BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

THE Tapurai Community on Simbo Island, Western Province, is looking forward to a joyful New Year celebration as it prepares to announce the winner of its inaugural Best Zone competition.

The community, which emerged following the devastating 2007 tsunami, will use the New Year programme to showcase the transformation of its four zones after six months of intensive clean-up and infrastructure work.

Community elder, Mr Philip Koinau said Tapurai was established after the 2007 tsunami and has since grown steadily in population, leading to the expansion and formal division of the village into four zones.

“Our community is divided into four zones. The clean-up campaign began in June 2025 and officially concluded on 27 December 2025, and prize-giving for the best village setting will take place during the New Year celebrations,” Koinau said.

Another community member, Mr Obed Collin, said men, women and youths worked together over the past six months to construct roads and bridges using locally available tools and materials.

He said some zones went a step further by constructing Jacob’s Ladder walkways to improve safety, especially for people moving around at night.

“All roads, including the steep Jacob’s Ladder, were constructed entirely through community manpower.

“We used local tools and materials to build roads and bridges,” Collin said.

Women’s leader, Mrs Mina Gotopio said the competition not only transformed the physical appearance of Tapurai but also strengthened unity and shared responsibility within the community.

She said women and girls played an active role throughout the activities, from clean-up efforts to organising and supporting construction work.

“This competition not only helped us improve our community but also gave us a stronger sense of care and ownership.

“I suggest that as a community we should at least have one clean-up day every week to maintain our village,” Gotopio said.

Member of the Provincial Assembly for Simbo, Hon Gideon Tuke, praised the initiative and described it as a model for other villages across Simbo Island.

He said the competition aligns with the Healthy Village Setting concept promoted during the recent National Healthy Setting Conference held in Gizo.

“As MPA for the ward, I appreciate and thank the organisers of this village setting initiative. It sets a strong example for all villages around Simbo,” Mr Tuke said.

He also noted that key resolution to address rising medical costs and health concerns in rural areas is the promotion of clean and healthy village environments.

“I am glad that a village in my ward has taken up this national agenda by setting a standard that helps prevent basic health concerns,” Tuke said.

The Tapurai community is now eagerly awaiting the New Year celebrations, which will not only usher in 2026 but also mark a milestone in the village’s ongoing journey of recovery, unity and development.

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BY LORETTA B MANELE

In the Pacific Ocean, lies gardens of seagrass and they play a critical role of trapping and storing carbon at rates of up to 35 times more than that of tropical rainforests making them a frontliner in protection from climate change.

In a press statement from Pacific GIS and Remote Sensing Council (PGRSC) on Sunday, December 28, 2025, Raphael Linzatti, GIZ Pacific Project Director said both seagrass and mangroves need to be preserved and protected.

“They trap carbon, stabilise shores, filter pollutants, protect coral reefs, and provide nursery habitats for fish and other marine life that sustain food security and livelihoods in Pacific nations,” he said.

Mr Linzatti and his colleague, GIZ Technical Officer, Mr Shyam Lodhia, have been working with communities in Fiji, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands to raise awareness of the importance of seagrass and mangrove resources as part of the MACBLUE (Management and Conservation of Blue Carbon Ecosystems) project.

The statement also said the project combined local knowledge with GIS (geographic information systems) and satellite imagery to map seagrass and mangrove resources in the four participating nations.

These maps were then presented by Lodhia at the recent Pacific Islands GIS and Remote Sensing User Conference in Suva.

The project also used the open-source, Digital Earth Pacific platform, developed by the Pacific Community (SPC), where the seagrass and mangrove maps can be freely accessed.

Mr Linzatti said while the project has strengthened partnerships amongst governments and regional stakeholders to improve coastal ecosystem management and climate resilience, community stewardship is key to protecting these ‘blue carbon’ ecosystems, which play such a significant role in the lives of Pacific Island communities.

The MACBLUE project was funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection through the International Climate Initiative (IKI) and implemented through the joint partnership between GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit), SPREP (Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment), and SPC.

