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PIF values vital role by media in the Pacific

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Irwin Angiki
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BY SAMIE WAIKORI
The Pacific Island Forum Secretary General, His Excellency Baron Devavesi Waqa acknowledges regional media, who are in Honiara for the 54th PIF meeting, for their commitment to continue to tell the stories of the Blue Pacific region.
Speaking at a three-day regional media training, organised by PIF through Pacific Island News Association (PINA) and Media Association of Solomon Islands (MASI) that concluded yesterday, the Secretary General underscored the significant role played by media, who are not just observers, but part of the Pacific story.
“You are the eyes and ears of our communities, the trusted voices that help our people make sense of the challenges we face, and the agents of accountability who help keep our institutions transparent and responsive,” he said.
Highlighted that the theme for this year’s meeting “Iumi Tugeda: Act Now for an Integrated Blue Pacific Continent” rings through the shared partnership between PIF and media.
“Your work helps ensure that regional priorities, whether it’s climate change, ocean governance, security, or economic resilience are communicated with accuracy, urgency, and context.
“These are not just policy issues. They are lived realities for our people. Your storytelling brings these realities to life in ways that policy documents alone cannot.
“As Forum Leaders prepare to meet in the Solomon Islands this coming week, your role becomes even more vital.
“The decisions taken during the meetings of the Forum Leaders will shape the direction of our region for years to come.
“Your coverage, in a truthful, fair, accurate, and balanced way, will shape how those decisions are understood, debated, and remembered by our Pacific citizens,” Waqa said.
PIF understands around 140 regional journalists were accredited for the meeting – making the largest delegation to Honiara.
He said PIF recognised the shortfalls face by media in terms of limited resources, fast changing technologies and lack of recognition, but they valued and committed to work with media.
On the same note, Waqa reaffirmed the support of PIF to ensure the regional media workshop is convened every year.
“Let this workshop not be an end, but a beginning—a platform for stronger collaboration between Forum institutions and regional media.
“Let us continue to further build upon established mutual trust, open dialogue, and shared understanding, so that together, we can amplify the voices of the Blue Pacific Continent.

Takwa clinic, Adaua provincial school supported with vehicles

Written by
Irwin Angiki
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BY SAMIE WAIKORI
Member of Parliament for Lau/Mbaelelea, Ben Maenu’u has supported Takwa clinic and Adaua provincial secondary school with brand new vehicles.
The support is part of the MP’s commitment to boost important services offered by the two institutions in Lau/Mbaelelea constituency, surrounding constituencies and even Malaita province.
The vehicles were handed last week, where Takwa clinic received an ambulance, health equipment & medical drugs, while Adaua school received a 3-tonne truck.
A statement issued by Mr Eddie Kairi on the handover said the assistance to Takwa clinic was in response to an encounter witnessed by MP Maenu’u last year, where a sick woman was pushed by her daughter in a wheelbarrow to the clinic.
“I vow to bring change and I deliver this ambulance to ensure no one in our constituency faces such hardship again,” Maenu’u said.
He added the ambulance also to address critical gap in terms of emergency medical transport that has been faced in the constituency.
Maenu’u said the ambulance will serve health facilities within the constituency and surrounding constituencies, as far as ward 6.
In the meantime, the leader also donated a 3-tonne truck to Adaua provincial secondary. The support marks a significant milestone in enhancing educational access for students and staffs.
The support also shows Maenu’u’s commitment to the nation’s future through education. It will benefit students and staffs from around Malaita even other provinces that doing their studies at the school.
The truck will used for the logistic need of the schools include; transportation of student and staff, delivery of supplies and access to educational opportunities across the constituency.
The MP assured to work closely with public institutions, communities and people of Lau/Mbaelelea to address some of the challenges face within the constituency.

Government revokes suspension notice of sufferance wharves

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Government has revoked its suspension of all sufferance wharves to unload imported goods.

Sufferance wharves are seen as hotspots for government’s revenue loss due to non-compliance and inability of Customs to adequately monitor these wharves’ activities.

On August 21, 2025 former finance minister Harry Kuma ordered the suspension of use of all sufferance wharves for unloading of imported goods.

Nine days later Mr Kuma was kicked out of the finance portfolio and reshuffled to the ministry of Commerce, Labour and Immigration (MCILI).

