BY NED GAGAHE

Students, staff and members of the public are invited to experience Japanese culture at the 2026 Japan Festival to be held at the Solomon Islands National University (SINU).

The festival, organised by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) volunteers, will take place on Saturday, January 31, 2026, from 11am to 1.30pm at the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Kukum Campus.

The event aims to promote cultural exchange and friendship between Japan and Solomon Islands through a range of interactive and educational activities.

Participants will have the opportunity to try on a traditional Japanese yukata, take photos, explore Japanese calligraphy, play traditional games and take part in a Japanese dance.

Organisers say the festival is designed to be a fun and relaxing event for people of all ages, offering a unique chance to experience Japanese traditions and customs.

SINU students, staff and the general public are encouraged to attend.

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BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

The Crime Prevention Committee (CPC) at Iriqila community in Vella La Vella, Western Province, has successfully uprooted 150 marijuana plants following a targeted operation carried out last week.

The operation came after months of investigation to identify and confirm gardens where the illegal plants were being cultivated.

Reports reaching Island Sun said the effort was made possible through strong cooperation from community elders, chiefs, women leaders and youth leaders.

It remains unclear whether the confiscated marijuana plants were handed over to Gizo Police or destroyed at the site following the operation.

According to the report, the Iriqila CPC is continuing its investigations and has identified other potential sites where marijuana may be farmed within the community.

Island Sun understands that marijuana is among several illegal drugs that are being sold in the black market in the province.

Reports indicate that a single roll of marijuana sells for between five and ten dollars and is readily available to users.

The CPC has reiterated its commitment to working with community leaders and relevant authorities to curb the cultivation and sale of illegal drugs in the area.

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RSIPF says it will launch inquiry into serious allegations against its officers by Chinese rice company SPETD

BY MORRIS NAFU

Police has said it will launch an inquiry into allegations that officers in its Henderson and Central stations have obstructed justice from a Chinese rice company.

The South Pacific Economy and Technology Development Limited (SPETD) is an agriculture company which currently holds lease to the largest commercial rice farm in Solomon Islands.

SPETD’s aim is to provide Solomon Islands with fresh rice at much lower prices than the current exorbitant prices of rice, which are stale imported rice. SPETD operations entail employment opportunities for locals.

However, as operations started last year, opportunists have been disturbing SPETD with violent assault, extortion, vandalism, theft and threats to SPETD workers.

And, officers of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) are reported to be accomplices of these individuals, obstructing justice to SPETD.

SPETD has documents, photos and recordings of these allegations which Island Sun has sighted.

After many attempts and follow-up with police for justice, along with media articles and publications, SPETD resorted to calling on the national government for help, published on Island Sun front-page on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, Issue 5484, titled ‘Protect Our Workers’.

Island Sun followed up last week with the office of the prime minister and was advised to follow up with the ministry of commerce (MCILI) and the RSIPF.

The office of the prime minister can only respond if the matter reached cabinet, Island Sun was told.

MCILI permanent secretary Riley Mesepitu has not responded to an email sent him.

The RSIPF replied to an email by Island Sun on January 7 with questions directed at the new acting police commissioner Mattias Lenialu, addressed to the police media unit and copying the Commissioner’s chief of staff, as per RSIPF protocol for media enquiries.

The RSIPF email said:

“The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) is a disciplined organization that always strives to uphold its core values in order to maintain integrity and ethical standards when executing its mandated duties.

“These allegations are serious and does not speak well of RSIPF values. Your police, the RSIPF, is causing inquiries into these allegations and will provide proper feedback in due course of what appropriate actions is taken to deal with this matter.

“Your police appreciate your understanding during this inquiry process. Rest assured, RSIPF is committed to transparency, openness and candour to assist for the search of truth of these allegations.”

A SPETD spokesperson told Island Sun Friday last week that the company welcomes the statement by RSIPF.

“SPETD welcomes and stands ready to fully cooperate with the RSIPF in its promised investigations into our report.

“We have all the records and evidence to support our reports,” the SPETD spokesperson said.

Fraud committed in RSIPF police station, a government facility

The most serious accusation facing RSIPF is that a fraudulent signing agreement was carried out at the Henderson police station on costing the company, SPETD, $20,000.

The Henderson police station is a government facility. Thus, fraudulent activity was allowed to take place in this government facility, SPETD said.

Long before the physical violence began, SPETD said they were targets of a sophisticated extortion scheme orchestrated by two brothers [names withheld].

The duo repeatedly blocked the access road from the Honiara-Aola Road (Kukum Highway) to Babani Road, holding the company’s operations hostage, SPETD told Island Sun recently.

Under this duress, the company was misled into signing two “access agreements” paying more than $30,000.