Photo: PGRSC

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BY NED GAGAHE

North West Guadalcanal Constituency (NWGC) has begun rolling out its 2025 Constituency Development Funds (CDF) projects, with schools and churches among the key beneficiaries.

At Norman Palmer Community High School (CHS) last week, the constituency formally handed over one Starlink internet kit with one year of free service, along with 150 bags of cement to support the completion of the school’s fencing project.

Member of Parliament for NWGC, Francis Sade, said the support comes at an important time, saying that the school is located along the boundary between East Honiara and North West Guadalcanal.

“This is a border area where people belong to and vote in two constituencies. Development is an ongoing process and something we must support together,” MP Sade said.

He said that the NWGC constituency office is willing to continue supporting development initiatives in the area over the next two years.

“I hope this Starlink will help improve children’s learning because almost everything now is on the internet. I believe strongly in education because the future belongs to the young generation. Without education, we are not preparing the future of this country,” he said.

Sade said that the items are part of the 2025 CDF project rollout, which began during the festive season and will continue into the new year.

Norman Palmer CHS Principal, Henry Rahemola, thanked the NWGC and MP Sade for responding positively to the school’s request.

He said the fencing project is a shared-cost initiative valued at SBD 241,000, funded by the Australian Government under the Solomon Islands–Australia Community Partnerships. The school is meeting the labour costs, while the constituency has assisted with construction materials.

“This support has come at the right time. The project is nearing completion, but we needed materials to finish a small portion at the school gate and another section before final completion. We are hopeful everything will be completed by the end of January,” Rahemola said.

He added that the Starlink support is timely as the school plans to introduce computer studies for Form Six students next year.

“At the moment, we are using one Starlink service at a cost of about $1,600 per month. With this new support, the cost will reduce to around $600, which will really help us. A computer studies teacher has already been recruited,” he said.

Meanwhile, Christ the King Anglican Church at Gilbert Camp received 50 bags of grout and 150 cartons of tiles. Church Chairman, Charles Maelanga, described the assistance as timely, as the church will host the Diocese of Central Melanesia’s Diocesan Synod in 2026.

“This church serves more than 1,000 congregants and also supports Norman Palmer CHS activities, including graduations. The tiles will be used for the front entrance and altar area,” Maelanga said.

In response, MP Sade said the NWGC stands ready to support institutions such as schools and churches, reaffirming the constituency’s commitment to assisting faith-based organizations.

St Peter Chanel Barana Catholic Church also received building materials for the construction of its new church building. The materials include bags of cement, plywood, nails, tie wire, and steel rods.

Vice Chairman of the church, Fadius Bradly, thanked MP Sade for the assistance, saying it will help ease financial pressure and speed up construction.

“With these materials, we feel relieved despite our tight budget. This support will help us move the project forward more quickly,” he said.

MP Sade said churches and schools remain priorities for NWGC.

“I want to improve service delivery in our community. Churches have played an important role in our growth and development, and we will continue to support them. This assistance is part of the Rural Constituency Development Fund (RCDF) we received this year,” he said.

Prior to the site visits, the NWGC office had already delivered several projects in the days leading up to Christmas.

These include two sets of Starlink equipment for the DIVIT Rural Training Centre and Visale Parish, solar street lighting for Visale Parish, and a complete public address (PA) system with full instruments valued at $21,000 for the Visale Parish Youth.

These projects were delivered under the constituency’s Cross-Sectoral budget allocation of SBD 810,000.

Sade highlighted the important role of churches and training institutions in fostering social cohesion and community development.

“Supporting churches and training centres goes beyond infrastructure—it is an investment in our people. A strong and united community is the foundation of a stronger North West Guadalcanal,” he said.

According to the NWGC office, more projects under the 2025 CDF budget—covering cross-sectoral initiatives and three other key sectors—are scheduled for implementation in the coming weeks and will extend into early 2026. The visits to Norman Palmer CHS, Christ the King Anglican Church, and St Peter Chanel Barana Catholic Church form part of this implementation phase.

