BY LORETTA B MANELE

At the moment, there is no champion that oversees the governance of water and oversight of it is however spread among key stakeholders says Stephen Attallifo Mosese, Solomon Water’s Catchment Officer.

He was speaking at the 16th Water and WasteWater Association Conference and Expo 2025 on Wednesday, August 27, 2025 at the Aquatic Centre.

Mosese explained that there are key agencies that have a legislative role or governance role that encompass water resource governance.

He said for instance, there is the Ministry of Mines’ Water Division that oversees policy, Ministry of Environment that looks after Environmental protection, Ministry of Lands that takes care of some areas, Ministry of Health that sets health standards and the Ministry of Forestry that issues milling and logging license.

“So, you can see this is a highly fragmented governance set of arrangements that are currently in place. We have overlapping responsibilities and coordination,” said Mosese.

He added that they also have limited devolution of authority which means that in Solomon Islands there is the provincial and local councils that are not empowered because they lack resources.

In this regard, Mosese said to resolve the fragmentation in governance, the national government is working on the Water Resources Bill.

He also stated that this bill will replace the 1996 Water Rivers Act which is outdated and lacks provisions and support to address reality issues.

“We will have coordination and connectivity amongst leaders of governance, national, provincial, local water boards and importantly, it will also address water issues. And, this has been a long-standing issue,” said Mosese.

He furthered that this bill aims to resolve this problem and importantly it is based on international frameworks such as the Integrated Water Resource Management Principles.

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) is calling on vehicle owners, mechanics and community members to remove derelict and abandoned vehicles.

The call comes in light of challenges faced by local road contractors; obstructing efforts to accelerate road maintenance, realignment, and expansion.

On its official Facebook page on Thursday, August 28, 2025, MID stated that derelict and abandoned vehicles are causing challenges for local road contractors.

Also stated is that these vehicles obstruct traffic flow and create safety hazards for all road users.

In the statement, MID urges vehicle owners and community members to promptly remove any abandoned or derelict vehicles from public roads and surrounding areas.

“We kindly urge owners and community members to promptly remove any abandoned or derelict vehicles from public roads and surrounding areas. The designated disposal area is the Ranadi Landfill Site.”

MID also said that compliance remains an issue, while efforts have been made through awareness campaigns.

“Our Safeguards Team has already conducted awareness campaigns; however, compliance remains an issue. We are actively working with the Honiara City Council (HCC) to ensure swift action is taken to remove this iron mess from our streets.”

MID calls for everyone to work together to keep communities safe and roads clear.

Honiara City Council, earlier this year, also made a similar call for the removal of all derelict vehicles that are parked in public spaces, roads, and access areas.

The council issued a public notice on their official Facebook page on Tuesday, August 5, for vehicle owners and mechanics responsible to voluntarily remove derelict vehicles before 11 August.

The Council said derelict vehicles are considered a public nuisance and contribute to traffic congestion across Honiara, prompting the council’s efforts.

Although HCC had issued the call earlier this year, the operation has not been fully implemented at the time to date.

Photo credit: MID

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BY MORRIS NAFU

The Solomon Islands National University (SINU), in collaboration with the Young Entrepreneurs Council Solomon Islands (YECSI) and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MCT), recently held a successful information session at SINU.

This event, organised by YECSI with backing from the ministry, aims to inspire final-year students to explore entrepreneurship as a career path after graduation.

A SINU statement said during the session, YECSI Chairman Limahl Totogi unveiled an exciting new initiative called “Launch Pad”.

This collaborative project, developed in partnership with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the SINU School of Tourism and Hospitality Management, is designed to assist students in launching their own businesses.

Mr Totogi announced that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) among the three parties is set to be signed this Friday, officially kicking off the initiative.

“Once the MoU is signed, final-year Tourism students at SINU will engage in a comprehensive five-week training program in September.

“This programme will cover essential topics such as tourism entrepreneurship, basic financing, branding, and business structure,” he said.

In the final week, students will have the opportunity to pitch their business ideas to a panel of judges, with four winners receiving grants of $40,000 each to help launch their ventures.

Dr Elliot Mugamu, Dean of the Faculty of Business and Tourism Studies, expressed gratitude to YECSI, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and Government for their support of the session.

He encourages SINU Tourism students to take full advantage of this valuable opportunity to enhance their entrepreneurial skills.

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Collin Beck, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade (MFAET) and Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) National Committee co-chair, said that regional leadership is needed to address regional issues.

One of the issues Mr Beck raised that needs a coordinated regional leadership is the Treaty of Rarotonga, which formalises a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the South Pacific.

The treaty bans the use, testing, and possession of nuclear weapons within the borders of the South Pacific zone.

