BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

CHIEF Hosea Galozapu has been formally enthroned as the chief representing the Midukuburu Sambe Tribe in Paraso community, North Vella La Vella, Western Province.

The enthronement ceremony took place at Paraso village on Wednesday this week, where Mr Galozapu made his oath and received blessings from senior chiefs in accordance with custom and tradition.

Members of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force were also present to witness the historic occasion.

Paramount Chief of the Midukuburu Sambe Tribe, Rence Sore said the ceremony was witnessed by a total of 40 chiefs representing different tribes across Vella La Vella.

He said the enthronement reflects the long-standing tradition of the Midukuburu Sambe Tribe in appointing and recognising a new headman to lead and represent the community.

“Galozapu is now the shield, the spear and the heart of the Paraso community when it comes to decision-making processes,” Sore said.

He adds that Galozapu is now an official member of the Midukuburu Sambe Tribe’s decision-making body, which extends across Vella La Vella and Ranongga Islands.

Sore said the tribe is determined to put its leadership and structures in proper order as development continues to move into the islands.

“We want to put the tribe in proper order before we welcome any development. This is not only about development aspirations, but also about keeping our communities safe and united,” he said.

Sore acknowledged the support of fellow chiefs, the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force and the Paraso community for their cooperation, which contributed to the successful hosting of the enthronement ceremony.

BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The former police officer arrested and accused of selling beer illegally during Christmas and New Year at Wairokai in West Are’are, Malaita province, will appear before the court on March 23.

Malaita Province Police commander (PPC) Michael Ramosaea told this paper yesterday that police on Malaita arrested the officer and confiscated 12 cartons of beer on Friday, January 9.

He also alleged that the officer was involved in the sale of locally brewed alcohol (kwaso).

Ramosaea said that the 64-year-old former police officer was released on bail before his court hearing, which is set to be held at Maka Police Station. 

Ramosaea said the suspect has been charged with unauthorised sales of liquor under the Liquor Act.

He said that his action of selling liquor allegedly led to some unwanted activities and related incidents at Wairokai during the Christmas and New Year.

He said police also received reports from chiefs at Wairokai that a person who had died in his sleep at the same village was due to consuming locally brewed alcohol (kwaso) of second grade.

“It was a sad story for his people, noting the communities of the increasing number of brewers in the village,” he said.

Ramosaea, meanwhile, called on the villagers to report those involved in brewing locally made alcohol (Kwaso) and unauthorised sales of liquor to the police.

BY MORRIS NAFU

The Solomon Islands Meteorological Service (SIMS) announced the cancellation of its heavy rain and strong wind warnings, as weather conditions have improved significantly across the region yesterday.

SIMS advised residents in a statement that the situation is now below the warning threshold, effectively canceling the alerts.

All alerted provinces are expected to experience sunshine, allowing people to resume their daily activities without concern.

“The strong wind warning previously issued for all waters is now canceled,” the statement said.

“A trough lies just south of Solomon Islands.

“The expected west to northwest winds of 20 to 25 knots over waters of Solomon Islands are now below the warning threshold and have been canceled.”

This update follows earlier advisories that had prompted caution due to potential severe weather.

Authorities recommend staying informed through official channels for any future changes, though current forecasts indicate stable conditions.

BY SYLVANA TEKUMAHA

Concerns have been raised over Selwyn College accepting 140 form-6 students when its capacity is only 70-80 students.

Parents and guardians raised their concern to Island Sun this week after it was announced that 140 students which the Ministry of Education (MEHRD) had listed for Selwyn College have been accepted despite only being able to accommodate 70-80 form-6 students.

The Anglican Church of Melanesia (ACOM) Education Provider (EP) questioned MEHRD in a facebook post on Friday, Jan 17, why 140 form-6 students were listed for Selwyn college when the school can only accommodate 70-80 form 6 students.

“There appears to be a lapse in communication between MEHRD and ACOM EP regarding the total number of students officially placed in Year 12 (Form 6) at Selwyn College this year,” ACOM EP Education Secretary Desmond Waita said in the post.

“The approved and available school capacity for Form 6 is 70–80 students only, not 140 students as stated on the MEHRD Facebook page.”