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BY GREGORY HAKA

West Makira Constituency has begun rolling out its constituency development projects worth SBD1.5 million under the Rural Sustainable Development Programme (RSDP), funded by the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

The projects, which include outboard motors (OBMs) and fiberglass canoes, are being delivered to schools, clinics, and fisheries groups, with some recipients already receiving their items during the festive season.

Speaking to Island Sun, West Makira Constituency Development Officer, Selwyn Aharo, said a total of 17 OBMs and fiberglass canoes have been procured and are now ready for delivery to their respective recipients.

Aharo said the first group of project recipients have already received their OBMs and canoes following the completion of engine break-in testing in Honiara.

Among the beneficiaries is Tawatana Community High School, which has received its OBM and successfully transported it from Honiara to Makira.

Under the essential services sector, several schools and clinics also have projects with some of them already receiving theirs.

These include Ubuna Clinic, Waikaha Clinic, Maetawa Clinic, Apaoro Clinic, Aringana Clinic, Sogotiwa Community High School, and Haura Community High School.

Aharo said a charter for other projects under the social services sector, cross-sector initiatives, and the remaining essential services projects is planned for late January 2026.

He explained that the current delay is mainly due to some projects, particularly vehicles, which are yet to arrive and are expected to be collected in the final week of this year or early January.

Photo: Supplied

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BY NED GAGAHE

The Solomon Islands National University (SINU) on Monday, December 22, 2025, honoured 41 Year Three nursing students from Vanuatu during a completion and recognition ceremony at the SINU Kukum Campus Hall.

The brief but colourful ceremony marked the successful completion of studies by the 2023–2025 cohort, as the students prepared to return home to serve Vanuatu’s health sector. Dressed in traditional Vanuatu colours, the students celebrated the milestone with staff, sponsors, and fellow students.

Speaking at the ceremony, Pro Vice-Chancellor Academic and Acting Vice-Chancellor, Associate Professor Eric Katovai, congratulated the students on their perseverance and commitment throughout their three-year academic journey.

“You came to SINU not only to study nursing, but to commit yourselves to a calling that demands discipline, compassion, sacrifice, and resilience,” Associate Professor Katovai said, describing nursing as service in its most human form.

He acknowledged the challenges the students faced, including academic demands, clinical placements, cultural adjustment, and time away from home, and encouraged them to lead with integrity and carry the Pacific spirit wherever they go.

Associate Professor Katovai also acknowledged the support of families, churches, communities, and the Government and people of Vanuatu, and highlighted the strong partnership between SINU and Vanuatu.

“We do not grow alone; we grow together,” he said.

He further commended the Faculty of Nursing, Medicine, and Health Sciences (FNMHS), led by Dean Dr Humpress Harrington, for producing competent and ethical nursing professionals.

Ms Fabiola Remy of the Vanuatu National Provident Fund (VNPF), the major sponsor supporting most of the students, congratulated the graduates and encouraged them as they enter one of the country’s most respected professions.

Dean Dr Harrington reminded the students to uphold honesty, integrity, respect for leadership, and professionalism in their future careers.

Former class captain Mr Ini Budley Tari, speaking on behalf of the students, thanked SINU for providing not only academic training but also guidance and discipline that contributed to their personal and professional growth.

The ceremony concluded with the presentation of certificates and leadership awards.

Photo: Supplied

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By MORRIS NAFU

A delegation from the China Police Liaison Team (CPLT) and members of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) recently completed a three-day visit to Central Islands Province.

This trip fostered enhanced police cooperation and community engagement amid growing bilateral ties.

Premier of Central Province, Kenneth Sagupari warmly welcomed the two delegations, emphasizing the strong partnership between China and the Solomon Islands.

In a press statement, Sagupari reaffirmed the provincial government’s firm support for the “One China” principle and commended CPLT’s contributions to bolstering local law enforcement and regional stability.