Trevor Hedley Manemahaga, MP for Gao-Bugotu, became the new finance minister. And, on September 4 Mr Manemahaga revoked the suspension of usage of the sufferance wharves for unloading imported goods.

Government even apologised in the letter to the owners of these illegal wharves for any inconvenience caused by the suspension issued by former finance minister Kuma.

The reasons for suspending the sufferance wharves as stated in the August-21 letter include:

“Serious concerns by the Ministry’s management and relevant authorities, including the Solomon Islands Maritime Authority regarding the Custom Division’s limited capacity to adequately monitor imports at these facilities (sufferance wharves).

Additionally, some sufferance wharves have been found to be non-compliant with international ship and port facility security (ISPS) standards, posing risks to national trade and revenue collection.”

The letter directed that all imported goods must only be unloaded at the following declared international seaports:

-SIPA International Seaport, Honiara

-Noro International Seaport

-Leeroy Wharf International Seaport, Ranadi (East Honiara)

The letter added that ‘all existing permits authorising the unloading of imported goods at any sufferance wharf in the country’ were hereby cancelled.

The suspension did not apply to loading of round logs and mineral-related products for export at the sufferance wharves.

Island Sun has been reliably informed that the reason for the reshuffling on August 30 of the finance and commerce ministers was the suspension of sufferance wharves.

“Kuma had stepped on toes in the cabinet and their logging masters when he ordered the suspension of sufferance wharves, and the loggers who owned these wharves demanded the cabinet to remove Kuma from the finance portfolio, and they did just that, replacing him with Manemahaga,” the source said.

Kuma was reported by In-Depth Solomons to be ‘shocked and unhappy’ at being reshuffled. He voiced his disappointment in cabinet last week, In-Depth Solomons reported on September 6.

And, true to its bidding to its logging masters, government revoked the suspension notice through its new finance minister Manemahaga on August 30.

The new finance minister’s renovation letter did not contain any reason for revoking the suspension notice. It instead apologised to the owners of the sufferance wharves for ‘any inconvenience caused during the period of suspension’, thanked them for their cooperation, and invited them to call the Customs office if they had any query.

Both Kuma and Manemahaga are from the OUR Party, the main party in the government coalition.

Survey toolkit to boost Malaita 

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By RODRICK DESURI 

AUKI 

A toolkit donated by the national government will boost Malaita province’s land recording endeavours says Malaita Premier, Elijah Asilaua. 

Asilaua said Malaita province has a large land mass, but they do not have the right and accurate tools to capture data, plan properly and create correct mapping. 

“We know that land is our greatest asset. But without proper planning, without correct mapping, and clear demarcation, our land remains vulnerable—underused, misused, or locked in conflict,” he said.

Asilaua expressed that the toolkit will allow them to clearly define boundaries, unlock viable investment opportunities, and align their development efforts with environmental and social safeguards.

“Most importantly, it will enable us to engage our landowners and communities in meaningful partnerships. As we move forward with our Regional Social and Economic Development Master Plan, this equipment becomes the bridge between government planning and community participation,” he said.

Asilaua said that the toolkit is essential to the province’s vision that will:

1) Prevent risky developments in flood-prone or landslide areas

2) Ensure access to health services, schools, parks, and clean environments

3) Strengthen public health, safety, and social equity

4) Empower our rural populations with tools for economic growth.

Meanwhile, Asilaua said that using the land surveyor’s kit is a cornerstone for the province, though it may seem small.

“It represents the data that drives decisions, the precision that prevents mistakes, and the trust that builds bridges between people and policies,” he said.

The Premier urges those who will be using the survey toolkit to use it wisely and share it.

“I urge those who will be using it to draw the map of a brighter future for Malaita, a future of shared vision, empowered communities, and economic transformation for generations to come,” he said.

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Malaita gov’t lauds ministry of provincial gov’t for survey toolkit 

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By RODRICK DESURI 

AUKI 

The Provincial Malaita Government applauds the national Government for the handover of a a survey toolkit at the Malaita Government House on Thursday, September 4, 2025.

The survey toolkit comprises an RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) and GPS receiver with a base and rover, which offers centimeter-level accuracy through real-time corrections from a fixed base station, costing around $220,000. 

During the handover ceremony at the Malaita Provincial Government House, Premier of Malaita Province Elijah Asilau’a said that receiving the survey toolkit is more than just receiving equipment, it is receiving hope.

