INVESTORS both locals and foreigners are showing interest to establish their business at Noro, Western Province.
Clerk of Noro Town made the revelation during an interview with Island Sun over the weekend.
Gavin Totu believes that the are influx of investors showing interest to operate at Noro is because of the newly opened infrastructure and services at Noro.
“Recently we witnessed the opening of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources and also the new Police Station at Noro.
Noro Police Station
“Now the road has improved and I strongly believe the investors are attracted to these developments,” he said.
Totu said Solomon Power is already established at Noro improving the access to reliable electricity to businesses and residence.
He said Noro offers a full-package and opportunity for investors to flourish as services are readily available.
Island Sun understand that good security and reliable access to essential services are two of the most critical factors driving successful investment in any developing economy.
Without these foundations, investors both local and international face high risks that can discourage business growth and long-term development.
Busiest part of Noro town.
A safe environment protects physical assets, workers, and business operations from theft, vandalism, and conflict-related disruptions.
Furthermore, stable security also encourages tourism, trade, and industrial development, creating a ripple effect across the wider economy.
Equally important is access to basic services such as water, electricity, roads, telecommunications, and health facilities.
Good road networks ensure the smooth transport of goods and workers, while dependable water supply supports both households and industrial activities.
Together, strong security and reliable service delivery send a powerful message that a community or country is ready for business.
Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has outlined the Government’s priorities ahead of next week’s parliamentary debate on the 2026 National Budget, declaring that the country’s development agenda is firmly focused on driving economic transformation and strengthening national unity.
Speaking during his fortnightly press conference with local media on Friday November 28,2025, PM Manele said the 2026 Budget carries the theme “Accelerating Economic Transformation – Resourcing the Resourced to Drive Economic Growth and Sustainable Development.”
He said the Budget is anchored on six core development objectives that will guide national planning and parliamentary deliberations:
Promoting transformative and sustainable economic growth;
Maintaining an affordable and realistic national budget;
Safeguarding fiscal stability;
Improving service delivery through quality and targeted spending;
Strengthening national unity and empowering people; and
Advancing good governance and accountability.
“These objectives highlight the areas that will be central to parliamentary discussions and the continued work of Government in the coming year,” Manele told reporters.
The Prime Minister said the Budget reflects the Government’s intention to balance fiscal responsibility with investment in key productive sectors, social services, and provincial development.
“With these developments and priorities in mind, my government will continue its work across sectors and provinces as Parliament considers the Budget and other national programmes,” he said.
PM Manele encouraged the public to follow the Budget proceedings closely, noting that the national plan for 2026 is designed to respond to ongoing challenges while positioning the country for long-term stability and growth.
Parliament is expected to reconvene today (Monday 1st December 2025) after it was put on special adjournment on Monday November 24 to allow Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to conclude its final inquiry and complete its report, including recommendations on the 2026 Appropriation Bill 2025.
The Budget debate is expected to dominate parliamentary business this week.
CHIEFS of Lelegia and Talise villages in Isabel Province have thrown their support behind Opposition Leader Matthew Wale’s call for the government to seize and halt all mining licences across the country.
Speaking on behalf of the chiefs, Talise Village representative Paul Fota described Wale’s call as genuine, citing the uncontrolled mining activities within the Thousand Ships Bay area.
He said mining operations have destroyed large parts of the once beautiful and resource-rich environment in the Bugotu region.
Fota said the damage done is enormous, and rehabilitation efforts will not be able to fully address the impact.
“We are with Matthew Wale. Our country is yet to pass the Mineral Resource Bill, and we are still relying on an outdated mining act.
“There is also a lack of compliance because our ministries are weak and there is little government support for proper checks and balances on mining sites,” he said.
Fota further alleged that some mining companies are infiltrating rural communities and bribing people to gain access to land and resources.
“Negotiations are happening behind closed doors in villages and this must stop because it puts innocent lives at risk,” he said.
Fota added that poverty is driving people to agree to mining deals.
“There are no proper income-generating opportunities in rural areas. When money is offered, desperate landowners sign. Sadly, it is the people who suffer in the end,” he said.
During a recent Public Accounts Committee hearing, Wale called for an immediate moratorium on all mining activities until a full review and amendment of existing mining laws is completed.
He urged the government to stop issuing new licences and temporarily close existing operations to allow a thorough review of how the mining sector is managed in the best interest of the country.
