BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Remittances from seasonal workers contributed $SBD470 million for Solomon Islands in 2024.

Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele stated this in his keynote address, at the first day of the Pacific Labour Mobility Annual Meeting (PLMAM) 2025 held from November 3–6 under the theme “Sustainable Reintegration Begins with Fair and Effective Recruitment.”

“While this may be small in comparison to other Pacific family members, these remittances are of immense significance to our economy. Remittances contribute to paying school fees, building roads, and creating small businesses.

“For Solomon Islands, labour mobility is not just an economic policy. It is a lifeline of opportunity,” PM Manele told delegates.

He said that this has been referenced in the mid-term review report of the country’s national development strategy 2016-2035.

He said that thousands of Solomon Islanders have found meaningful work abroad, gained new skills, supported their families and returned home with renewed hope and experience.

“Every Solomon Islander, and I believe with the rest of the Pacific family, working overseas carries with them the spirit of our pioneers, helping families at home while contributing to regional prosperity. When one Solomon Islander or a Pacific Islander succeeds abroad, the whole community benefits,” he said.

Addressing the delegates, PM Manele said that labour mobility must go hand in hand with each Pacific Island participating countries government national development goals.

“It reduces unemployment, empowers youth and women, and builds resilience in rural communities. When workers return home, they bring back skills and perspectives that will reach our domestic industries. But we must also ensure that our local economy must provide opportunities for these workers domestically once they finish their terms.

“This is how labour mobility becomes a cycle of empowerment, not a one-way journey. Our strength lies in Pacific solidarity,” PM Manele highlighted.

The event was hosted by Solomon Islands Government and organised by the PACER Plus Implementation Unit (PPIU). It brings together representatives from Pacific governments, international organisations, employers, workers, and partners with the aim to strengthen cooperation and share best practices in labour mobility.

Photo: Supplied

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Women upset over shutdown of popular clothing spot

BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Anger broke out among women operating their clothing businesses at the old G-Province headquarters at Point Cruz after the Honiara City Council (HCC) shut down the venue on Tuesday this week.

Following the closure, women vendors organized a protest on-site, voicing their frustration over the council’s decision to shut down the popular business spot.

However, HCC maintained its stance, explaining that the market was operating illegally without any authorization from the council to conduct business in the area.

Women who spoke to Island Sun at the scene said that the HCC law enforcement team arrived early in the morning, forced them to close the venue, and allegedly damaged several stalls.

In an interview, manager and caretaker of the area, Dinah Te’angoha Ramoga, who was assigned by the landlord to look after the site, said HCC had no right to close the venue.

“I am the manager of this place. The landlord assigned me to oversee the women doing business here. The landlord allowed them to use this area after they approached him to operate their clothing business,” Ramoga explained.

She added that on October 27, HCC issued a letter ordering them to close by Monday, November 4.

“We did not comply because it was not a High Court order but only from HCC. The landlord told us to continue marketing since HCC has no authority to evict us from this land. But today, they came, damaged everything, pulled down tents, even chopped down trees, and ordered us to leave,” she said.

Ramoga claims that the current landlord had previously won a court case over the land and continued to allow the women to operate there to help support their families and children.

“If HCC wants to close the site, they should provide an alternative venue for these women so they can continue to earn an income, feed their families, and pay school fees,” she said.

When contacted, HCC Clerk Justus Denni confirmed that the clothing market was operating without legal authorization.

“The HCC closed down the market because it was operating illegally. The owner did not have permission from HCC to run a business in that area. Although the owner collected fees from the vendors, there was no permit from the council,” Denni stated.

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By BEN BILUA
Gizo

RANONGGA Island has been crowned the cleanest island in Western Province, thanks to its outstanding achievements in sanitation and community health efforts.

This recognition comes as the island now boasts the highest number of communities declared No Open Defecation (NOD) in the province.

According to ADRA representative Sharon Dalileke Kele, the recent launch of four additional NOD communities has raised Ranongga’s total number to 12.

“Several more communities are still in the implementation phase and will soon be declared NOD,” she said.