He said a word of acknowledgment must be given to the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS) for the profound importance of the land surveyor’s toolkit, as it will boost and empower the Malaita Provincial Government in many ways.

“Today is more than just a day of receiving equipment—it is a day of receiving hope. It is a day where dreams of strategic development, better land management, and economic transformation take one more confident step toward reality.

“I personally recognize this as the gift of vision through land surveying,” he said.

He said the toolkit will benefit the province in terms of high accuracy, instant data, the ability to control machinery, and accessories like data collectors, software, and tripods that further enhance stability, data management, and overall workflow.

In the meantime, Premier Asilaua described how the support has translated into real change on the ground.

“While we recognize the importance of the toolkit, it is not just metal and machinery; it is a symbol of our shared vision for a better Malaita,” he said.

He stated that with the improved accuracy in site layout and grading, it will equip their survey and planning team with the confidence to ensure that the work on the ground matches exactly what has been designed, minimizing costly rework and delays.

The survey machine will be utilized with the focus on reorganizing to create a greater Auki city under our local planning scheme with better landscaping.

“As our China-Auki Aid Road tar sealing project is progressing, our technical survey team will carry out land surveys and demarcation for potential projects in our sub-regions as well, to connect economic infrastructures for better trading and commerce,” he said.

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ORD & PRF signing during PIF

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Leaders will sign the Melanesian Ocean Reserve declaration and the Pacific Resilience Fund (PRF) during the 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leader Meeting (PIF) next week.

“With regards to the Melanesian Ocean Reserve, that work is ongoing,” Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele told local media in a press conference on Thursday this week.

He said that the MORD is an important piece of work, not only in how the region sustainably manages its oceans between Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Papua New Guinea.

“Not only in terms of conservation, but also to sustainably manage resources that are there, allowing communities that are close to those reserve areas. So that’s the initiative.

“In terms of the Pacific Resilience Facility, once it is signed, then all the forum member countries will be part of the Pacific Resilience Facility. And of course, the forum member countries will continue to work together in terms of resourcing that PRF,” said PM Manele.

Providing further details on the Melanesian Ocean Reserve, Secretary to the Prime Minister (SPM), Melchior Mataki said that the Melanesian Ocean Reserve is intended to improve the overall governance of the ocean space between the three countries.

“And so, the objective is to look at improving governance, but also recognising the indigenous and also the fact that our people have always lived and worked on the ocean for ages.

“And I think that recognition is something that we are also bringing to the front to inform the overall governance, not just from a strict scientific perspective, but also to recognise the fact that our people have always been using the ocean, always been managing the ocean.

“I think that part is an important part of the work of the Melanesian Ocean Reserve,” said Mr. Mataki.

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Day 2 forum media workshop highlights pressing regional issues

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BY CHRIS ALEX

The second day of the Regional Media Workshop, jointly organised by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) and the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) yesterday in Honiara, brought critical discussions to the forefront ahead of the 54th Pacific Islands Forum Meeting.

With over 40 journalists from across the Pacific region including 21 local Solomon Islands reporters the forum is playing a key role in building media understanding and engagement around the Forum’s 2025 theme: “Iumi Tugeda: Act Now for an Integrated Blue Pacific Continent.”

The day 2 workshop sessions addressed four key pillars central to the region’s sustainable future:

-Peace and Security

-Technology and Connectivity

-People-Centered Development

-Economic Development

Participants explored the interconnectedness of these issues, emphasizing the need for collaborative responses to shared challenges such as climate change, digital inequality, economic resilience, and regional security.

“This workshop empowers Pacific journalists to be more than just storytellers they become enablers of regional unity and informed action,” said a PINA representative.

The final day is today with a focus on regional cooperation and the future of the Blue Pacific, setting the stage for the official opening of the 54th Pacific Islands Forum tomorrow.

The workshop highlights the essential role of the media in shaping dialogue and driving accountability across the Pacific as leaders prepare to convene under a shared vision for an integrated and resilient Blue Pacific continent.

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HCC orders temporary closure of Enargy Water over health and safety concerns

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BY NED GAGAHE

Honiara City Council (HCC) has ordered the temporary closure of Enargy Water after the company failed to meet required health and safety standards.

In a public notice issued yesterday, the HCC Environmental Health Division announced that the closure took effect from Friday, 29 August 2025.

