Premier of Makira Ulawa Province (MUP), Stanley Siapu, has confirmed plans to establish a sister-city relationship with China’s Guizhou province, referring to it as a key priority for his government this year.
Speaking with Island Sun on Saturday, January 10, 2026, Premier Siapu shared that his government, in collaboration with the Chinese Embassy in Honiara, has been working on formalizing the proposal and will continue to push forward with the partnership.
In addition to the Guizhou proposal, Premier Siapu highlighted that his government is also pursuing a similar arrangement between Ulawa Island and Arawa City in Japan.
He said the initiative was brought to his attention by a committee overseeing the partnership and was welcomed by his government.
Siapu emphasized that both proposals aim to foster greater cooperation between MUP and the respective regions of Guizhou and Arawa.
He reaffirms his commitment to ensure that both arrangements are successfully realized, which he believes will lay a strong foundation for future cooperation and development opportunities for MUP.
The Premier also noted that the recent appointment of a new Provincial Secretary (PS) for the province will be instrumental in advancing these efforts, citing the PS’s experience in diplomacy.
He said the PS, who has previous engagement with the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), is expected to bring valuable expertise to the table, particularly in formalizing these international agreements.
Siapu expressed confidence that through close collaboration with the new PS, both the administrative and political arms of MUP will work together to finalize the arrangements.
The Premier also assures the people of MUP that his government is fully committed to these milestone initiatives and will ensure their successful implementation.
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.
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).
The Premier of Temotu Province, Stanley Tehiahua, says his government will place greater emphasis on the productive sector as a key priority for the province in 2026.
Premier Tehiahua made the remarks during an interview with the paper on Saturday, January 10, 2026 stressing the crucial need to strengthen the sector to boost provincial revenue.
He said over the festive season, the provincial government developed a policy to focus on key priority areas, with particular emphasis on the productive sector.
“Through this policy, we will explore opportunities to strengthen public and private partnerships in order to encourage investment in the province.
“The province has a lot of potential investment areas, which is the main target of this policy.
“There are already many businesses operating in the province, and we will look at ways to strengthen and support them,” he said.
Premier Tehiahua said one such initiative is the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed with Huang Kim Vietnam Pacific Limited Company to conduct beche-de-mer fishing in Temotu waters.
He said the operation will help strengthen provincial revenue and enhance economic activities in the province.
Meanwhile, Premier Tehiahua said the establishment of a trade link between Temotu province and Torba province in Vanuatu will have a significant impact on the policy.
He said once the policy is fully implemented, it will provide a platform to stimulate economic activities and further boost the productive sector.
Premier Tehiahua assures the public of his government’s commitment to continue exploring potential investment opportunities in the province.
He also emphasized that under the productive sector policy, the provincial government will work closely with resource owners to achieve its objectives.
The premier thanks the national government and donor partners for supporting infrastructure development in the province, saying this support will greatly assist them in achieving the province’s economic goals.
Temotu provincial government clarifies licensed fishing vessel operation
BY SAMIE WAIKORI
The Temotu Provincial Government has confirmed that the Vietnamese fishing vessel recently sighted near Reef Island is operating under a licensed agreement, as outlined in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the province.
This clarification comes in response to concerns raised on social media earlier last week, where the vessel was suspected of being involved in illicit activities, with the public calling for clarifications from relevant authorities.
The provincial government, which initiated the operation, explained that the MOU was developed to benefit the people and resources of Temotu Province.
The primary aim of the agreement is to strengthen the province’s revenue base while ensuring sustainable resource management.
And to keep the public informed, the provincial government is conducting an awareness campaign to educate local communities about the initiative.
In an exclusive interview on Saturday, January 10, 2025, Temotu Premier Stanley Tehiahua acknowledged that the provincial government had failed to properly inform the public about the operation beforehand.
He attributed this oversight to the busy festive season, but emphasized that consultations with communities are now underway.
Tehiahua outlined the culmination of the agreement, explaining that in September 2025, the Huang Kim Vietnam Pacific Limited Company applied for a business license to harvest bech-de-mer (sea cucumber) in Temotu’s waters.
After reviewing the application, he said the provincial government developed an MOU with conditions to guide the company’s operations.
Premier Tehiahua said the MOU was officially signed in December 2025, and the company was granted a six-month trial period to operate.
Adding that after the trial period, the provincial government will assess the operation and decide its future course.
He said under the terms of the 12-month license, the company is authorized to harvest bech-de-mer in provincial waters, excluding marine protected areas.
Tehiahua clarified that only four species of bech-de-mer are allowed for harvest: White Teeth, Black Teeth, Pineapple, and Tiger bech-de-mer.
Furthermore, the company is only permitted to harvest the largest specimens, particularly in areas where locals are unable to access them.
On the financial aspect, the premier stated that the province will receive a 5 percent share of the revenue generated from the operation. Additionally, the company has pledged an extra 2 percent for communities that assist with the operation.