Wale warned that without strong action, Solomon Islands could face a crisis worse than what has been experienced in the logging sector, where resource owners lose while investors walk away with huge profits.
Minister of Police, National Security and Correctional Services Jimson Tanangada says the Government is taking strong, coordinated steps to address security concerns surrounding the Suffrage Wharves and the rising threat of illicit drugs entering the country.
Speaking during the Prime Minister’s Press Conference with local media on Friday November 28, 2025, Tanangada acknowledged the public debate and media scrutiny over the wharves in recent months.
He confirmed that a multi-agency taskforce, led by the Ministry of Finance and supported by the Prime Minister’s Office and other key departments, has completed its report on the matter.
“The report has now been finalised. It will come to Caucus on Tuesday (December 2, 2025),” Tanangada said.
He said the Government is anticipating the report’s recommendations, which span several sectors including policing and customs.
“We cannot pre-empt what is in the report, but we look forward to addressing this very important issue, especially in terms of security considerations and drugs potentially entering our country through the ports or other channels,” the Minister told journalists.
Tanangada said that once Caucus and Cabinet review the report, the Government will act on the recommendations and determine how best to strengthen national security at the wharves.
The Police Minister also expanded on the Prime Minister’s remarks, stressing that the government is taking the entry of illicit drugs into Solomon Islands very seriously.
He revealed ongoing collaboration with the Ministry of Health to repeal or review the Drugs Act, aiming to strengthen the legal framework and introduce tougher penalties.
“We are supporting the Ministry of Health to make the necessary repeal or review of the Drugs Act… so we have strong punitive measures against people involved,” Tanangada said.
He added that the Minister of Health has already signed off on the process, which will not only enhance police powers but also ensure courts can impose harsher sentences on individuals involved in drug trafficking, smuggling, or sale.
“It will not come easy on them. This Government is serious about addressing the entry of illegal drugs into our country,” he stressed.
Tanangada reaffirmed that law enforcement agencies—particularly the RSIPF—will continue to tighten surveillance and enforcement as part of the Government’s broader national security strategy.
Premier of MakiraUlawa province, Hon Stanley Siapu.
PACRA Government says they are ‘United and Stable’ as Motion set for December 9
BY NED GAGAHE
Premier of Makira-Ulawa Province, Stanley Siapu, says his government remains “unshaken, united and fully intact” as the province heads toward a Motion of No Confidence (MoNC) scheduled for tabling on 9 December.
The motion, filed by Member for East Arosi Ward, Hon. Douglas Kuper, was put on notice earlier this week.
It cites three grounds: gross misuse or neglect of powers, misappropriation of public funds, and conduct bringing the Office of the Speaker into disrepute.
The notice became effective on 26 November and lapses on 4 December — providing the required seven clear days.
Despite the political pressure, the People’s Alliance for Change, Reform and Advancement (PACRA) Government has declared its full confidence as the countdown begins.
In a statement issued on Friday November 28, the PACRA administration, led by Premier Siapu, said it “welcomes” the motion and views it as a healthy part of democratic leadership.
“The PACRA administration welcomes the motion which is scheduled to be tabled when the Assembly meets on 9th December,” the statement read.
Premier Siapu, speaking through the Office of the Premier, described the move as “a defining moment of accountability” and an opportunity to prove his government’s stability and cohesion.
“…This Government is not shaken. We remain loyal to the mandate given to us by our people and ready to face the Assembly with integrity. The allegations raised are weak, unsubstantiated, and cannot distract us from the work we continue to deliver,” Siapu said.
He further emphasised that the executive remains solid, with no signs of internal division or wavering support.
The Motion of No Confidence will be brought before the Assembly after deliberations on the revised appropriation bill, which begin on 1 December.
Island Sun understands that political attention is now sharply focused on whether the PACRA government will maintain its numerical strength when members take the floor next week.
IN the remote Hagalu community of Big Ngella, Central Islands Province, looking after people with special needs isn’t just a family duty, it’s a shared responsibility woven into the fabric of everyday life.
Nestled among swaying mangroves trees in the coastal mainland with the rhythmic crash of ocean waves, this village of about 600 people grapples with a reality that mirrors the nation’s broader challenges.
Hagalu village-PHOTO STOCKSY
With roughly 15 people in Hagalu living with disabilities, the community has mourned the loss of 10, leaving just five who depend on the tireless support of relatives and neighbours.
Their stories highlighted the invisible burdens of isolation, poverty, and inadequate resources in a country where disability touches nearly one in seven lives.
