BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Gordon Darcy Lilo, and Opposition Leader Matthew Wale have condemned the burning and destruction of machinery and equipment at the Gold Ridge Mining (GRML) site earlier this week.

The leaders expressed serious concern over the violence, calling for calm, dialogue and decisive government action to address the underlying causes of the unrest.

Following the incident, Prime Minister (PM) Manele urged all parties to exercise restraint, maintain peace, and prioritise the safety of surrounding communities.

While he recognised reports of damage to equipment at the mine site, he said that the immediate focus must be on dialogue, mutual understanding, and cooperation.

“As a nation, land is central to our identity and way of life. While the destruction of property is illegal, such actions reflect strong emotions and a desire to be heard. To move forward, all parties must come together through dialogue and seek solutions that respect both the law and customary practices,” PM Manele said.

He appealed to GRML, chiefs, community leaders, and youth in Central Guadalcanal to help maintain calm and prevent further escalation and encouraged patience while efforts continue to identify a path forward grounded in respect, understanding, and peaceful engagement.

Member of Parliament (MP) for Central Honiara and PAC Chairman, Gordon Darcy Lilo described the incident as a grave and avoidable situation, reflecting to a failure to maintain open and continuous dialogue with landowners over longstanding grievances.

Lilo also warned that the possible involvement of competing foreign companies seeking mining tenements within the broader Gold Ridge area cannot be ignored.

He called on the Ministry of Mines and the Mining Board to immediately halt the issuance of consents and prospecting licences while government works toward reforming the mining policy and legislative framework.

He urged the government to reinstate its commitment to international regulatory standards, particularly compliance with the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), to ensure transparency and equitable treatment of landowners and stakeholders.

“The current operational situation at Gold Ridge is untenable, adding that decisive and transparent government action is urgently required to restore confidence and stability in the sector,” Lilo said.

Opposition Leader Matthew Wale strongly condemned the arson, saying that the wilful destruction of private property is a serious criminal offence punishable by imprisonment.

“While there may be long-standing landowner grievances and frustrations over operations and land issues, there are lawful avenues available to address these concerns. Resorting to violence and intimidation only worsens the situation and harms ordinary citizens, workers, and landowning communities who rely on stability for their livelihoods,” Wale said.

Wale urged the government to conduct thorough investigations into both the criminal acts and the underlying issues fuelling tensions around the unrest.

He warned that such incidents can damage investor confidence and tarnish the country’s image in the mining sector.

“Our nation cannot afford actions that threaten peace, investment confidence, and social cohesion,” he said.

He called on all parties to remain calm and pursue peaceful, lawful means to resolve disputes and prevent a repeat of an unrest.

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BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

THE Western Province Youth Centre and the Seghe Provincial Administration Office are expected to open soon, a development anticipated to further strengthen service delivery across the province.

Provincial Secretary of Western Province, Patrick Toiraena, said a tentative timeline has been set for the facilities to open sometime next month.

Speaking to Island Sun last year, he said the new offices will enable better coordination of government services, promote economic activity and improve access to provincial development programmes.

“This is a major step forward in our effort to bring the government closer to the people,” Toiraena said.

He said the Seghe Provincial Administration Office will operate as a satellite office of the Western Provincial Government, extending core administrative functions to Seghe, which has been identified as the newest provincial hub in the Western Province.

Toiraena said Seghe has experienced significant infrastructure development in recent months, including the recent upgrade of Seghe Airport and the groundbreaking of a new terminal and market house project.

He said these developments are expected to stimulate business and tourism opportunities while enhancing transportation and trade links throughout the province.

According to Toiraena, the opening of the facility marks an important milestone in strengthening governance and improving public service delivery, particularly for communities in the Marovo region.

Meanwhile, Western Provincial Youth Desk Officer, Trina Paroi, said the Youth Centre will be a major asset for young people and the province as a whole.

Speaking to Island Sun, Paroi said the centre will host a range of programmes and activities, including trainings, workshops, a computer shop and a gallery for youths to display their products.

“We are counting the clock towards the grand opening,” Paroi said.