He also highlighted that the MOU also includes provisions for further marine development, including support for local communities to engage in bech-de-mer and seaweed farming.
And in the long term, the premier said the province and the company plan to explore opportunities in reef fish filleting for export.
As part of the initiative, the premier’s team is currently visiting the outliers of Reef Islands to consult communities on the initiative.
They also plan to visit the outer islands of the province, including Tikopia and as far as Anuta, in coming weeks to raise awareness about the fishing operation.
Staff of Naha clinic have gone through awareness on breast cancer.
The Naha Clinic in Honiara occasionally organised educational awareness for its staff and mothers around the Naha vicinity.
This session was conducted with the support of the JICA Volunteer Program (Japan International Cooperation Agency), Naha clinic said on its official Facebook Page.
According to the post, staff members of Naha Clinic participated in a one-day educational session on breast cancer at the clinic on Tuesday, January 6, 2026.
The Clinic understands that breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and can be checked by a woman by herself every month through breast self-examination.
During the session, staff participated in a simple breast model with three lumps and practised breast self-examination together.
Staff also discussed why breast cancer is increasing, whether it affects only women, the best time to perform breast self-examination, and how early detection is possible.
The statement said the aim of this awareness is to share this knowledge with mothers to help them maintain their health.
The clinic has also offered group education for mothers at the clinic every Monday morning.
The statement said that the topics covered include; how pregnancy happens, who is a high-risk pregnant mother, what syphilis is, what family planning is, what danger signs are, and what happens if you have high blood pressure, high blood sugar, or other health problems.
Mothers were also taught about danger signs in pregnancy.
The clinic told mothers about changes that can happen in their bodies and to their baby during pregnancy, and also noted the problems that can be serious if they are not checked early.
The statement said the clinic also urges mothers to understand why regular antenatal checkups are very important, as they help them to monitor the health of both mother and baby.
“We are here to support you at the clinic, but we cannot be with you all the time. You are the only person who can protect your baby and your baby’s future. Please come for antenatal checkups regularly. Let’s learn together and protect your baby and your baby’s future,” said the statement from Naha Clinic.
Located far inwards of Wanderer Bay, West Guadalcanal is Wanderer Bay clinic built in 2017.
To get there requires a lengthy walk-through small streams, plants, trees and coconut trees with palms spread way up in the air swaying to the rhythm of the breeze on a sunny day.
Bendita Piri, a woman who has spent her years helping pregnant women of Wanderer Bay to deliver their babies at home
Bendita Piri, a soft-spoken woman and wife of the Chief of St Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Community in Wanderer Bay in a sit-down interview with Island Sun in Wanderer Bay just last month spoke about the clinic.
Interestingly, she shares more than that.
Behind her kind eyes and calm smiles, since 1994, Piri has been helping women of Wanderer Bay community to deliver their babies right at home.
A sideview of Wanderer Bay clinicInside one section of Wanderer Bay clinic
Piri says although the clinic is well equipped to cater to children, members of the community and pregnant women, the issue is the clinic not having a permanent nurse posted there.
She explained that there is usually only one nurse that is posted at the clinic for a period of time before being replaced by another nurse.
At one point, Piri said a nurse who was posted there left simply because some members of the community had caused problems for him or her.
She said the real challenge for Wanderer Bay is when the clinic is without a nurse.
In this circumstance, Piri says people would have to travel to Tanagarare, also in West Guadalcanal to access medical services and getting there means spending money on petrol at around $400 for both ways to travel by boat.
When asked about the situation of someone who needed to travel there but didn’t have money, she said the community usually steps in to help.
Posts of the incomplete staff house in front of a small house to accommodate any nurse posted at the clinic
There is also an incomplete staff house near the clinic close to a small house built to accommodate whichever nurse is posted at the clinic.
Built in 2023, the supposed staff house only has posts standing to this day.
Piri says they want at least two nurses to be posted at their clinic because it is too much workload for just one nurse to handle.
She then spoke about her experience of helping women of Wanderer Bay to deliver their babies at home.
Piri lights up and smiles as she told her story.
Since 1994, she said she has been helping women deliver their babies at home especially during times when there wasn’t a clinic in Wanderer Bay and even up till now if there wasn’t a nurse stationed at the clinic.
“I have been helping women deliver their babies since 1994 up to today,” she said.
Piri said she would be approached at any time of the day, night or later hours of the night while asleep to go to a pregnant woman’s house to help her deliver her baby.
But at times when a nurse is present, she would accompany the pregnant woman to the clinic and assist the nurse.
“Sometimes after helping them at the clinic, I also travel with them all the way to the National Referral Hospital,” she added.
Confidently, Piri said in each of these cases she always places her faith in God and prayer for guidance to help the women.