However, early this week Mr Waita posted on the Selwyn College facebook page announcing that the ACOM EP has agreed to accept the 140 form-6 students. These posts have since been removed.

Waita has not responded to attempts by this paper for comments.

A teacher who requested anonymity told Island Sun on Wednesday this week that accepting 70-plus students above the school’s capacity for form-6 will cause a lot of rippling effects for the school and students.

“First is overcrowding at the dormitories and classrooms. The dining hall, assembly hall and chapel will also struggle to accommodate the extra numbers,” the teacher said.

He said the excessive number of students will strain available materials for learning such as science lab apparatuses and chemicals.

“Textbooks will have to be shared among the students which could lead to three students sharing a textbook and stationeries will not be enough,” he said.

He added that the school will have to budget extra for food rations, medicine supplies at the clinic could be overwhelmed, and extra work for teachers to adjust their teaching plans for 2026.

“I feel that the Anglican Church of Melanesia (ACOM) Education Provider is bending to pressure from politicians and church leaders and is sacrificing quality education which the school is well-known for,” he said.

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

THE President of the Vella House of Chiefs has refused to attend the recent enthronement of chiefs at Paraso, sparking questions over the legality and recognition of the newly enthroned leaders.

Reports reaching Island Sun indicate that the disagreement stemmed from the appointment of chiefs to lead various tribes, with concerns that the latest enthronement contradicts the roles and authority of other chiefs who were enthroned last year.

According to the report, the president’s absence was interpreted by some as a rejection of the process, raising uncertainty among communities about whether the newly appointed chiefs would be formally recognised by the Vella House of Chiefs.

However, Chief Rence Sore has dismissed claims that the president’s decision represented the position of the Vella House of Chiefs as a whole.

He said any decision to boycott or oppose a chiefs’ enthronement must be collectively agreed upon by the entire Vella House of Chiefs body.

Sore said the action had overshadowed the integrity and leadership expected of the office.

“The Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer of the Vella House of Chiefs were present during our chiefs’ enthronement programme.

“Only the president was not present, and I do not know the reasons for his absence,” he said.

Sore said the dispute highlights growing divisions within the Vella House of Chiefs and has raised broader concerns about unity, customary leadership, and the proper processes for enthroning chiefs in the area.

BY SYLVANA TEKUMAHA

Minister of Health and Medical Services Dr Paul Popora Bosawai has clarified the confusion surrounding licensing requirement related to methamphetamine after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions issued a statement on Tuesday.

In practice, there is no licence for Meth, Mr Bosawai said.

Speaking to Island Sun on Tuesday, Bosawai said licensing is mentioned because some of the precursor chemicals used in methamphetamine production is also used for medical purposes and these pre-cursors require licence to handle.

“If we do not put licence to methamphetamine and ban it, that means we are banning the use of precursors used for medical purposes,” he said.

There is a board that governs the issuing of licence called the ‘Drugs and Poisons Board’, chaired by the Deputy Secretary of Health, he is also the Chairman who provides permit.

“You cannot possess a licence until it goes through a process. The board can then grant you permit, moreover the board cannot issue licence unless it is strictly for medical use.

“In practice no one can have the licence for methylamphetamine, because our laws do not allow for a licence for specific drugs or medications,” he said.

He added that in order to have medication in the county, one will also need a permit to import and licence to dispense the medications.

“With the question as to why one with licence can possess methamphetamine or sell, it is solely for medical use,” he said.

Bosawai said that it is when one abuses it that the drug is called ‘illicit drugs’, otherwise it is still a dangerous drug covered under the Dangerous Drug and Poisons Act 1942.

“Rules and penalties were changed after November 5, 2025, but the overall law of the Drugs and Poisons Act were not in the amendment,” he said.

Director of the Public Prosecution Office (DPP) Andrew Kelesi explained to Island Sun that one reason those who were found linked to methamphetamine in the past years were not taken to court was because under the Dangerous Drug Act there were no laws to criminalise it.

“There were no amendments of the Dangerous Drug Act the past years and it leaves a lot of gap, that is why this is the new regulation in placed after November 5,” he said.

