MP Gordon Darcy Lilo declares Central Honiara constituency a drug-free zone, warns of harsh measures

BY NED GAGAHE

MEMBER of Parliament for Central Honiara, Gordon Darcy Lilo, has declared the constituency a drug-free constituency, warning that the growing drug problem in Honiara has reached a dangerous and critical level.

Speaking in Parliament during the Sine Die Motion yesterday, Lilo said strong and immediate action is needed to protect communities, especially young people, from the deepening drug crisis.

“The drug problem in our city has reached a very serious level. This must be a zero-tolerance approach,” Lilo told Parliament.

He said that posters declaring a zero-tolerance stance on drugs will soon be displayed throughout the Honiara boundary, reinforcing the message that drugs will not be tolerated in Central Honiara.

Lilo warned that individuals who host, distribute, or facilitate drugs, whether in homes, hotels, or other premises, will be pursued and prosecuted.

“Those involved will be dealt with using all legal avenues available,” he said, adding that he will work closely with the Ministry of Health and the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force to strengthen enforcement and community awareness.

The Central Honiara MP appealed directly to Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele to support efforts to curb the drug crisis, noting that the problem is now deeply embedded in society and poses a serious threat to national stability.

Lilo also raised alarming reports linking drugs to illegal gold trading, calling on the Minister for Police to urgently investigate the matter.

“If we fail to control this situation, our youth will turn against society and the system itself.

“We must not allow that to happen,” he warned.

As Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Lilo said the Committee has recommended increased funding for the Ministry of Youth and called for a possible mid-term or quarterly fiscal review in 2026 to provide additional resources for youth programmes.

He further proposed a national youth summit, bringing together young people, children, and key stakeholders to develop a coordinated national response. He said the approach must be multifaceted, involving education, health, policing, agriculture, and economic opportunities aimed at building youth capacity.

Lilo also welcomed government support for the proposed National Youth Centre, describing it as a crucial investment given the high concentration of youth in Honiara. The centre, he said, would focus on entrepreneurship, skills training, education, and meaningful youth engagement.

“I will engage with the Honiara City Council to identify space for this initiative,” he said, adding that the programme is about investing in young people as the citizens of tomorrow.

Lilo said his remarks reflect a forward-looking vision as the country prepares for 2026, expressing satisfaction with progress made in Central Honiara and reaffirming his commitment to continue serving his constituents.

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BY MORRIS NAFU

Searching for health service is a daily ordeal for Mami community in Star harbour-Makira Ulawa Province.

Located in the far end of the province, Mami village is the last community on the island.

It is a paradise of its own with white sandy beaches and a simple community setting making it hidden paradise of more than four to five hundred in population including those in surrounding settlements.

It is also a community with a high teen age pregnancy rate in the North Star Harbour area due to lack of health awareness and medical outreach to the community on health risks and family planning programmes.

The only nearest clinic facility, Namuga Area Health Centre (AHC) is a two-to-three-hour journey by dug-out canoes and twenty minutes by boat.

However, not everyone has access to boats as dug-out canoes is the only way for villagers to get to the clinic.

Travelling to Namuga means villagers have to climb a steep hill for about three minutes before taking another ten to fifteen minutes to walk down to the nearest shore to take a canoe or boat to Namuga.

Meanwhile, there are a few single mothers who have raised their children on their own and with no canoes, they had to walk, crossing steep mountains and rocky hills for three to four hours to get to the clinic and another three to four hours to head back to the village.

This issue had caused a few women who during the height of their labour period with no strength to climb the hill to the nearest shore to take a canoe to deliver their babies at home with no proper medical attention for the newborn babies.

Sadly, a few unlucky babies lost their lives as clinic is too far from the village.

Community elder, Cravis Pako expressed that the issue is an unnoticed issue of which the elderly and women with children are the most affected.

“Since we have been living like this, people seem to feel normal overthinking that the issue is normal but its not.

“Our old age and women with children are the victims of this issue,” he said.

“Health service has been a daily struggle for Mami community, more especially for old age people and women in labour and those vulnerable,” he added.

Few mothers never get to reach the clinic in Namuga and during the middle of their journey, they are forced to have their babies along the way.

“One sad reality that happened before our eyes is about one woman who was travelling to Namuga.

“She was in labour and along the way, she couldn’t make it to the clinic and was forced to have her baby in a fence of pigs where she also took shelter and rested.