Carol from Sughu communtiy in Wanderer Bay
Carol, a woman from Sughu community which is next door to Piri’s community also shared her story with Island Sun about her experience with Piri.
She said when she was pregnant Piri also came to see her and help with the delivery of her baby.
At the time, Carol said just by looking at her, Piri could tell when she would deliver her baby.
Prior to the delivery she said Piri in a soft-spoken manner would encourage her to stand and walk around so she could give birth to her baby quickly and avoid complication.
“And she could tell when I was about to deliver my baby.
“At that time, she told me to lay down and that I was going to deliver my baby soon which was what exactly happened next,” said Carol.
She happily expressed that at that time she felt comforted and safe to deliver her baby with Piri’s help.
“The tone of her voice is comforting and what she said made me feel safe to deliver my baby in the village.
“So, I wasn’t scared to deliver my baby at home,” said Carol.
Piri, apart from being wife of the Chief of her community, was her own person.
She was a happy, strong woman who spent her time willingly at any time of the day or night to help pregnant women of her community so they could safely deliver their babies.
Piri was and to this day, is a passionate community midwife to the women she has helped and to those she will help in Wanderer Bay, West Guadalcanal.
A United Nations workshop is set to be held in Honiara on January 27-29, 2026.
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in collaboration with the Government of Solomon Islands, will convene the Solomon Islands National Workshop, a statement by ESCAP yesterday said.
The workshop will bring together national and international experts and stakeholders to discuss priority actions to improve the efficiency, resilience and sustainability of port operations, reducing emissions from shipping, urban transport, and enhancing inclusive accessibility using the Sustainable Urban Transport Index Plus (SUTI+) framework, which includes a new set of relevant indicators.
Outcomes will inform the finalisation of the national roadmap and national inclusive accessibility indicators and guide follow-up project tasks.
Participation in this workshop is by invitation only, the ESCAP statement said.
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in Asia and the Pacific face significant geographic and infrastructural challenges that constrain transport connectivity and logistics performance.
Through the United Nations Development Account project “Moving towards efficient, resilient, low carbon and accessible port cities in Asia-Pacific Small Island Developing States to achieve better transport connectivity and accessibility for all”, ESCAP is supporting countries to strengthen policy frameworks for efficient, resilient and inclusive transport systems.
National workshops are being organized to validate draft roadmaps and indicators developed under the project and to identify priority measures to enhance efficiency, resilience, low-carbon transport and accessibility across transport modes.
Bishop Epalle Catholic School has unveiled its academic year plan schedule for 2026 with the official academic year for classes to begin on January 26, 2026.
From a statement, the school had an official admin meeting on Thursday, earlier this week kicking off the school year plan and management before the school officially opens its doors for another academic year for both students and staff later this month.
The statement also said the school board meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, Sunday and is to be followed by both academic and auxiliary staff to resume duty on Monday, January 12, 2026.
Meanwhile the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) is set to release the 2026 academic forms 3, 5, and 6 results by January 14, 2026.
In an earlier statement, MEHRD Permanent Secretary, Dr. Franco Rodi said this date is according to the target schedule set by the National Examinations and Assessment Division (NEAD) of MEHRD.
He said the results will be released following formal endorsement and signing by Minister of Education, Tozen Leokana.
The Taeloa Clinic project, championed by the late Daniel Suidani, former Premier of Malaita Province and Member of Malaita Provincial Assembly for Ward 5, West Baegu/Fataleka, is gradually taking shape.
This progress follows the formal project-implementation agreement signed in March 2025 between the Japanese Embassy in Honiara and a committee representing Ward 5.
In addition to the clinic itself, the project also includes a water supply system, designed to support the clinic’s operations and provide improved access to clean water for communities within Taeloa.
The project is currently at the walling stage, with roofing and other phases still to come.
Once completed, the clinic is expected to address the long-standing challenge the communities of Ward 5 have faced in accessing healthcare.
In a statement from 2025 from the late Suidani, he emphasized the significance of the clinic for the people of West Fataleka.
For decades, residents had to walk long distances to the nearest clinics in Fauabu and Arao.
“The clinic will be a relief for my people. They will no longer have to travel such long distances to access healthcare and clean water,” he said.
The late Suidani had also acknowledged Japan’s long-standing support for development in Solomon Islands, noting that Japan had funded major projects in Malaita, including the Auki Wharf and Auki Market.
“They are also funding the ongoing improvements at Kilu’ufi Hospital,” he said in the statement.
He had also called on the people of Ward 5 to support the project in every way possible, encouraging them to contribute any available resources to help ensure the project is completed within its 11-month timeframe.
The former Premier of Malaita also said that such a project is community-based and they must show their support for it and ensure it is successfully implemented.
In the statement, he also expressed gratitude to the outgoing Japanese Ambassador and his successor for their efforts in ensuring that the project was approved and prioritized for the people of Ward 5.
This multi-million-dollar project is expected to be completed later this year.