According to Beck, this is one of the issues that will be brought onto the table at this year’s 56^th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting (PIFLM) set to take place in September in Honiara.

“Let me touch on some of the issues where, in terms of what we have politically and need in leadership. We have this Rarotonga Treaty,” he said during a radio talkback recently.

“This Rarotonga Treaty will come in by celebrating its 40th anniversary. We have been in the past used as a testing place for powers for testing nuclear weapons, as places to store nuclear waste, and also to dump nuclear waste.

“Today, we are also faced with a situation where we continue to have nuclear waste still stored. One or two countries, in particular, the Marshall Islands,” said Mr Beck.

He said that the Pacific Islands also have cases where some of their partners are discharging treated nuclear water into the ocean.

He said that the Pacific Islands need the science capability to continue to monitor those discharges, which he said will go on for the next 30 years.

“So, what the Pacific leadership basically needs is, having the capability of trying to interpret those reports or data coming from international organisations. We need to read it. We need to interpret it so that we may know the safety levels of the ocean, the health of our ocean,” he said.

He said that this is important because the Pacific Island states’ tourism and people are connected to the ocean.

“So, you see, it can wipe out our tourism industry, ocean, fisheries and people’s livelihoods,” said Beck.

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The Honiara King Solomon Hotel (KSH) is demonstrating strong business performance under its new ownership since the ownership change in March 2025.

The hotel has created 24 new jobs in just five months, bringing its total staff count to 90 employees, and is now embarking on an ambitious $50 million redevelopment project that promises to elevate tourism in the Solomon Islands, according to a press statement from the hotel.

In it’s statement, the hotel said the first stage of the redevelopment, which is part of a three-phase plan, is set to transform the King Solomon Hotel into a world-class tourism and hospitality hub.

The statement adds that the $50 million investment will be executed over the next 12 months includes the construction of three new “leaf Haus” structures, each standing 13 meters tall and spanning over 30 metres in width.

“The new development will feature a modern microbrewery and pub, an open commercial kitchen, an in-house bakery and butchery, a restaurant and cafe, a revamped hotel reception and foyer.

“All existing, much-loved carvings and cultural artefacts from the current restaurant and bar area will be preserved and repurposed in the new design, ensuring the redevelopment maintains its connection to the hotel’s heritage and local culture,” the statement said.

The hotel further added that the success of the King Solomon Hotel and its redevelopment plans is possible with the instrumental support from the GNUT government, led by Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele and his Cabinet.

“Their backing has given the hotel’s new owners the confidence to make bold investment decisions, resulting in the creation of 23 new jobs in just five months and setting the stage for further economic growth in the tourism sector,” the statement said.

The hotel also acknowledged the importance of government support in driving the hotel’s success.

“The leadership of Hon Manele and the GNUT government has been pivotal in helping us make strong, impactful decisions to not only improve the hotel but to also position the Solomon Islands as a premier destination for international tourisim.”

The hotel continues to be managed by Florence Miki, with the Board comprising three SINPF-nominated directors and two O’Neill Remington Group directors, including Mr Peter O’Neill himself as chairman of the board.

“Following the completion of Stage 1, the second phase of the redevelopment will see the addition of 110 international-standard hotel rooms and a new apartment complex, further cementing King Solomon Hotel’s reputation as a leader in the Solomon Islands’ tourism industry.

“Beyond Honiara, the hotel’s parent company, King Hotels & Resorts Limited, is committed to exploring new tourism investments across the Solomon Islands. This initiative aims to stimulate tourism development beyond the capital, bringing greater economic opportunities to other regions of the country,” the statement said.

The statement further said that the success of the redevelopment project relies heavily on collaboration with local builders, tradespeople, business houses, and the public, whose contributions are integral to achieving the project’s goals.

This partnership, according to the hotel’s statement, underscores the importance of working together to foster economic growth and improve the tourism industry in the Solomon Islands.

The hotel’s management expressed its gratitude to the local community.

“The support we’ve received from local businesses, tradespeople, and the public has been nothing short of incredible. This redevelopment is not just about the KSH, it’s about creating opportunities and driving tourism growth for the entire Solomon Islands.”

The redevelopment of the King Solomon Hotel marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for tourism in the Solomon Islands, according to the hotel’s statement.

The hotel is poised to become a centrepiece of the country’s hospitality sector, attracting international visitors and creating economic opportunities for the local community with its strong performance under new ownership.

The statement concludes that as construction begins on this ambitious project, Solomon Islands can look forward to a brighter future for tourism and economic development, driven by visionary leadership, bold investments, and the unwavering support of the local community.

The designed new look for King Solomon Hotel: Photos supplied

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