Maintenance work on four wooden bridges along South Road, Malaita Province, commenced during this festive season by Trades Transformation Company (TTC).
The completion of the four bridges will enhance connectivity for the South Road users and the agriculture sector in the province.
In an interview with the Island Sun yesterday, the Ministry of Infrastructure’s Communication Officer, Teddy Kafo, confirmed the commencement of bridge maintenance.
He said that next year, 2026, the maintenance of the bridges will be fully operational.
“By early next year, the maintenance of the four wooden bridges along South Road will be in full swing.
“During this festive period, the Trades Transformation Company (TTC) is now slowly commencing their maintenance upgrades,” he said.
“Currently, the TTC has started with the Maoro wooden bridge, and after that, they will move to the remaining three wooden bridges along the road to ensure the safety of passing vehicles,” he added.
In the meantime, Kafo urges road users, especially the drivers on the South Road, to continue using wet crossings during the maintenance period and to follow the road signage installed.
He also called on villagers to respect the workers on the bridges and support them with necessary needs.
“Yes, I urge road users to continue using wet crossings during these bridge repairs. I also ask drivers to follow the signage installed.
“And also, villagers, we must respect the workers on site and give them the necessary support as they fix our bridges, which will enhance connectivity for our people along South Road,” he said.
The bridge construction is being done under the Australian-funded National Transport Fund (NTF).
The Malaita Provincial Police appreciates the people of Auki for being on their best behaviour during Christmas Eve and calls on them to do the same during countdown celebrations for the new year 2026.
Appreciation has been sent out to community leaders, parents, and chiefs for working together with the police.
Malaita Provincial Police Commander, Superintendent Michael Ramosaea, also reminds the people of Auki to uphold this same behavior during the New Year countdown celebrations that will take place on Wednesday night, December 31, 2025.
He said this is to avoid unwanted social activities such as disturbances with loud music, fighting, and acts of violence in the communities.
“I want to remind my good people that while appreciation has been sent out to you for behaving during Christmas Eve, I also appeal for you to continue the same behavior during the New Year.
“It is a time of enjoyment and happiness, but celebrations must be done with respect for others, and we should celebrate in a peaceful manner,” he said.
Superintendent Ramosaea also appeals to community leaders, church elders, chiefs, and parents to take good care of their children during the New Year celebrations.
He said the police will continue their operations to ensure people are enjoying themselves safely at home.
“I call on my good community leaders, church elders, chiefs, and especially parents to look after their children during this New Year’s celebration.
“This is the time that our young people will go out and want to enjoy themselves with their friends.
“Be mindful that the police will continue to conduct operations within our town and communities,” he said.
Superintendent Ramosaea stressed that the police will be alert to arrest anyone causing disturbances or incidents during the New Year celebration.
He also wishes everyone in Malaita Province a joyful New Year 2026.
The people of Malaita Province are calling for the relocation of the one and only Gwaunaruu Airport in the province.
The call comes after long-standing claims and disputes between the Gwaunaruu landowners and the national government, which disrupted and delayed regular air transport services to and from Malaita Province.
The disputes were over breaches of a 2012 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), primarily concerning maintenance contracts, payment issues, and demands for community infrastructure like roads and water supply.
Landowners felt that the government re-awarded maintenance work to outsiders and failed to honor payment terms, leading to repeated closures.
A concerned man, Eric Fono, said while the issues are yet to be resolved, the Malaita Provincial Government needs to look at ways to relocate the airport.
He said many land plots have been registered under the Malaita Provincial Government in the province.
“Yes, we have many registered lands in the province that are safe for accommodation and development. For example, in West Kwaio, we have areas at Buma, Kwa’a, and Baunani.
“It is very hard for the reopening of the Gwaunaruu airport by the national and provincial government, and I wonder why they failed to look at these lands,” Fono said.
He said he is aware that the Buma and Kwa’a land plots have enough hectares suitable for airport development.
“I am aware that Buma and Kwa’a are already registered under the province and have suitable land hectares for airport development.
“And I know this land plots are owned by the Catholic mission,” he said.
Fono voiced that in any province, airport development is a must, and they cannot afford to run without an airport for such an indefinite period, as this will affect most businesses and the traveling public.
He calls on the Malaita Provincial Government to seriously look into this issue next year.
The Pacific Crown Hotel (PCH) Canoe bar is set to host IGNITE 2026 New Year’s Eve.
The New Year’s Countdown at PCH will feature local legend Sean Rii, alongside international artists DJ Noiz, Bina Butta, and Kenyon Brown.
Set for Wednesday 31st 2025, the supporting artists for the night are Joe Briz, Arak & Evin Rush, Colleagues Band, DJ Tua and many more.
The event, which is set to start at 5 pm on Wednesday, 31st 2025, up until 5 am on Thursday, 1st January 2026, will involve live music entertainment with fireworks at Midnight.
The general ticket for the countdown event is $250, while VIP is $500.
The night’s vibe is anticipated to be loud, fun, and exactly how New Year’s should feel.
The organisers call on fans to grab a ticket now to welcome 2026 in style.
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.
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.
North West Guadalcanal Constituency (NWGC) has begun rolling out its 2025 Constituency Development Funds (CDF) projects, with schools and churches among the key beneficiaries.
(Second from left) MP for Northwest Guadalcanal Constituency Francis Sade handover the Starlink kit and bags of cement to Principal of Norman Palmer CHS witnessed by school representatives
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.
(Second from left) MP for Northwest Guadalcanal Constituency Francis Sade handed over cartons of tiles and bags of grout to Chairman of Christ the King Charles Maelanga witnessed by church reps
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.
(Left to right) Vice Chair of Barana Catholic Church Fadius Bradly shake hands with MP Sade in receiving the materials
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.
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.
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.
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.
