By RODRICK DESURI 

AUKI 

Passengers and market producers of West Are’are and West Kwaio are yet to enjoy a smooth ride on their roads due to the broken Heo Bridge in West Kwaio, Malaita Province.

Bira Community Elder, Michael Larui, said that this has denied passengers, farmers, and producers the ability to travel and transport their produce to the Auki Central Market.

He said the broken Heo Bridge has also created a new shortcut road into the community, posing a danger to the children. 

“The Heo Bridge was broken, and a new road was created into the community. This has caused danger for the children and women in the community,” he said.

He added that the Fulo Bridge needs proper engineering as well to be fixed and the Kwari’ekwa River is also in need of a permanent bridge.

“Fulo Bridge in Ward 27 was built a few years ago but wasn’t used because of an opening on the side due to poor engineering by the contractor.

“Kwari’ekwa River in Ward 26, on the other hand, also requires a new bridge to be constructed and connected,” he said.

In the meantime, a media report stated that the construction work on the Su’u Harbour and Bira Bridges, which were constructed under the Second Solomon Islands Roads and Aviation Project (SIRAP2) and implemented by the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID), has been completed. 

Larui also mentioned that the completion of the Su’u and Bira Bridges isn’t solving the transportation issues there, as there are other bridges that still need urgent fixing.

For feedback, contact:[email protected]

By RODRICK DESURI 

AUKI 

The agricultural sector can create employment opportunities, provide food, and serve as a source of income for grassroots-level youth in the country. 

Member of Parliament for Kiritimati and Kanton in Kiribati, Teriba Tabe, said that the Solomon Islands is rich in agricultural products and needs to engage unemployed youth in agricultural activities. 

He stated that by doing this, the country can address the current surge in unemployment, food security, and economic growth. 

“Smaller Island States like Kiribati, Nauru, Tuvalu, and the Marshall Islands need a fresh abundance of agricultural produce like that of the Solomon Islands,” he said. 

He stressed that by adding and providing the right policies, the national government can attract unemployed youth into the country’s agricultural sector and address the increasing social issues in urban areas.

In spite of that, agriculture provides not only food security, but it also provides a source of income to rural communities and a source of healthy foods.

Tabe also emphasised that agriculture can slow the widespread dependence of people on imported foodstuff consumption, which has caused a high rise in non-communicable diseases in the country.

“The more focus engaged in agricultural sectors, the healthier foodstuff produced for the population, leading to a healthier lifestyle for people,” he said.

For feedback, contact:[email protected]

BY NED GAGAHE

A fresh batch of local workers have jetted off to Australia this week, as labour mobility continues to change lives across the country.

Thirty Solomon Islanders have been mobilized under Nolan Meats and left the country on Monday for Queensland, Australia, where they will work at East Deep Creek on a four-year contract through the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme.

The Labour Mobility Unit (LMU) confirmed their departure and said the workers were officially welcomed on arrival at Brisbane Airport by Robert Sisilo, Solomon Islands High Commissioner to Australia, along with Consular General George Tuti.

“LMU through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade would like to wish the workers well and success as they embark on a new chapter of their lives,” LMU said in a statement.

These meat workers are part of a growing wave of Solomon Islanders heading overseas for employment opportunities under the PALM scheme.

Earlier this year on June 26, Australia’s Minister for Pacific Islands Affairs, Pat Conroy MP, announced in Honiara that more than 10,000 Solomon Islanders have now worked in Australia through the PALM scheme.

“This is a huge milestone for Solomon Islands. The scheme is transforming lives – helping families build homes, send kids to school, and even start small businesses,” Minister Conroy said.

According to the Central Bank of Solomon Islands, local workers under the scheme sent home SBD475 million in remittances in 2024 alone, boosting family incomes and the national economy.

Minister Conroy acknowledged the deep partnership between Solomon Islands and Australia, saying the PALM scheme continues to bring positive change to rural and urban communities alike.

“The impact is real and far-reaching,” he said.

As more Solomon Islanders leave for Australia in search of opportunity, the Labour Mobility Unit continues to play a key role in preparing, mobilizing and supporting workers for the journey ahead.

For feedback, contact:[email protected]

BY LORETTA B MANELE

Australia is incredibly proud to support the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) Prosecutors Qualifying Course says Councillor Nicole Smith of the Australian High Commission.