Provincial Police Commander David Soakai expressed deep gratitude for the training sessions provided by the CPLT, and highlighted how they have significantly improved the skills of local officers.

“This collaboration is crucial for enhancing the effectiveness of our law enforcement efforts,” he said.

The visit featured a range of activities, including specialized police training. CPLT experts delivered hands-on criminal investigation sessions; focusing on crime scene management, evidence handling, and AI-driven fraud prevention techniques.

Officers also participated in practical exercises such as sketching crime scenes and extracting fingerprints.

In partnership with the RSIPF’s National Crime Prevention Department, the two teams also conducted training for 16 representatives from eight local Crime Prevention Committees and the topics included; crime prevention strategies, conflict resolution, and patrol-based controls.

Despite challenging weather, including heavy rainfall, the delegations visited five remote outer-island communities, namely; Horroro, Toga, Haleta, Halavo, and Ha’a.

They engaged with local leaders and residents through awareness-raising programs and donated essential items, such as uniforms, solar lamps, and emergency power supplies, to improve living conditions.

The delegations were met with enthusiastic hospitality, including traditional feasts featuring roasted pig.

A 105-year-old elder from one outer-island village made a special appearance to convey thanks for their support.

As the group departed, residents gathered at the wharf to bid farewell, underscoring the enduring friendship between the people of China and the Solomon Islands.

This visit marks another step in deepening security cooperation between the two nations, with a focus on sustainable development and community resilience.

Photo: Supplied

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BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

Perched quietly on the hillside of Simbo Island in Western Province stands a community born not out of choice, but out of survival.

Tapurai is more than just a settlement. It is a living testimony to pain, loss and, above all, resilience.

In April 2007, a powerful tsunami struck Western Province, wiping out the former Tapurai village within minutes.

Homes were swept away, livelihoods destroyed and nine precious lives lost — among them the Bishop of the United Church.

For the people of Tapurai, the sea that had long sustained them turned into a force of unimaginable devastation.

With little time to mourn, more than 50 families fled to higher ground in search of safety.

In the days and weeks that followed, the displaced families were scattered into four temporary camps.

These camps were established to make it easier for relief supplies to reach survivors and to support rehabilitation and reintegration into communal life.

What began as a temporary arrangement slowly became permanent.

Over time, the four camps evolved into village zones, forming what is now known as the Tapurai New Settlement. Families settled wherever the land allowed — on hills, slopes and small flat areas — guided only by the need to remain safe from the sea. Nearly two decades later, that settlement pattern remains unchanged.

Yet amid the scars of disaster, something remarkable has taken root.

Today, Tapurai is emerging as a beacon of hope and determination. Community members speak with pride about the transformation of their village zones — clean, organised and well-maintained in ways many say they never experienced even before the tsunami.

“For the first time, we are seeing our village like this. It makes us proud of who we are and what we have survived,” one resident shared.

The clean village initiative, which has been worked on throughout the year, has sparked a deeper conversation within the community. When asked whether such efforts should be limited to New Year celebrations, residents were unanimous: cleanliness and order should be a daily way of life.

They are now calling on village leaders, families and government representatives to invest in sustaining clean and healthy village environments — not as an event, but as a culture.

Village elder and builder, Philip Koinau said the community’s vision goes beyond cleanliness alone.

He appeals to the government and donor partners to support Tapurai’s long-term development by providing materials for permanent roads, Jacob’s Ladder and concrete access ways.

“People are still traumatised. We lost our loved ones, and many families are still rebuilding homes and livelihoods more than 15 years after the tsunami,” Koinau said.

Despite the lingering trauma, Tapurai continues to move forward — step by step, zone by zone. The recent showcasing of yearlong efforts to improve each village zone marked a significant milestone in the community’s long journey of recovery.

From the ashes of destruction, Tapurai has risen, not just as a settlement, but as a symbol of endurance. Its story is a reminder that while natural disasters can take away land, homes and lives, they cannot erase the human spirit.

In Tapurai, true resilience is not just remembered — it is being made every day.

