BY SAMIE WAIKORI

The national government through the Ministry of Communication and Aviation has successfully built 130 mobile towers out of 161 towers they had planned to build around the country.

The project is known as the Solomon Islands National Broadband Infrastructure Project (SINBIP) and implemented by the Ministry of Communication and Aviation, with the support from Solomon Tower Limited (STL).

The implementation of the three years project started in 2024, with the aim to complete the construction of the 161 towers before the end of 2026.

The project designed into three phases, which covers the distribution of the provinces, currently is in it’s final stages, according to the Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister for Communication and Aviation Fredrick Kologeto.

“We reached the last stage of installation of towers. Now, we are at Temotu, Makira Ulawa and Rennel Bellona provinces.

“As to date, we have installed 130 towers with 57 being connected, and some of the connected towers had already reached their limit,” he highlighted.

The Deputy Prime Minister also noted that the Solomon Tower Company started to receive revenue from the towers. It is not just SBD $100 or SBD $1,000; it is in millions.

He said if the 161 towers are installed and connected, it would be a revenue boost for STL, and telecommunication services in the country.  

Kologeto is confident that the ministry and operators would install and connect the targeted 161 towers prior to its schedule. This is so that rural people benefit from the program.

In the meantime, he encouraged every people in Solomon Islands to make great use of the service, and not just for tiktok and other unnecessary means.

“Let’s be innovative and make money out of this infrastructure,” Kologeto emphasized.

He said his ministry will also encourage the operators to look at pricing so that people in rural areas can afford the service.

“This is to ensure they engage in businesses,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

The Ministry of Communication and Aviation is working on a digital transformation policy roadmap policy, crucial to safeguard citizens of the country in this era of digital transformation.

The policy, according to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Communication and Aviation Fredrick Kologeto, will be finalised soon and is expected to be tabled before cabinet for blessing, next year.

Speaking in parliament last week, Kologeto admitted the challenge faced by his ministry to safeguard the citizens of the country in this era of digital transformation.

“As the era of digital transformation looms and gets exponential momentum, my ministry is finding it very difficult to make sure that we safeguard our citizens.

“In addressing that, I can assure the ministry is working hard on cybercrime and cyber security, which culminated the digital transformation roadmap to safeguard our people.

“The digital transformation roadmap should be finalised soon and should be tabled for cabinet for blessing.

“The idea behind the policy is to ensure we know where we are heading and know we are safe in what we are doing, in terms of this digital era,” he said.

On the same note, Kologeto highlighted that the cybercrime policy is in the drafting stage, and the ministry hopes to table it next year, 2026.

He also emphasized that another priority area his ministry is looking at is the national data centre.

“It is important that the sovereignty of this nation is kept within our digital space. We don’t want other people to keep our data. This is a priority area of our ministry,” Kologeto emphasized.

He said the digital policy roadmap is part of the broader policies of the ministry to safeguard people on the services will offer, through infrastructure development such as towers in the country.

Kologeto emphasized that the intention of the ministry is to develop proper infrastructure, so that every citizen of this nation can enjoy services provided.

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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

The Ministry of Communication and Aviation (MCA) has proposed an upgrade of airports in the country.

This includes upgrade of the Honiara International airport and rehabilitation of airfields in the provinces.

The program became an integral part of the ministry’s decentralization policy to improve the aviation sector across the country.

Speaking in parliament last week, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Communication and Aviation Fredrick Kologeto, highlighted the proposal and benefit it would deliver for the country.

He said the national government through the ministry is closing on a negotiation towards a project to upgrade the Honiara International Airport.

“The project will include lengthening and widening of the runway to reach 2.8 or 3 kilometres. It will also look at improving the status of the terminal.

“This is vital so that bigger planes like A370 that accommodates 400 to 500 passengers can land at the Honiara international airport.

“The terminal upgrade is also important so that we can be able to accommodate three or four flights simultaneously. This is a challenge we’re facing,” Kologeto stated.

He also noted the government wants the ministry to accomplish the plan before the country’s 50th anniversary in 2028.

In the meantime, the Deputy Prime Minister highlighted current upgrade and rehabilitation program on provincial airfields across the country.

He said the tar-seal of Taro airfield is in the final stage and is expected to be complete early next year. Tar-sealing of Suavanao airfield is set to begin next year, including other airfields the government sees fit for tar-sealing.

Kologeto further mentioned that tender for the rehabilitation of Avu-Avu airport in Guadalcanal province has already been awarded and rehabilitation of Atoifi airfield in Malaita province is coming up.

He also highlighted a MOU signed between the ministry and landowners of Malaita Outer Islands to establish airfield in Lord Howe.

Moreover, the DPM said scoping and coasting for a new airfield in Vanikoro, Temotu province has already been done with the project soon to be implemented.

Kologeto said the Ministry of Communication and Aviation encourages decentralization of infrastructure development especially airports and telecommunication across the country.

He also said these infrastructures are also important to support the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to implement its plans and program especially to promote tourism in the country.

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Opposition Leader Wale slams drastic cut to budget of Ministry of women and youth

BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Leader of the Opposition, Matthew Wale, has raised serious concerns about the budget cut for the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs (MWYCFA).

Wale said this in response to MWYCFA Minister Catty Nori’s presentation on her ministry’s budget and plans during the Committee of Supply proceeding on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday this week.

The Opposition Leader also noted similar budget cuts across various ministries.

Wale said that the common theme from Minister Nori is the fact that the finance department cut their budget even after the cabinet approved it.

“The Finance is more powerful than the cabinet. I don’t know how that works. The Cabinet should be the final approval over the budgets. Finance should not be the final approval of the budget. Nothing worked that way.