Kele acknowledged the strong collaboration between ADRA, donor partners, the Western Provincial Government, and the Western Provincial Health Authority in supporting hygiene and sanitation projects across the island.

She also praised the commitment and perseverance of officers working in the field.

“The task is not easy when it comes to awareness and convincing communities to change their lifestyle. “But credit goes to the hardworking officers and the community leaders, women, and youths who have supported this initiative,” Kele said.

She encouraged other communities to follow Ranongga’s example, emphasising the importance of maintaining healthy community environments to prevent disease.

Western Province continues to lead the way in the NOD program nationally. The current Provincial Government has prioritised health, water, and sanitation initiatives as part of its broader strategy to enhance public health and community wellbeing.

Under its health policy, the Western Provincial Government remains committed to promoting clean, safe, and healthy environments in villages—an objective aligned with the National Health Strategic goal of improving sanitation and reducing the spread of preventable diseases.

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BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

PROVINCIAL Member of Assembly for Ward 8 in Western Province, Kadiba Alu, has described the Ward Profile and Validation workshop as both important and timely to strengthen rural development planning.

Speaking to Island Sun, Alu said ward profiling is a vital process that helps identify community needs and priorities while paving the way for targeted development interventions.

“Ward Profile is an important document that outlines key areas and helps guide development planning in rural communities,” he said.

Alu explained that the profiling exercise will support ward leaders to identify priority development needs, compile reliable data for long-term reference, prepare information for donor engagement, and improve alignment of ward development programs.

He acknowledged that while many development plans exist across the province, limited funding continues to hinder progress.

“Under the current system, ward development efforts heavily rely on limited ward grants which is not enough to fully fund our development plans,” Alu stated.

He suggests that the Ministry of Provincial Government consider introducing special funding mechanisms dedicated to ward-level development to help bridge resource gaps.

Alu also emphasized the importance of collaboration between Constituency Development Committee and Ward Development Committees in executing priorities outlined in ward profiles.

“These documents are not for decoration but to help us explore new development avenues through innovation,” he stressed.

He added that close cooperation between constituencies and wards is crucial to improve service delivery and achieve development goals.

“Constituency and ward must work together to complement service delivery and development. At the end of the day, we serve the same people and communities,” Alu said.

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BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

THE Mile 6 Cattle Project in Gizo, Western Province, is making steady progress under a new partnership between the Western Provincial Government (WPG) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL).

Chief Field Officer for Western Province, Sipuru Rove, recently confirmed that his office received 1,500-star pickets and 100 rolls of barbed wire from MAL as part of the initiative’s support package.

He said the materials were transported to Gizo last week, noting that freight costs totalling SBD$11,000 will be paid by WPG as agreed.

“Under the arrangement, MAL will provide the materials and WPG will meet the freight, labour costs, and posts for the fence,” Rove explained.

He further revealed that the provincial government has already allocated SBD$377,040 towards the project to support ongoing work at the site.

According to Rove, the newly received fencing materials will cover 32 hectares of the 70 hectares set aside for the livestock development program.

He said the Mile 6 Cattle Project aims to establish a breeding facility before distributing improved cattle breeds to smallholder farmers across Western Province and other provinces.

Rove also highlighted the need to introduce new cattle breeds to boost livestock quality and productivity.

“Currently, the herds are in-breeding – mating of individuals that are related. We are waiting for the facility to be completed before bringing in new breeds to improve production. This will be done once the new facility is ready,” he said.

He acknowledged MAL and WPG for their continued support in driving livestock development in the province.

“We want to thank Dr. Samson Viulu and the Minister for their support towards this project,” he said.

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Western Province, first to roll out CCRF

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

WESTERN Province is set to implement the Coconut and Cocoa Revolving Fund (CCRF), a financial support scheme created by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) to boost the country’s coconut and cocoa sector.

In an interview with Island Sun, Agriculture Field Officer for Western Province, Sipuru Rove said the Western Provincial Government (WPG) has signed an Agency Agreement with MAL to establish a legal arrangement to channel other funds for agriculture development in the provinces.