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Maoro South Sea Evangelical Church (SSEC) community in Central Kwara’ae in Malaita Province will officially open their new church building on New Year’s Day, 2026.

This development is a major milestone and accomplishment for the community and their government leaders’ hard work and commitment.

The funding for the church building comes from Former Late Hon. Jackson Fiulaua, along with fundraising done by the church and community.

The Maoro community consists of a total population of 300 plus people.

The construction of the new church building commenced in 2009 and was completed in 2025.

The official opening program will be witnessed by leaders from surrounding churches and communities, with the Guest of Honour, Rev Jefter Diakalo.

For this community, it was God’s blessings upon the community and its people for their unwavering support, dedication and sacrifice towards the completion of the church building.

Photo: Supplied

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BY GREGORY HAKA

Kirakira Hospital’s ambulance in Makira Province had an accident near the D10 night club in the early morning hours of Monday, 29 December 2025.

The Kirakira Police traffic division have launched an investigation into the accident that has left the ambulance laying overturned near a road between 1:00-2:00am in the early hours of Monday.

In an interview with Island Sun, Kirakira police traffic division said the driver of the ambulance, a nurse from Kirakira hospital, had demanded the key to the vehicle from the hospital driver and drove off to D10 night club in search for beers on Sunday night, 28th December.

Under the influence of liquor, the nurse was driving, making his way back to Kirakira station and on the way the accident occurred leaving the ambulance overturned 50 meters away from the D10 night club, near Ngorangora airport.

The cause of the accident as mentioned was that the driver had drove into thick layers of earth before veering off the road, causing the vehicle to overturn.

Kirakira Police traffic division said the suspect has been apprehended and placed in police custody in Kirakira while investigation into the matter continues.

Kirakira hospital could not be reached for additional information regarding this accident hence there was no response from the Health and Medical services in Makira Ulawa Province (Kirakira Hospital).

Photo: Supplied

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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Stanley Siapu, Premier of Makira Ulawa Province has expressed his gratitude to his people for their collective and relentless efforts in driving the province forward throughout the year 2025.

In a congratulatory message issued to the province, he conveyed best wishes of his government to the people during this festive season.

Siapu said Makira Ulawa province would not be where it is today without the dedication and determination of its people.

He acknowledged the central government, development partners, and other stakeholders who have contributed in various ways towards the province’s development.

“As a government, our work is never easy, and I am proud to say that together, we made it through this year. We faced challenges, but we’ve also seen achievements.

“As we celebrate this festive season, I want to wish everyone in Makira Ulawa a very Merry Christmas.

“I also encourage all individuals, communities, and tribes to celebrate this Christmas with respect for one another and to embrace its true meaning,” Siapu added.

The Premier noted that the holiday season is not only a time for celebration but also an opportunity to reflect on the past year, get renewed, and prepare for the future.

“It’s crucial that we use this time to plan ahead and set the course for the year to come. Looking ahead to 2026, we must chart a clear path forward in order to achieve the province’s goals,” he said.

Siapu also reiterates his call for cooperation, a call he highlighted during the recent no-confidence vote against his government, which he successfully defeated.

“I have long called for unity and collaboration, and I did so once again during the no-confidence vote.

“I urged members of the provincial assembly, provincial staff, and all communities to work together closely for the betterment of our province.

“Only through cooperation can we implement our policies and my government is committed to ensuring the continued success of Makira Ulawa,” he said.

Siapu emphasized on the need for a shift in mindset, calling for the abandonment of outdated attitudes that hinder progress.

“To transform our province, we must first transform ourselves. We need to break free from the cycle of ‘business as usual.

“True success requires transformation, and it must start within each of us,” he said.

Looking ahead to 2026, Siapu calls on everyone in the province to adopt a positive outlook and approach the year with unity.

“We must face the challenges of 2026 together, with a collective mindset. We cannot wait for change to happen on its own.

“Only through our collaboration will we be able to achieve our development goals,” he said.

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