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BY MORRIS NAFU

The Solomon Islands Democratic Party (SIDP), led by Opposition Leader and Member of Parliament for Auki Langalanga” Matthew Wale, is set to host a Youth Civic Talk and Engagement session this afternoon at the National Parliament.

The event aims to foster open dialogue between young people and national leaders on pressing issues affecting youth and the future of democracy.

Under the theme “Youth Voices in Democracy and Leadership”, the gathering emphasises the slogan: “Democracy grows stronger when young people are informed, confident, and engaged”.

Participants will engage in open discussions with Mr Wale, who heads the Parliamentary Wing of the SIDP and serves as Leader of the Opposition.

Attendees can expect a range of interactive elements, including open conversations on youth-related challenges, opportunities to pose questions and share perspectives, civic education sessions, inspirational talks on youth leadership, and direct interactions with key national figures.

In a statement, the SIDP highlighted the event’s significance in empowering the next generation.

“This special session will bring together young people and the Parliamentary Wing of SIDP, who is also the Leader of the Opposition, Matthew Wale, for open, honest, and meaningful conversations about issues that matter to youth and the future of our democracy,” the party said.

Due to venue limits, participation is limited to 50 selected youths.

The event highlights SIDP’s commitment to inclusive political discourse and youth involvement in shaping Solomon Islands’ democratic landscape.

The two-hour discussion is set to run from 4pm to 6pm today.

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BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

THE Provincial Secretary of Western Province is heading to Japan to meet and hold discussions with donor partners on development initiatives.

Patrick Toiraena will depart this Sunday to attend a three-day workshop and discussion under the LEADS (Lead. Adapt. Scale.) Program, a collaboration between the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the World Bank, and the International Finance Corporation (IFC).

Speaking to Island Sun, he said the workshop will bring together teams from selected projects financed by ADB, JICA, the World Bank and IFC across the region.

Toiraena said the focus areas of the program include infrastructure, governance and health.

He said the workshop aims to build participants’ capacity to understand impact evaluation techniques and to develop practical skills in applying impact evaluation to their respective projects.

“It aims to establish a regional learning agenda that integrates global evidence and trial-and-adopt impact evaluations into project design and implementation,” Toiraena said.

He said the program is co-created with policymakers, operational teams and researchers to help steer projects towards achieving greater development impact.

Toiraena said the workshop is hosted by the World Bank Group with support from ADB and will be held in Tokyo from January 26 to 29.

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Police in Auki, Malaita Province, have opened an inquiry into the death of an elderly man whose body was found along the shoreline at Airahu in West Kwara’ae, raising concerns among relatives over the circumstances surrounding his death.

Malaita Province Police Commander (PPC), Michael Ramosaea confirmed this in an exclusive interview on Thursday, saying the incident had occurred on Saturday, January 10.

According to Mr Ramosaea, the deceased, believed to be between 50 and 60 years old, had gone fishing at around 1pm that day.

His body was later discovered on the shore at approximately 5pm after he failed to return home, Ramosaea said.

Ramosaea said the death has been classified as suspicious, prompting police to formally open an inquiry file while awaiting further information and medical reports.

He explained that relatives of the deceased alerted police after discovering the body, and officers promptly attended to the scene alongside medical personnel.

“This matter is of concern because the deceased was expected to appear in court over a land dispute. His family members have expressed fears that his death may be linked to that ongoing land issue,” he said.

He said police were also informed by relatives that the individual who reportedly found the body was allegedly an opposing party in the same land dispute, further heightening suspicions.

“As a result, we are treating the matter with caution and are gathering all relevant information before determining the next steps,” he said.

Ramosaea said the inquiry was opened to allow police to properly document emerging details as they continue to receive information from the community.

He added that once the report is finalized and sufficient evidence is collected, police may escalate the matter into a full criminal investigation.

“At this stage, we are waiting for the doctor’s report. If there is enough credible and reliable information indicating foul play, police will not hesitate to launch a criminal investigation,” he said.

Police are urging members of the public with relevant information to cooperate with police as investigations continue.

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