Esmie Fane, 26, is at the heart of this narrative. Born with a disability, she is the second of four children in a family where steady employment remains elusive.
26 year old Esmie Fane.
Her father, John Sade, a vocal and active community member, speaks with quiet pride and exhaustion about his daughter’s place in their world.
“Fane is the second born in the family, and she was born disabled,” he explains.
Now a grandfather after his eldest son married and started a family, Sade and his wife Roselyn Loku, have dedicated their lives to ensuring Fane’s comfort.
“Whatever we get in a day must prioritize her in terms of food, clothes, and other welfare matters,” Sade says.
To make her life more manageable, the family relocated her to a modest home by the seashore this year, away from their mainland residence.
“We built her home to stay beside the seashore to ensure other basic human needs like sanitation and access to the sea for relaxation can be addressed.
The couple’s days are filled with casual labor like constructing stone foundations for houses built on stilts over the water, a common job in coastal communities.
“We live by doing this casual job for money to survive and make ends meet,” Sade shares.
When opportunities arise in nearby Tulagi, they travel there for similar work, earning just enough to cover essentials. Yet, Fane’s needs often stretch their resources thin.
Sade recounts spending nights at her side, assisting with baths, entertainment, and comfort.
“Sometimes we spend the night with her just to offer the best treatment she always wanted,” he says.
But the emotional toll is palpable. Sade admits to moments of stress when life overwhelms her wife.
“When life gets tough, her stressful mother used to go hard on her sometimes, which also makes me sad,” Sade confides.
Financial struggles compound the challenges; they frequently take Fane to Tulagi Hospital by boat or canoe, carrying her medical cards.
“We took her to Tulaghi Hospital whenever she needs medical attention since she was a child,” Sade adds.
Despite past visits from outsiders, perhaps aid workers or officials, no tangible support has followed.
“Till now, we haven’t heard anything from those people visiting us,” he laments.
Loku, Fane’s primary caregiver, echoes the depth of their journey.
“It’s a tough journey for me with my only daughter,” she says.
“Her welfare is one of the greatest challenges I have ever faced in my life. Fane is not able to walk, which adds an extra layer to the challenges we face daily.”
She continues to dreams of a better future.
“I’m praying for one day she has a proper home and better welfare support.”
In a family of three boys, Fane’s disability has reshaped their dynamics, forcing sacrifices that highlight the broader inequities in rural Solomon Islands, where access to education, healthcare, and employment is limited.
Reginald Peripeki, 64, offers another poignant chapter in Hagalu’s story.
Stricken with an overdose illness as a child, likely due to inadequate medical care at the Taroniara clinic, the province’s only facility at the time, he has lived with deafness and muteness ever since.
Reginald Peripeki, 64
His brother, Mathew Duvele, and Duvele’s wife have shouldered the responsibility since their parents’ deaths.
Their mother passed on in 1983 and father in 2000.
“He was born as a normal person when he was a child, but not for long enough,” Duvele recalls.
“He got sick, and my parents took him over to Taroniara clinic. However, medical workers there were not qualified enough to handle his situation, resulting in an overdose illness which leads to his current deaf state today.”
As the fourth of eight siblings, Peripeki once contributed to the family through fishing and gardening, despite his condition.
“When he was still moving around and active, he used to go fishing, gardening, and do things to make ends meet, although he’s deaf,” Duvele explains.
But now, with Peripeki inactive and battling asthma that developed last year, the burden has intensified.
“Now that he’s totally inactive, the struggle to provide all essential needs for him has become the toughest,” Duvele says.
The couple has grown self-reliant, rejecting outside assistance.
“We have come to the stage where we don’t want any assistance outside since we get used to fighting the challenge to look after him,” he notes.
This independence stems from necessity, as outside support remains sporadic in such remote areas.
Charles Tadaiga, 49, adds another layer of tragedy. Not born blind, he lost his sight in childhood due to a heartbreaking accident, where his mother accidentally infected him with limestone powder while carrying him and chewing betel nut.
Charles Tadaiga, 49.
The response was delayed by the distance to Taroniara clinic, with no medical services in Tulagi at the time and transportation limited to paddling canoes.
“The challenge to quickly respond to what happened to him was the distance to Taroniara clinic,” recalls his uncle, Thomas Gue, who, along with other relatives, provides support.
“We never receive support from outside, but we do what we can to support him,” Gue says.
