BY MORRIS NAFU
The Solomon Islands Council of Trade Unions (SICTU) has announced its full support for the Solomon Islands Nurses Association (SINA) and its members following the issuance of a 28-day industrial strike notice.
SICTU wishes for government and SINA to arrive at an amicable resolution to the matter.
However, SICTU urges government saying that the ball is now in its court and that it must act decisively and responsibly
This decisive action comes after an overwhelming endorsement from all provincial SINA branches and the Honiara City Council (HCC) nurses, reflecting the unified and resolute voice of the nursing fraternity across the nation, a statement by SICTU yesterday said.
SICTU views this notice not as a first resort, but as a necessary and final measure taken by our dedicated nurses after years of patience and unmet commitments, the statement said.
“The items detailed in the strike notice are not new demands; they are long-overdue issues that have consistently been overlooked, creating immense frustration and demoralization among the very professionals who form the backbone of our national healthcare system,” SICTU said.
“We call upon the executive of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, permanent secretary and the Public Service Commission to treat this matter with the utmost seriousness and urgency it demands.
“The collective frustration of the nurses is a direct indicator of a breakdown in meaningful dialogue and leadership. In this light, we strongly appeal for the urgent intervention of the Public Service Commission to seriously consider the call for a rotation of the Permanent Secretary.
“A fresh perspective and renewed leadership are critical to breaking the current impasse and fostering a constructive path forward.
“Furthermore, we urgently call on PMO, ministry of public service and ministry of health and medical services to immediately invite SINA to the negotiating table. The objective of this meeting must be to genuinely address each and every item outlined in the 28-day notice with the aim of reaching a fair and sustainable resolution.
“The government must demonstrate its commitment to its workforce and, by extension, to the health and well-being of all Solomon Islanders by engaging in good-faith discussions.
“Our nurses have stood on the front lines, serving our people with dedication and sacrifice, especially through recent health crises. It is now time for the government to honour its obligations and address their legitimate concerns regarding working conditions, welfare, and professional recognition.
“SICTU wishes both SINA and the Government negotiation teams all the best in their forthcoming dialogue. We remain hopeful that wisdom, respect, and a shared commitment to the nation’s health will prevail, leading to a swift and positive outcome that averts the need for industrial action.
“The ball is now in the government’s court. We urge them to act decisively and responsibly,” SICTU said.

BY NED GAGAHE

Leaders and senior officials of Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) member countries touched down in Honiara yesterday as preparations wrapped up for the official opening of the 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting (PIFLM54) this evening.

Among those who arrived yesterday morning were Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, French Polynesia’s President Moetai Brotherson, Kiribati’s President Taneti Maamau, and Samoa’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade CEO Ms Peseta Noumea Simi, who is representing Samoa.

Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele said the Government and people of Solomon Islands are ready to host a successful Forum, reaffirming the importance of unity among Pacific nations.

“We are only as strong as our smallest member. Iumi Tugeda is a reaffirmation of unity, emphasising the urgency to move from strategy development to implementation,” Mr Manele said.

He added that Solomon Islands, as host and incoming Forum Chair, is committed to achieving tangible outcomes from this year’s meeting.

“The future we want depends on the changes we make today – in our economy, ocean management, commitment to peace, and building a stronger, more united region,” the Prime Minister stressed.

Delegates and representatives from 17 member countries are now in Honiara, with Solomon Islands bringing the total number of attendees to 18.

To mark the start of the week’s program, a church service was held yesterday at St Barnabas Cathedral, attended by Prime Minister Manele, PIF Secretary-General Baron Waqa, Pacific leaders, and senior government officials.

BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
The 54th Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders Meeting begins today in Honiara and will run from Monday to Friday, September 8-12.
The theme for the one-week leaders meeting is “Iumi Together, Act now for an Integrated Blue Pacific”.
The purpose of the PIF is for the leaders of Pacific countries to meet, develop collective responses to regional issues, address challenges, promote a vision of a resilient Pacific, and foster regional unity and cooperation for peace, harmony, security, social inclusion, and prosperity.
Day-one of the PIF, Monday, September 8, is as follows;
• 09:00 Smaller Island States Leaders Meeting
• 11:30 Pacific ACP Leaders Meeting
• 16:00-17:00 TEPUKE and UTO NI YALO Event
• 18:00-20:00 Opening Ceremony Stadium, Sports City
• 20:00-21:00 Opening Dinner Friendship Hall
Delegates and Representatives from seventeen member countries of the Pacific Island Forum (PIF) are now in Honiara for the meeting. Solomon Islands, as the chair of the 54th PIFLM, brings the total number of attendees to 18.
To begin this week’s high-level meeting, a church service was held yesterday at St. Barnabas Cathedral, attended by Prime Minister Hon. Jeremiah Manele, Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), Baron Waqa, Pacific leaders, and other government officials.
Before this week’s meeting, members of the local and regional media personnel have convened two training workshops: the Interview Skills and Professional Etiquette workshop and the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA/PIFS) Forum Regional Media Workshop.
Around 40 local and regional journalists attended the workshop over the past three days in preparation for the PIF meeting.
The Pacific Islands Forum comprises 18 members: Australia, the Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea (PNG), the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.

BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
Transparency Solomon Islands chief executive officer Ruth Liloqula has applauded Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele and Pacific Island Leaders (PIF) for postponing the post-forum partner dialogue.
Speaking to this paper recently, Liloqula said that the bold stand taken by the leaders will allow them to discuss that of concern and importance to the region.
She said that she is proud and applauds Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele for putting forward to the leaders to postpone the dialogue.
“That is a very bold statement that our PM has taken and agreed upon by Pacific Leaders. So, I congratulate our PM as well as our leaders in the Pacific to hold the partner dialogue because it allows leaders to talk with their people, like the Civil Society Organisation (CSO), spending time to look at something that they should look at,” she said.
She said that most of the time, partners usually occupy the time during such big events.
“So, I’m proud of the bold decision taken by the PM to give more time to engage with CSO. And I think it’s time for us to showcase that we can also do it, so that our issues can be amplified to other partners in the region as well,” she said.
She also said that she is excited for the country to host such a major regional event.
“I am excited about us hosting the PIF. Quite many problems we go through, we are hosting several regional events showcasing govt commitments,” she said.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Government through the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) plans to expand seaweed production to 10,000 metric tonnes by 2026.
Deputy Director of Aquaculture Division of MFMR, Mr Wesley Garofe outlined the proposal during a Ministry’s recent radio programme.
Garofe provided briefed history on this sea plant gold, said seaweed was introduced into the country from Fiji in the early 1990s.
He said it was introduced to Rarumana in Western province and gradually grew among coastal communities in the country.
Wagina in Choiseul province, Lau in Northeast Malaita, Shortland, Small Malaita, West Kwara’ae Ngella and Russell, Marau and other places on around the country.
Garofe emphasised seaweed farming provides option for coastal communities as another sources of income.
He added seaweed farming provides options for coastal communities as another sources of income. And Wagina is the most productive site in the country.
It produces almost 70 percent of the total seaweed products going out of country.
Saying 30% of the production comes from other sites in the country.
In the meantime, Garofe also said MFMR is aware of the situation recently experienced at Wagina, where seaweed farms destroyed by tsunami.
He said MFMR is working on it and soon will send a team to determine the sale of damage and allow Ministry to draw up plan to respond to the situation. The program aims for the recovery of the damage.
Garofe mentioned that as part of pursuit to achieve the 10,000 metric tonnes, national government through MFMR will continue to support seaweed development in the country.
“The government through MFMR will continue to support existing farmers with farming materials and training as well as start-up materials for new farmers,” he said.
Garofe called on coastal communities in the country that seaweed farming program is ongoing and encouraged interested farmers to go into the development.
“The process is to express your interest in submission to the provincial fisheries office or to the MFMR headquarter or even consult staff at the office,” Garofe said.

BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
Terio Koronawa, senior policy advisor for the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and former team leader for Regional Security, has said development is the cornerstone of the Ocean Peace Declaration.
The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) will issue its first-ever declaration on “Ocean of Peace” during the PIFL Meeting in Honiara this week, reinforcing regional commitments to preventing militarisation, protecting oceans, and maintaining stability across the Pacific.
“The declaration recognises that development is important within the region, and if we are not able to address the insecurities within the communities, we will not be at peace,” Koronawa updated media professionals ahead of this week’s PIF.
He said that the Declaration extends beyond the strategic focus areas of the declaration.
He said that as a region, the definition of security is framed around what is called a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) declaration.
“We’re not really too focused on the traditional or the hard aspect of security, but the non-traditional, soft aspect of security, climate change, health security, economic security,” he said.
“So, the declaration builds beyond that and ensures that for us to establish peace within the communities, within the region, it’s important that we address the development issues that exist within the region,” said Koronawa.
He said that the declaration looks at how the Pacific can better manage geopolitics in terms of what’s happening within the region, which he says is easier said than done at this point.
“But it’s something that we will look at in detail in terms of what it will look like when it comes to operationalisation. The Declaration is an opportunity to tell the world who we are, our expectations in terms of security, our expectations of them when they come into the region, where we continue to advocate for peace, declaring the Pacific as a region of peace, and they should behave in ways that we behave and what we expect of them. That is essentially what the Ocean of Peace Declaration tries to put through,” he said.
He said that it recognises leaders’ commitment to what the Pacific will commit to in terms of partners coming to work within the region.