There will be a review of the Dangerous Act and is expected to be tabled in Parliament during its first meeting for 2025.

Bosawai acknowledges the concerns raised by the public however he advised there is also a need to understand the importance of precursors since it is still used for medical purposes. 

Under the Dangerous Drugs (Methamphetamine) Rules November 2025, distribution, possessing, supplying and manufacturing of methamphetamine without proper licence breaches the Dangerous Act (Cap. 98) of the Pharmacy and Poisons Act (Cap. 105).

BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Leader of Opposition Matthew Wale has strongly condemned the recent burning and destruction of company property at the Gold Ridge Mine site and urges government to address grievances.

Wale, in a statement yesterday [Jan 22] said arson and the willful destruction of private property are serious criminal offences with penalties that include imprisonment.

“While there may be long-standing landowner grievances and frustrations over the operations and land issues, there are avenues and laws available for dealing with such concerns. Resorting to violence and intimidation only worsens the situation by harming ordinary citizens, workers, and landowning communities who depend on stability for their livelihoods, hence, cannot be tolerated by society at large,” Wale said.

He urged the Government to take this incident seriously and carry out robust investigations that not only look at the criminal aspects but also all underlying issues which continue to fuel tension around the Gold Ridge project.

He adds that this incident paints a negative picture for investment in the mining sector, hence it must not be ignored.

He said that the Government must now engage openly with landowners and community leaders to quickly restore trust, uphold justice, and prevent further escalation.

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

He also appealed to the parties involved to remain calm and address their grievances through a more peaceful and lawful means for settling issues and avoiding a repeat.

BY MORRIS NAFU

Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has expressed serious concern following unrest at the Gold Ridge Mine site and has called on all parties to remain calm, exercise restraint, and prioritise community safety.

The Prime Minister is aware of damage to machinery at the site and emphasised that his immediate message is one of dialogue, mutual understanding and cooperation, a statement by the PM Press Secretariat yesterday said.

“As a nation, land is central to our identity and way of life. While property destruction is illegal, these actions reflect strong emotions and a desire to be heard,” Mr Manele said.

“And to take these forward, we (all parties) must come together to dialogue and seek solutions within law and custom,” Manele said.

The Prime Minister appealed to GRML, chiefs, community leaders, and youth across Central Guadalcanal to maintain peace and prevent any further escalation, the statement said.

The Prime Minister encouraged patience and restraint while efforts continue to identify a path forward based on respect, dialogue, and understanding.

More than 30 machines belonging to the Gold Ridge Mining Ltd company were burnt and damaged on Tuesday night by a group of unknown people, police reported.

Police has since said it has the situation at the mine site under control.

Landowners speaking to Island Sun on Wednesday said the unfortunate incident was a result of growing frustration among members of the surrounding communities from continuous mistreatment by the company and police officers, outstanding issues between landowners and company.

The GRML company in a statement on Wednesday while condemning the incident, called for communities to cooperate with police and assured it was working with all stakeholders to identify and resolve the root causes.

BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Gordon Darcy Lilo has expressed deep concerns regarding the recent incident involving the burning of machinery and equipment at the Gold Ridge mining site.

The Member of Parliament for Central Honiara and Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) raised his concern in a statement yesterday.

Lilo said that the situation could have been avoided if an open discussion had been held between the relevant parties and landowners regarding their complaints.

He described the event as a grave situation.

The PAC Chairman said the possible involvement of competing foreign companies, with interests seeking tenements within the larger Gold Ridge area, cannot be ignored.

He called for a stop to issuing consents to companies seeking to procure a prospective license from the Ministry of Mines and the Mining Board, and to address the ongoing discussions surrounding the mining policy framework as part of the current legislative reforms.

Lilo also called for the suspension of all applications and an immediate halt to the issuance of prospecting licences.

He said that this allows the government to work towards legislative reform to reinstate its commitment to international regulatory standards and comply with the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).

Lilo adds that this approach will ensure that the concerns of landowners and other stakeholders are addressed fairly and within the bounds of the law.

He cautions that the current operational status at Gold Ridge is unsustainable, and the government must take decisive, transparent and responsible action to rectify the situation.