“We just do anything to make him feel comfortable and stay alive and healthy. Welfare support is one of the big challenges in his life.”
His story underscores the risks of rural life, where everyday activities can turn perilous without proper healthcare infrastructure.
District Vice Chairman Ben Lilia provides a community-wide perspective.
“A proper home for people with special needs is highly recommended in the community,” he asserts.
“We have five people with special needs looked after by members of the community. If only they had a proper home to address some of the challenges, the people in the community are willing enough to monitor their lives.” Lilia said.
“We use to organize initiatives to support people with special needs in the community, through foods, clothes, and little financial support.”
Disability in the Solomon Islands is a pervasive issue, not confined to Hagalu.
The 2009 Census reported that approximately 14% of the total population lived with a disability.
The 2015 Demographic and Health Survey estimated around 16% of women and 15% of men had a disability, revealing gender disparities. The 2019 Census found about 11% of the population aged 5 years and over reported at least one functional form of disability, such as mobility, vision, or hearing impairments. A preliminary national disability survey indicated a prevalence of around 7.2%, though this figure might be lower due to underreporting and survey limitations. Prevalence is higher in rural areas (17%) compared to urban areas (15%), and it increases with age, reflecting the cumulative effects of limited healthcare and environmental hazards.
With about 80% of the Solomon Islands’ population residing in rural zones, disability is a national characteristic rather than an isolated phenomenon. Factors like poor road infrastructure, limited medical facilities, and economic dependence on subsistence activities exacerbate the challenges. In provinces like Central Islands, where Hagalu is located, access to specialized care is often a distant dream, forcing families to rely on traditional remedies or long, arduous journeys.
Government efforts, including disability policies and aid from organizations like the World Health Organization, aim to improve inclusion, but implementation lags in remote areas.
Stigma and lack of awareness further compound the issue, leaving many like Fane, Peripeki, and Tadaiga in a cycle of dependency.
In Hagalu, the care for the vulnerable is a testament to human endurance and community spirit. Families like the Sades, Duveles, and Gues demonstrate profound love and sacrifice, yet their stories reveal systemic gaps.
*Reporting for this story was supported by Pacific Media Assistance Scheme (PACMAS)
suspension revoked as Lands Commissioner returns to office
BY NED GAGAHE
Suspended Commissioner of Lands Alan McNeil has got his job back after the Ministry of Public Service revoked and set aside his suspension just weeks after he was suspended over allegations linked to land dealings at the Kongulai water source.
McNeil was suspended on 13 November 2025. A letter from Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Service Luke Cheka, alleged misconduct relating to:
Fraudulent execution of lease documents in November 2023;
Breach of a 2009 High Court order;
Misrepresenting a “Good Will” payment from a former Prime Minister as a final lease payment.
McNeil immediately denied all accusations, branding the suspension “unprocedural” and insisting he was never given the chance to respond before disciplinary action was taken.
He vowed to challenge the matter legally.
However, in a turn of events, PS Cheka who initially signed the suspension issued another letter dated 28 November 2025 informing McNeil that the suspension had been revoked and set aside.
“This letter serves to inform you that your suspension has now been revoked and set aside, commencing the date of this notice.
“On the same note, your suspension conditions are also withdrawn.
“You are therefore required to resume your normal duties immediately,” the letter stated.
No explanation was given for the reversal of the decision.
McNeil confirmed to the media following the development on Friday that his suspension was revoked.
McNeil has continually rejected the allegations and says he has “solid grounds and good evidence” proving they are false.
He added that if he had been given the opportunity earlier, he would have explained himself.
Over recent years, McNeil has been at the centre of several major land litigations that resulted in unlawfully allocated government land being returned to the state.
One of the biggest cases he is currently pursuing supported by Cabinet is the government’s move to resume Levers Solomons Ltd land in the Lungga–Henderson–Tenaru corridor.
Levers has challenged the government’s action, and the matter remains before the High Court.
McNeil is now expected to return to work immediately while preparing to publicly address the issue in a press conference.
A former educationist now serving as a consultant at the Ministry of Education and Human Resources says the long-term solution to unemployment in the country lies in technical skills development rather than academic qualifications alone.
Clement Tito made the statement while delivering his keynote address during a graduation ceremony at Tabaka Technical Institute on Thursday November 27, 2025.
He said there is a growing disparity between the number of young people seeking employment and the limited availability of job opportunities, calling for urgent strategies to better prepare the younger generation for decent work.