The decision means all production and supply of Enargy Water has stopped and will remain suspended until the company complies with health regulations and secures official clearance from HCC.

The Council has also directed Enargy Water to recall all its products currently in the market.

At the same time, all business outlets across the city have been instructed to immediately cease selling the brand until further notice.

“HCC advises the company to recall all Enargy Water products immediately. Any business outlet found selling Enargy Water product after this public notice will be dealt with by the appropriate law,” the statement said.

The Council emphasized that the notice will remain in force for an indefinite period, pending compliance.

HCC acknowledges the importance of ensuring the public’s access to safe and reliable products and appeals for patience and cooperation while the matter is being addressed.

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Land owners call for rights to be vest upon resource owners

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BY MORRIS NAFU

Landowner and Permit Holder, Apolonia Gito requests that the ownership of resources be vested upon resource owners and not the Government as side partners.

Gito made the statement before the Bills and Legislative Committee (BLC) at the National Parliament under Alluvial Miners Hearing yesterday.

Gito emphasised on “Part 1, Section 7 Ownership of Mineral subsection 1” of the draft Mineral Resource Bill 2025.

This subsection as quoted is “Ownership of a Mineral located in or on Solomon Island lands or Solomon Islands waters is vested on the people and the Government of Solomon Islands regardless.”

Gito calls on the rights to be vested in the hands of the people of the land and let the Government to act in support.

“Rights of ownership should not be equally shared and let all the rights to be vested upon the resource owning people,” she said.

She then further requests the Government to reconsider the Monarch rule, urging the Government to place the rights to the land owners.

Gito also mentioned Subsection 2 of the draft bill which reads as “In dealing with matters concerning minerals in Solomon Islands, the Government acts on behalf of the people of Solomon Islands and must act in the best interests if the people of Solomon Islands.”

In this regard, she said this where the government should be responsible and not extend its hands.

Meanwhile the Chairman of the BLC and Member of Parliament for West Are’are Constituency, John Maneniaru appreciates the concerns of all the land and resource owners present in the hearing and requests written submission to be submitted before Committee for further elaboration on the bill before tabling it on the floor of Parliament.

In a released Parliament statement, the Committee hopes to collect these submissions as evidences of its inquiry into the Bill and report to Parliament. The closing date for submissions is 4:30pm on Sunday 7th September 2025.

Inquiry into the Bill will commence on Monday 8th September 2025.

The Mineral Resources Bill 2025 is regarded as a landmark piece of legislation that aims to modernise the country’s regulatory framework for mineral resources.

It seeks to establish a clear and accountable system for authorising and regulating exploration, extraction, and processing of minerals.

Key objectives of the Bill include:

-Balancing development and protection by supporting mineral exploration and extraction while safeguarding the natural, social, and cultural environment of communities.

-Respecting customary rights, including ownership, use, and occupation of land, water, and sea in line with traditional practices.

-Promoting environmental responsibility and sound land management in mining operations.

-Clarifying rights and obligations of landowners, communities, and industry stakeholders to encourage fair, harmonious, and mutually beneficial relationships.

-Securing economic benefits by ensuring fair financial returns that maximise value for present and future generations of Solomon Islanders.

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Finance education training for youths in Kwai, Ngongosila

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By RODRICK DESURI

AUKI

Youths from the Kwai and Ngongisila Islands, in East Malaita are benefitting from a finance education training they attended in Adakoa in East Malaita from September 3 to 5, 2025.

This three-day training is the first of its kind and aims to give a clear knowledge and skills of management of business activities, and projects that are brought to the youths.

According to the Jack Ofasi, a total of 15 youths participated in the training.

He said the participants were fortunate and privileged to learn about the finance manual book that is very important in any business activity.

“It was a privilege for the youths here in Kwai and Ngongosila islands,” he said.

He said the training can help the youths in organising projects and business activities.

“It was a financial education training to help youths to organise their projects and any business activities that would be given to them by the National Youth Congress (NYC),” he said.

Ofasi said the training successfully ended on Saturday, September 6, 2025 wit participants receiving their certificates.

The training was facilitated by Deputy Director of the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs, (MWYCFA), Richard Olita and Liveth Maesimae from the Goshen.

The training was sponsored by National Youth Congress, and was made available by ward 16 Provincial Member, Preston Billy Jnr Farobo.

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