“This really hits us hard and breaks our heart. But what can we say? That’s reality we face in the community in term of seeking health services,” he said.

Island Sun understands that with the delivery done in the unhealthy environment, the baby lost its life a few days later.

A mother of eight Matilda Kabwaina told Island Sun that with the distance, all her children were born at her village.

When asked why about this, she expressed that it would be too painful for her to walk up a steep hill and then take a long walk to the canoe before going to the clinic.

“Its too tough for me as a mother especially when in labour. I just want to call on the authorities or whoever responsible to see our cry and help us,” she said.

Dick Aife, one of the active senior men in the village shared how challenging it is when it comes to preparing the elderly to go to the clinic.

He said it is very challenging as they will carry them up the hill and down to the shoreline to catch a boat or a canoe to the clinic.

“When it comes to old age people, we usually build a bed/stretcher and lift them up the hill and take them cross before bringing them to the clinic.

“Its tough but we have to face it as it is the only way for our old age people to get health attention.

“Balancing an elderly man or a woman up the hill is really a challenge. Thanks to our young men and boys in the village that always shows up to work together to carry our old age people to seek medical attention.

“There are times when in bad weather-rain the road will usually slippery making it tough but we have to take our people despite the challenge,” he said.

“In few occasions, since the distance is too far for us, few of our old age people lost their lives along the way and if we had our own clinic, this would have not have happened,” he added.

A single mother also shared her experience.

“When having a baby, we have to struggle on our own, finding our way to the clinic.

“I speak here on behalf of all the women in the community more especially for us single mothers as we find it really difficult when in labour,” she said.

In some circumstances, a few women had had their babies at home with some even along the road on their way to the clinic, posing risks for both them and their babies.

Lilian, a member of the community calls on responsible authorities to hear their story and listen to their cry and to build a clinic close to the community so that people can get medical attention in close location.

“All I want from the authorities is to see our need and build a clinic for us so that we can get access in close distances rather than going out for more than to three hours searching for medical attention,” she said.

Island Sun understands that these concerns have been raised with authorities, but responses have been lacking.

In late 2005, Provincial Member for Ward 14-North Star Harbour, Alfred Murray, secured funding to build a clinic in the area.

However, a change in leadership left the project incomplete, turning it into an abandoned shell—a symbol of broken promises.

As Mami village continues to thrive in its natural beauty, its people plead for intervention. A local clinic could transform lives, reduce risks for mothers and newborns and ease burdens on the elderly; fostering a healthier future.

For now, the community endures, their resilience a testament to the human spirit in the face of isolation.

But how long can they wait before paradise becomes a place of preventable tragedy?

*Reporting for this story was supported by Pacific Media Assistance Scheme (PACMAS)

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BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

A new Chinese shop has opened its doors at Gizo providing trade and wholesale services to Gizo residence so as nearby Islands.

Located next to Solomon Telekom Office, the shop first open on Saturday last week.

Owner of the shop is still unknown but it is definite that the shop is owned by a Chinese businessman.

The new shop adds to the many Chinese shops which dominated the Gizo street.

The new shop demonstrates that Gizo town is growing both in business and other economic activities.

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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

The Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management, and Meteorology (MECDM) has reiterated its commitment to supporting the Government of National Unity and Transformation’s (GNUT) policy priorities.

Speaking during the debate on the sine die motion in Parliament on Monday December 15, 2025, the Minister for Environment, Hon. Polycarp Paea, emphasized his ministry’s ongoing efforts to deliver tangible results for the people of the country.

“I am pleased to report that the ministry has made significant progress in advancing key programs and projects that directly align with the GNUT’s policy priorities for 2025,” Minister Paea said.

“These initiatives include efforts in environmental protection, sustainable resource management, climate change adaptation and resilience, disaster risk management, and the provision of 24/7 early warning services,” he added.

The minister also highlighted several key milestones achieved by the ministry in 2025.

“We’ve made notable strides in addressing loss and damage through policy dialogue and investment strategies, enabling Solomon Islands to access the international loss and damage fund,” Paea explained. “Additionally, we’ve launched the country’s first National Adaptation Plan, expanded protected areas with landowner involvement under the Protected Areas Legislation, started the construction of disaster warehouses in Honiara and Auki, and made significant progress on the country’s first weather radar.”

These achievements, according to Paea, underscore the ministry’s leadership in advancing climate action, safeguarding biodiversity, and protecting communities nationwide.