“As we celebrate today, we must face the realities of our national situation. If we look at the statistics, 91.7 percent of Solomon Islanders are currently unemployed, leaving only 9.3 percent in formal employment,” Tito said.
He added that the national school dropout rate now stands at 53.7 percent, meaning more than half of the country’s young people do not complete their basic or secondary education.
“Our economic growth remains modest and vulnerable. These are numbers of a wake-up call,” Tito said.
According to Tito, these figures clearly show the urgent need for the country to redirect its education priorities away from a purely academic focus towards technical and vocational training.
He stressed that technical education and skills development offer immediate pathways to employment, small business creation, community service and participation in national development projects.
“The solution to unemployment is not office jobs.
“Today we celebrate more than certificates and completed courses – we celebrate skills, competence and the ability to contribute meaningfully to national development. Technical education is not just another pathway. It is the engine room of productivity, innovation and employment creation,” Tito said.
He said strengthening technical training institutions across Solomon Islands is critical if the nation is to address unemployment and empower young people with practical, market-driven skills.
The Ministry of Women Youth, Children and Family Affairs have for the first time received a budget of nearly SBD$20 million.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs (MWYCFA) Dr. Cedric Alependava revealed this during the Ministry’s appearance before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), on Thursday November 20,, 2025.
Dr Alependava told PAC during the 2026 Appropriation Bill 2025 that with the recurrent budget of 14,709,492 and development budget of 4,725,000 it gives a total of 19,434,492.
He said that the increase is due to the fact that his team had made several Cabinet papers.
“First one is we did Cabinet paper for Family Affairs Division, particularly asking our government to provide funding purposely to do awareness and educational program throughout the country to reduce violence against women and girls, and simultaneously violence against children and all forms of abuses,” he said.
He said that the Ministry were happy to be given one million instead of three million they have asked for.
He stressed that this would help the Ministry to collaborate with churches to be able to try and reduce the high incidence of violence against women and girls and children in the country.
He also told PAC that the Ministry is currently conducting a study survey supported by DFAT, and the Ministry of National Statistics Division to able to track the investments and whether they’re having a direct impact in the reduction in violence, gender-based violence or domestic violence.
“We are now doing a study survey. This will be supported by DFAT, and my ministry, including the Ministry of National Statistics Division. We are doing our research to find out the current status of violence against women and girls. The previous study was done in the year 2009, health and family survey. That was the old figure we are using up until now,” Dr Alependava said.
He said that similar survey has also done with children division through Government support together with UNICEF.
With the current budget, Dr Alependava said his Ministry is hopeful to follow up and complete unfinished projects in the country.
Australia and New Zealand will together contribute $170 million over the next five years to support Pacific Island members of the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus.
The contribution was announced at the 2025 PACER Plus Ministerial Meeting, held on Thursday November 27 in Honiara, a joint statement from the governments of Australia and New Zealand said.
Australia was represented by Assistant Minister for Pacific Island Affairs, Nita Green, while Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Scott Simpson represented New Zealand.
Announcing the new contribution, Assistant Minister Green said Australia wanted to deepen regional economic integration in the Pacific.
““In a time of rapid change in the global trade environment, our region can be a source of reliability and prosperity,” said Assistant Minister Green.
“As the primary vehicle driving regional economic integration, PACER Plus delivers both.”
New Zealand’s Minister Simpson, in making the announcement, highlighted New Zealand’s commitment to supporting economic growth across the region.
“In signing the PACER Plus Implementing Arrangement, we are demonstrating our ongoing commitment to trade growth, prosperity, and Pacific regional economic integration through trade.”
PACER Plus is a regional trade and development agreement that aims to make it easier for Pacific countries to trade, attract investment and grow their economies. The agreement entered into force in 2020.
The new investment of $170m is an increase to the support provided during the first five years of the agreement, following calls from Pacific ministers to sustainably resource popular labour mobility programs such as Australia’s PALM Scheme and New Zealand’s Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme.
The contribution will support the agreement’s Development and Economic Cooperation Work Program and the PACER Plus Implementation Unit. Under the Work Program, Pacific PACER Plus members can access support to strengthen their trade and investment environments, including in areas such as customs, e-commerce and labour mobility.
Australia and New Zealand both grant 100% tariff-free access to PACER Plus members, allowing Pacific countries to take advantage of their consumer markets.
The agreement has ten members: Australia, Cook Islands, Kiribati, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