“When taking something that has fiscal implications, get finance to endorse it so any adjustments can be made. So, when the cabinet approves, we cannot make a mockery of the cabinet approval process,” Wale said.

He pointed out that the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs often get the least allocation and priority.

“And it is almost as if we don’t care as a collective leadership. Do we not care because it doesn’t touch us?”, Wale questioned.

“The extent of gender base violence in our society is very great indeed. Maybe we don’t believe it. Because perhaps we are insulated, or maybe it doesn’t touch your family,” Wale said.

Wale said investing in the Ministry is not just a social sector investment.

“It’s a big social safety net for us. It affects almost 80% of our women and girls. But this would be 2026, another year of neglect. Not a small neglect, gross, deliberate, by design neglect. Let’s take a zero-tolerance attitude towards this cancer in our midst.

“The allocations in the budget do not reflect a zero-tolerance attitude. It speaks of carelessness, light-hearted, neglectful. I have a really big disappointment. Worse than disappointment. So, we urge the government. We urge the Prime Minister to take a lead on this one and come up with some proactive initiatives,” he said.

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BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

THE much-anticipated yearly festival known as the “Lagoon Festival” returns to Munda attracting both locals and tourists who are eager to see the culture and traditions of Roviana and Western Province.

The festival opened with speeches as guests took turns to say something interesting about the only community driven festival.

In an interview with Island Sun, Adrian Wickham said the festival started in 2009 as a community event that took place annually.

He explained that the tuna industry was the main sponsor back then, but now the festival has its own funding.

Wikham said the festival has now become a community event, driven and administered by communities.

He said the festival is now more attractive and is also a place to be for tourists.

Wickham said Lagoon Festival has two main aims which are to bring communities together and promote culture and tradition.

Chief Principal Officer for Western Province Tourism, Meria Paza said her office fully support events such as the Lagoon Festival as the activities can bring back traditional knowledge, culture and tradition to the younger generation to learn from.

She adds that Western Tourism Division’s support is not only through promoting the event but also by allocating small funding for the event.

Paza said Western Tourism Division also supports local organising committees and communities with necessary funding to host such events.

She highly encourages domestic tourism as people move from one place to another to see the events which is good for the economy.

Paza mentioned that such an event also provides a huge opportunity for women and girls to sell their produce.

“Other communities should also establish their festivals to promote uniqueness of respective resources,” she said.

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BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

PRIME Minister Jeremiah Manele says the strength and future of Solomon Islands rests on its people, reaffirming the Government’s renewed focus on human capital development.

He made the remarks during the Western Province Day celebration at Seghe, Western Province earlier this week, highlighting that the nation’s progress is inseparable from the growth and empowerment of its citizens.

Manele said strong human capital is the foundation of a thriving society and economy, adding that meaningful development requires collective effort.

“A better society and growing economy depend on partnership between people, organisations, provinces and countries,” he said.

He stressed that development cannot occur in isolation, but must be driven through collaboration at all levels.

“Development fundamentally relies on partnership. Its positive impact cannot occur in isolation.

“It must be supported by collaboration across our villages, towns, provincial, national and international levels. This involves working with a broad spectrum of stakeholders—national and provincial government institutions, customary landowners, churches, the private sector and non-government organisations,” he said.

Manele further emphasised that development must be inclusive, ensuring no individual or community is left behind.

He also reminded those present that the GNUT Government’s policies are anchored on four key pillars.

First, delivering tangible development and progress across the country, while ensuring unity and stability at all levels of governance.

Second, driving economic transformation through productive and resource sectors such as fisheries, agriculture, tourism and mining.

Third, advancing infrastructure development as a lifeline and enabler of economic growth and service delivery.

Fourth, strengthening human capital, which he said is the true backbone of the Solomon Islands.

Manele said these pillars guide the government’s ambition to build a more resilient, inclusive and prosperous nation.

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BY NED GAGAHE

Opposition Leader Matthew Wale has warned that Solomon Islands’ logging industry is heading towards an inevitable collapse “by default” as forest resources become exhausted, with Government policy still failing to address the crisis.

Speaking during the Committee of Supply proceedings in Parliament yesterday, Wale said the forestry sector is on a downward spiral not because of deliberate policy decisions, but simply because there are no longer enough logs to cut, particularly below 400 metres where the majority of commercial harvesting occurs.

“We continue on this pathway and we are totally unsustainable.

“It seems the industry will reach its end not through leadership or planning, but by running out of trees,” Wale said.

He highlighted that the official sustainable harvest rate is 300,000 cubic metres per year, yet the country has been cutting between 1.6 and 3 million cubic metres annually for years—up to ten times the sustainable limit.

He argued that the Government has shown no political will to take decisive action to reform the sector or invest in alternatives, despite repeated warnings from environmental experts and international partners.

“Downward pressure on harvest rates is being forced by the lack of stock, not by Government policy.

“We are simply letting the industry crash on its own,” Wale said.

Wale urged the Government to shift to value-added processing and take a long-term approach that would deliver more revenue from a smaller, sustainable harvest.

He said short-term pain would lead to mid-term gains if the country commits to processing timber locally instead of exporting raw logs.

In response, Forestry Minister Makario Tagini admitted the situation is dire, stating openly that “there’s no sustainable logging in our country” and confirming that logging remains the nation’s number one revenue source.

Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele acknowledged Wale’s concerns and said that it is something that the Policy Evaluation Unit is to work with Forestry and Finance on to prepare a Cabinet paper to outline future options for the sector.

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