However, the minister also acknowledged the challenges in delivering environmental, climate change, disaster management, and meteorological services across the provinces and communities. He pointed out that these are complex, cross-cutting issues requiring strong national, regional, and global collaboration.

Paea further highlighted legislative and policy gaps, especially in enforcement, compliance, and the institutional capacity of the ministry. He also noted the need for stronger data sharing and coordination to ensure timely reporting and evidence-based planning.

“Despite these challenges, the ministry has shown resilience and innovation, supported by strong partnerships with line ministries, provincial governments, NGOs, civil society organizations (CSOs), churches, the private sector, and our bilateral and multilateral partners,” Paea said.

The minister expressed his gratitude to these partners, acknowledging that their contributions remain crucial in advancing shared objectives and achieving meaningful outcomes.

“As we look toward 2026, I reaffirm my ministry’s commitment to managing our resources effectively and delivering clear, practical results for the people of Solomon Islands,” Paea said.

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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

The Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management, and Meteorology (MECDM) has proposed key legislative reforms aimed at advancing its vision and delivering tangible, practical results for the people of the Solomon Islands.

Minister Polycarp Paea made the announcement in his remark during the debate of the sine die motion in Parliament on Monday December 15, 2025, where he addressed the ongoing work on several critical pieces of legislation within the ministry.

He emphasized the ministry’s commitment to achieving clear, measurable outcomes as the country moves closer to 2026.

Minister Paea said that the ministry is focused on stewarding national resources effectively to ensure they deliver concrete benefits to the people.

In this context, he revealed that work is already underway on updating the Environment Act 1998 through the drafting of the new Environment Bill.

In addition to this, Paea noted that amendments to the Meteorology Act, a review of the National Disaster Council Act, and the introduction of a Climate Change Bill are also part of the reform agenda.

“These legislative reforms are crucial in providing a strong legal framework that will protect our environment, strengthen resilience, and ensure that our domestic efforts align with our international commitments,” the minister said.

Furthermore, Minister Paea emphasized the ministry’s plan to enhance its presence in the provinces by improving visibility and outreach efforts on issues related to the environment, climate change, disaster management, and meteorology.

This initiative, he explained, will ensure that local communities are actively engaged in policy development and decision-making processes, while also improving coordination with provincial governments and partners to maximize resource use and avoid duplication of efforts.

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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) is reaffirming its commitment to strengthening the country’s health infrastructure, marking a key component of the ministry’s role delineation policy. This initiative is closely aligned with the national health strategic plan.

Speaking during debate of the sine die motion yesterday, Minister for Health, Hon Dr Paul Bosawai Popora, highlighted significant progress made by MHMS in improving health infrastructure across the nation.

In 2025, the ministry successfully completed and launched several major health infrastructure projects, including:

• Mataniko Dental Services
• Konide Area Health Centre
• Deva Odedeo Rural Health Clinic
• Kukum Urban Health Facility
• Tulagi Mini Hospital
• Helena Goldie Hospital
• The Comprehensive Medical Centre

According to Dr. Bosawai, these facilities are now operational, providing vital healthcare services to communities. Looking ahead, the minister outlined plans for more health infrastructure projects scheduled for completion in 2026, including:

• Naha Birthing Centre
• Kilu’ufi Hospital Expansion
• Manuopo Area Health Centre
• Wagina Area Health Centre
• Tukutaunga Area Health Centre
• Gwanaetai Rural Health Clinic
• Sulufoloa Rural Health Clinic
• Horobao Rural Health Clinic

Dr Bosawai emphasized that these developments are a testament to the ministry’s dedication to ensuring that modern, accessible, and safe health facilities are available throughout the country.

Additionally, the minister revealed plans for 2026, which include the construction of 16 primary health facilities across Solomon Islands, starting with hospitals in Lata (Temotu), Choiseul, and Guadalcanal.

“In the 2026 budget, we will begin the construction of these 16 new primary health facilities,” Dr Bosawai said. “These projects are part of our ongoing efforts to enhance the country’s health infrastructure and deliver high-quality, improved health services to our people.”

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BY NED GAGAHE

OPPOSITION Leader Matthew Wale has strongly criticised the Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT), saying its legislative performance has fallen well short of the priorities outlined in the Speech from the Throne.

Speaking in Parliament during the Sine Die Motion on Monday December 15, 2025, Wale said the Government was “not as productive as it could have been,” despite this being GNUT’s first full year in office.