The most recent agreement was signed on September 10, 2025, inside the Henderson Police Station, SPETD told Island Sun. The first signing agreement was done elsewhere.

The company later discovered that the land did not belong to the brothers, revealing the agreement as a fraud committed within a government facility.

“Our attempts to resolve issues peacefully were taken as a weakness and a method to extract more money,” the company spokesperson said.

“For these individuals, crime and violence have become a habit.”

The September 27 assault

The extortion escalated into physical violence just over two weeks later.

On September 27, 2025, security guard Nyson Muaki and a Chinese colleague, Yanjie Li, were intercepted by a white Hilux.

One of the brothers allegedly approached the vehicle and demanded $100 from Yanjie Li.

When refused, the man punched Li, causing dental and mandibular injuries.

Mr Muaki was also punched through the vehicle window, sustaining facial swelling and injuries to his left maxilla, SPETD spokesperson said.

Case files misplaced – Allegations of police negligence

Despite filing a report at the Henderson Police Station and providing medical evidence (Exhibit “NM 1”), the legal process has stalled.

SPETD said RSIPF has repeatedly told them that case files were “misplaced”.

As of early 2026, no arrests have been made against the two brothers.

The company is demanding an investigation into why a fraudulent agreement was facilitated at a police station and why the subsequent violent assault has gone unpunished.

Status of case file at Central police station unknown

It is understood that a new complaint file by SPETD is with the Central police station, following inaction by the Henderson police station.

When Island Sun followed up with the investigators at Central police station on Monday last week, an officer said he would confirm whether or not the SPETD file was with them.

Since then, he has not answered calls by this paper following up on his promise to give an update on the status of SPETD’s case file.

Call for government intervention

SPETD appealed directly to the Solomon Islands Government via the call in the media on January 7, 2026, to help resolve the problems it is facing and to also provide protection for its workers.

The company also said it had planned to stage a rally to call government to attention if it ignored its plea.

“We have been keeping silent for too long, but this is becoming unbearable. If a rally is needed to attract attention, we will give you a rally.”

A major investment on hold

SPETD’s rice farm, which currently stands as Solomon Islands’ largest commercial rice farm at 172 hectares, is poised to rake in an annual gross revenue of around SBD25million once fully operational.

SBD44 million was spent to set up the rice farm project following successful pilot project on a smaller scale at GPOL 2.

The rice farm is located in GPOL 1. Soil testing was carried out, and SPETD has the compatible technology and rice species found to grow well in the soil at GPOL 1 and 2.

SPETD also plans to provide training programmes for students of local university, the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) when the project is fully operational.

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By RODRICK DESURI 

Auki 

A 17-year-old girl has lost her life after hanging herself at her home in Auki, Malaita Province, on Friday night, January 9, 2026.

Malaita Provincial Police Commander, Superintendent Michael Ramosaea, confirmed this to Island Sun Auki on Saturday afternoon, January 10, 2026.

He said the incident occurred in the early hours of Friday night, when the girl’s little sister went to check on her and saw her hanging in her room.

The commander stated that the incident allegedly occurred due to a man marrying another woman and leaving her with a baby. 

“It’s sad news to hear. This is really sad news for us, especially for young girls,” he said.

Superintendent Ramosaea appeals to parents, especially of young girls, to be responsible and not let their children take their own lives in such an unwanted and tragic ways.

He said the incident reflects a sorrowful reality, and the police are discouraging such actions.

“I want to call on parents to respect the rights of their daughters and not chase them out of the family when they face issues like boy-girl problems.

“This is their right; all family members should respect any decisions regarding whom she is marrying,” he said.

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By RODRICK DESURI 

Auki 

The West Kwara’ae constituency office, Malaita Province, wants constituents to remain calm and stay updated as the office continues rolling out constituency projects.

Acting Constituency Development Officer for West Kwara’ae, Hendrick Aremao, said West Kwara’ae constituency has many registered voters, and the delivery of the projects will proceed slowly.

He mentioned that a survey will be conducted by the office on those who will not receive projects, as their constituency is working hard to address every individual in the constituency. 

“Our office will do a survey on those who will not receive projects for this distribution, as our constituency has many registered voters compared to previous years.

“We hope that they won’t miss out on project deliveries for this year or next year,” he said.

Meanwhile, he mentioned that 504 recipients are very excited to receive their projects from the last shipment of materials, which distribution is currently underway.

He stated that most of the recipients received housing scheme projects.

“Most of the projects here are housing scheme projects.

“About 379 recipients are ready to receive their projects, while 150 recipients will soon get theirs,” he said.

The materials and equipment are worth SBD$3.2 million and are sourced under the MRD (Ministry of Rural Development) Preferred Supplier Arrangement (PSA).

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