Goshen Enterprise, which performs the tasks of designing, producing, marketing, delivering, and supporting its products or services.
Goshen Enterprise is a locally owned business that involves buying taro from rural communities and exporting it to other Pacific countries.
Owner and Managing Director, Levite Luciano Maesimae said the weather has disrupted and affected his value chain.
He said most affected part was product distribution to valued customers in Honiara.
He said he is looking for possible paths to ensure that the value chain is activated smoothly, though the weather is not stable.
“Yes, the current weather is disturbing and affecting our value chain. The most affected part is the distribution of our products to our valued customers,” he said.
“However, I was thinking of having a discussion with the shipping companies to support our value chain,” he said.

BY SYLVANA TEKUMAHA

The Solomon Islands Tertiary Education and Skills Authority (SITESA) and National Scholarship Divisions (NSD) under the Ministry of Education and Human Resources (MEHRD) indicated that the list of Scholarship Awardees will be released this week.

In an email with Island Sun yesterday [Jan 27], Permanent Secretary for MEHRD Dr Franco Rodie said the list of awardees is expected this week but will not disclose the actual date as of yet.
The Solomon Islands Government (SIG) is offering 1,445 scholarships aimed at building qualifications and skills in critical workforce shortage areas.
According to the SITESA Board, 88 percent of the scholarships will be delivered in-country, primarily through the Solomon Islands National University (SINU), while 12 percent will support overseas study in specialised fields such as health and maritime.
The Solomon Islands Government Scholarship for 2026 opened on July 14, 2025 and closed in September 14, 2025.
SITESA is responsible for the promotion, planning, capacity development and coordination of tertiary education and skills sector and ensuring our country has high quality and internationally respected tertiary system.

BY RODRICK DESURI
Auki

Leaders of the Bira Community, Malaita province, have refuted reports that sign posts at the newly opened bridge in Bira have been vandalised.
This follows a report from the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) on Monday that sign posts at the bridges in Bira and Su’u, Malaita province, had been vandalised just days after the bridges were open for public use.
The bridges were opened on Friday last week.
Bira Community Elder Ishmael Bunimarau told Island Sun yesterday that the sign posts at the Bira bridge are ‘safe and well secured’.
“Here at Bira, we don’t see people damaging and removing those signages. Those signages are 100 percent safe as of today,” he said.
“We have community leaders that we have worked with to guide and protect these signages. The vandalism might have occurred at Su’u, but we don’t know,” he said.
He said the Bira community and its leaders know the significance and importance of the new bridge at Bira and are committed to taking ownership of the infrastructure and looking after it.
He said that such developments are what people want in the rural communities.
He also urged authorities to verify and assess properly such claims before announcing them in the media.
MID could not comment when sought yesterday.

Newly opened bridges on Su’u and Bira, Malaita province, vandalised within days. MID urge community leaders to lead

BY JUNELYN KELLY

Newly opened bridges in West Kwaio, Malaita province, have been vandalised just few days after being opened for public use, the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) has reported.
Bridges on Su’u and Bira were declared complete by the Solomon Islands Roads and Aviation Project (SIRAP2) on Friday last week.
The Bira bridge completed on January 12, and the one in Su’u completed on Jan 17, SIRAP2 said.
Official handover was expected for a later date, awaiting completion of other bridges on Malaita under the SIRAP2 project in Kofele 1 and 2.
However, yesterday [Jan 26] MID announced that signposts for the Bira and Su’u bridges have been either removed, defaced or damaged.
MID condemned this, explaining that the signposts were important:
“Safety first. These signages are there to save lives by alerting drivers to what’s ahead.
“Massive investment. The government and development partners invested millions to upgrade these bridges for our benefit.
“Future impact. This kind of criminal behavior is a major setback. It sends a negative message and could jeopardize future infrastructure projects for Malaita Province,” MID said.
MID appealed to leaders in these two communities to talk to their people not to vandalise public amenities and facilities.
“Community leaders, please talk to your people about respecting these road assets. Report any vandalism or theft to Auki police.
“We must take pride in our infrastructure and protect these features.
“These bridges are part of the SIRAP2 project, a partnership between the World Bank and the government, and belong to the communities both West Kwaio and Are’are. Let’s keep them safe and intact for road users,” MID said.