“The list of priorities and legislative agenda outlined during the Speech from the Throne was not matched by what came through the House,” Wale said.

“I had high hopes that Parliament would be kept on its toes by the load of legislative work to be transacted. This was not the case.”

While acknowledging the Prime Minister’s explanation that political instability had affected productivity, Wale said this was an issue GNUT itself must resolve. He added that excessive overseas travel by ministers had also contributed to the lack of progress.

“I was told that overseas travel by some ministers was without the information, let alone the consent of the Prime Minister. If true, this is just terrible and wrong,” he said.

Wale further revealed that his office had received reports of ministers failing to attend their offices, leaving Permanent Secretaries without political guidance and contributing to poor policy delivery.

“This behaviour leaves Permanent Secretaries in an awkward position and is a contributory factor to this low productivity by GNUT,” he said.

He called on the Prime Minister to “put his foot down” and impose discipline on ministers, noting the Prime Minister’s assurance that 2026 would be a much busier legislative year.

Wale also criticised the recurring issue of political instability, saying it has become “custom” for Prime Ministers to complain about it.

“GNUT is not stable, we all know that,” he said. “There are simply too many factions sponsored by a diversity of vested interests feeding off the personal interests of certain individuals in GNUT.”

He described the situation as “state capture,” arguing that national interest is no longer the sole driver of government decision-making.

“When you know what the right thing to do in the national interest is, but you make a different choice, then you know the government is held captive to other interests,” Wale said.

He warned that such instability erodes national sovereignty and harms the economy, stressing that all leaders share responsibility to address the problem.

“This situation has become normalised, but it cannot continue if we want to see our country and people grow to their full potential,” Wale said.

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Opposition Leader Wale slams high costs, poor services, calls for strong policy action

BY NED GAGAHE

OPPOSITION Leader Hon. Matthew Wale has criticised the government over poor service delivery, rising costs and what he described as policy lethargy that continues to choke economic growth and burden Solomon Islanders.

Speaking during the budget debate, Wale said Parliament spent considerable time discussing the lack of meaningful competition in the telecommunications sector, which he said continues to deliver poor quality services at high prices.

“There are tools in the hands of government to make structural changes that would result in better quality, more reliable and cheaper communications,” Wale said.

He said that communications, like electricity, fuel and transportation, are critical to a vibrant economy, yet service providers continue to “get away with” delivering substandard services at high cost.

“What we see is an attitude of providers betting on getting away with poor quality services under the excuse of ‘fitim Solo na ia’,” he said.

Wale said service providers are not being held accountable, and warned that unless reforms to the independent regulator are strengthened, the economy will remain on a “chokehold” and Solomon Islands will fail to attract investment.

“As long as policymakers accept this lazy excuse, we will not be the attractive investment destination we ought to be,” he said.

Turning to education, Wale said the cost of schooling has become unaffordable at all levels, from early childhood education to Solomon Islands National University (SINU).

“This is directly under the control of government, yet somehow it has slipped,” he said.

Wale said school fees in many cases exceed the annual income of parents, and in some instances are more than double what families earn in a year.

“It is as if school fees are set to prohibit families from sending their children to school. This is an absurd situation,” he said.

He said education should be free, but if the Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT) is unable to deliver free education, then school fees must at least be reduced to a reasonable proportion of the national income per capita.

Housing was another critical area Wale said has been neglected by government policy, resulting in soaring rental costs beyond the reach of ordinary Solomon Islanders.

“Urban centres are now showing a clear class divide when it comes to housing,” he said.

Wale called for a comprehensive housing policy that addresses bank lending, government incentives, land availability and values, infrastructure, and access to utilities.

“Neglect cannot be an option,” he said.

On economic policy, Wale acknowledged government’s identification of growth sectors such as minerals, tourism, fisheries, agriculture, infrastructure, telecommunications, aviation and commerce. However, he said identifying sectors alone was not enough.

“It is one thing to identify these sectors, but it is another to unlock their true potential,” he said.

He said government policy both fiscal and regulatory must play a leading role in enabling other players to create opportunities in these sectors.

“The government cannot do everything, but it is the key player in enabling others to do their part,” Wale said.

He criticised the 2026 Budget, saying it failed to introduce “game-changer initiatives” needed to drive growth and improve livelihoods.

Without decisive policy action, Wale warned, the country would continue to fall short of its economic potential.

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