She was speaking at a ceremony held at Rove Police Headquater on Monday, September 15, 2025 to mark not only the reopening of the Prosecutors Qualifying Course but it’s first day, catering to 22 police officers.

This course was last conducted in 2018 and now it is being carried out again with funding support from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

Smith expressed that Australis is incredibly proud to support the RSIPF with this course as part of the broader partnership between Solomon Islands and Australia.

She said they understand the important role prosecutors play in upholding the rule of the law and access of justice for all Solomon Islanders.

Moreover, Smith stressed that through their conversation with Rodney Wheatney, Director of Police Prosecution Department, they understand how challenging it is to build up a strong prosecution team.

“We talked a lot about a lot coming through. So, on the one part, that’s really positive.

“Because skills are built up and they are going through other parts of RSIPF. But I also appreciate the challenges of keeping and retaining staff,” she said.

Smith went on to stress that they also understand the challenges of supporting prosecutions across Solomon Islands and out into the provinces.

On this note, she highlighted that it is really fantastic that of the 22 police officers participating in the course, 12 of them came from the provinces.

“It’s really fantastic. And again, just demonstrates that Australia’s law and justice system really touches and is supporting across all nine provinces,” said Smith.

She stated that this is why Australia is committed to working alongside Solomon Islands police and it is not just in terms of training but in their ongoing efforts across law and the justice sector in Solomon Islands.

For feedback, contact:[email protected]

BY CHRIS ALEX

The Bethesda Disability Training and Support Centre (DTSC), a special school in the Solomon Islands dedicated to educating and supporting children with disabilities, has made a strong appeal to the government and key education stakeholders to address long-standing inequalities in funding, training, and infrastructure for special education.

Bethesda DTSC provides critical services to students with physical, intellectual, and developmental challenges.

Despite their essential role in promoting inclusiveness and empowerment, special schools like Bethesda face significant disparities in government support compared to formal schools.

While formal schools benefit from larger student populations and greater autonomy in income-generating programmes, special schools often rely heavily on teachers to take on multiple roles, including fundraising and gardening.

Formal schools also receive significantly higher grants from the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development (MEHRD), due to a funding model that prioritises student numbers and perceived capacity over actual need.

“Special schools are doing more with less. Our students face greater challenges, and our teachers carry heavier responsibilities with far fewer resources,” said Mr Baddley Kimmy Keretau, Deputy Principal of Bethesda DTSC.

He raised this during a recent Solomon Islands National Teachers Association (SINTA) Annual General Meeting at Honiara High School Hall.

Keretau expressed concern that disability education was overlooked during the AGM discussions. He called on MEHRD to:

-Recognize the unique contributions of special education teachers

-Clearly categorize their professional roles within the national education system

-Include special schools in national education policy discussions and advocacy

He thanked both SINTA and the Government (GNUT) for acknowledging his concerns and incorporating disability-related issues into their seven-point advocacy agenda.

Keretau also highlighted the lack of training and professional development opportunities for special education teachers. Unlike their counterparts in formal schools, special school teachers have limited access to government-funded scholarships and tertiary education programs. Currently, there are no special education programs offered by the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) or the University of the South Pacific (USP), leaving special educators under-supported and under-qualified despite the complexity of their roles.

In addition to education concerns, the health and safety of students in special schools remain at risk. Many students lack access to necessary health services, medications, and assistive devices. Health workers often lack the training to address disability-specific needs, leading to mistreatment or neglect.

Bethesda DTSC recommends that government health teams conduct annual visits to special schools to provide:

-General health check-ups

-Health education sessions

-Distribution of medications

-Assessments for assistive devices

“Annual health visits can prevent secondary complications and ensure the well-being of our students,” Keretau emphasized.

The physical environment of special schools is also a pressing concern. At Bethesda DTSC, dormitories are often threatened by flooding during the rainy season due to poor location and infrastructure. Emergency evacuations to school halls are becoming a frequent occurrence, highlighting the urgent need for safer, more accessible facilities.

Bethesda DTSC calls on MEHRD, SINTA, GNUT, and all relevant stakeholders to urgently:

-Review and reform the education funding model to ensure fairness and equity

-Support inclusive policy development that reflects the needs of students with disabilities

-Invest in infrastructure upgrades and staff training for special schools

“Let us move forward together, recognizing the unique needs and contributions of special schools, their students, and the passionate teachers who serve them,” Keretau urged.

For feedback, contact:[email protected]