He said the agreement now clears the way for the release of funds and the start of implementation phase with Western Province being the first province in the country to carry out this initiative.

Rove said 12 out of 16 applicants have successfully met the criteria to receive funding under the scheme.

He said 11 farmers will be supported to purchase coconut while one will receive support to buy cocoa.

Rove explained that the selection follows a rigorous process involving application distribution, collection, technical assessments and screening.

“Recipients are selected according to a certain criteria, three of which are: applicants must be an existing buyer, must have a proper shed, and must have the ability to repay the loan.

“We also ensured fairness so the recipients are distributed according to wards,” he added.

Rove said successful recipients will be given a two-month grace period before loan repayments begin.

He expressed gratitude to MAL and the Western Provincial Government for prioritising the fund.

“I want to acknowledge MAL – the Permanent Secretary, Samson Viulu, the Minister, and the Premier of Western Province for prioritising this project. My office is looking forward to receiving and implementing the fund according to its purpose,” Rove said.

However, he also mentioned that flagged shipping challenges remain a major barrier for farmers, particularly those on remote islands within the province.

“Shipping service has been an ongoing challenge for most coconut and cocoa farmers in Western Province. This will also be one of the challenges that may hinder the successful implementation of the CCRF,” Rove said.

He recommends that the government and potential investors consider setting up a processing and logistics facility in Noro, which he believes will bring services closer to farmers and strengthen the sector.

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By RODRICK DESURI 

Auki 

A technical mission team from the World Bank visited the Su’u Harbour and Bira bridges construction sites yesterday to assess firsthand progress and review the implementation activities of the project.

The delivery of the final panels for the two bridges’ construction materials last month by the World Bank, marks a significant step forward in the construction. 

A statement from SIRAP 2 says the visit provides an opportunity for the supervising engineers, contractors, and local stakeholders to engage and meet with the technical team.

It stated that the mission team’s visit aims to ensure that their work is progressing according to plan, with focus on quality, safety, and environmental compliance.

Also mentioned is the importance of maintaining high standards in construction and ensuring the project outcomes deliver long-term benefits to the local communities.

The projects are constructed by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), which wasted no time and successfully installed the two deck panels for the Su’u Harbour Bridge.

“This marks a significant step forward in the ongoing construction works under the Second Solomon Islands Roads and Aviation Project (SIRAP2), which is funded by the World Bank and implemented by the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID).

“Once completed, the new Su’u Harbour Bridge will improve safe and reliable access for surrounding communities, enhance connectivity within Malaita Province, and support local economic and social activities,” the statement said.

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By RODRICK DESURI 

Auki 

The implementation of a new classroom for Mao’a School in West Kwaio, Malaita Province is steadily progressing, reaching the halfway point.

The new classroom contains three rooms and was funded through the Provincial Capacity Development Fund (PCDF) with the aim to provide enough space for students of Mao’a School and surrounding communities in West Kwaio and Malaita Province as a whole. 

In an interview with Island Sun Auki, a Mao’a School teacher, Mitchyl Pitha, said the new classroom will provide a conducive environment for the young rural people of the school.

He stated that, like other schools with similar projects under the funding, it will provide the same benefits as they do. 

“Yes, the project will support us, especially our young leaders. It will support our young people here by providing a conducive environment.

“Like other people who also receive this kind of project, we will have the same benefits from this project,” he said.

According to a recent media report, Mao’a Community High School also benefited from this PCDF for a library.

It stated that the Malaita Provincial Government has been approved to implement 35 percent of its revised 2024/2025 budget for the 2025 financial year.

The 35 percent of the revised 2024/2025 budget is worth $11,873,158, and all this funding comes from the Provincial Capacity Development Fund’s (PCDF’s) Capital Development Fund budget.

Malaita Province is now qualified again to access this budgetary support from the PCDF Capital Development Fund budget.

The budget support aims to enable MPG to improve the livelihood of communities across the province through the implementation of social and economic projects.

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