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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BY CHRIS ALEX

New Zealand-based company KlipTank is here at the 9th Pacific Water and Waste Ministers Forum and the 16th Pacific Water and Wastewater Association (PWWA) Conference, currently taking place in Honiara.

The company is showcasing its game-changing, flat-pack modular water tanks, designed specifically for the unique geographic and environmental challenges faced by island nations across the Pacific.

Speaking to Island Sun, Duheine Myburgh, KlipTank’s water market manager, emphasised the company’s mission to deliver practical and sustainable water storage solutions to remote communities.

“We’re a small company based in New Zealand, the company is called KlipTank and we manufacture flat-pack modular water tanks.

“Our tanks vary in size from 20,000 liters up to 6 million liters as a single tank storage. We can provide supervision, training and installation resources should it be required but we like to empower the community,” Myburgh said.

Myburgh encouraged local authorities, like Solomon Water, to consider involving communities directly in tank installations.

“We suggest empowering the local community. Let them install the tanks themselves. We can provide training, manuals, YouTube videos, and online supervision. If really required, we can send supervisors to assist or train installers,” Myburgh said.

What makes KlipTank’s products particularly suited to Pacific Island conditions is their robust, corrosion-resistant design and logistical flexibility.

“Getting water storage into remote areas is very difficult,” Myburgh explained.

“Steel rusts, concrete cracks and is costly. Our tanks are designed to handle New Zealand’s high earthquake standards, so they’ll do very well in the Solomon Islands too.”

KlipTank tanks are constructed using anti-corrosive aluminum and HTPE (high tensile polyethylene) materials, with options for both hard and soft PVC roofing. Most notably, the tanks require no concrete foundations, instead sitting securely on compacted coral bases ideal for island terrains.

“The flat-pack design is a major benefit,” Myburgh added. “You can load multiple tanks into a single 40-foot container between 20,000 and 50,000 liters each. The amount of storage volume you can get per container is immense.”

One of KlipTank’s key reference projects is in the Marshall Islands, where they have delivered over 140 tanks, each ranging from 34,000 to 55,000 liters.

“All of these tanks were shipped flat-pack and assembled locally. It’s a testament to how scalable and effective our solution can be for Pacific communities,” said Myburgh.

Manufactured in Tauranga, New Zealand, KlipTank’s systems are engineered not only for efficiency and durability but for empowerment providing communities with the tools and training to manage their own water needs sustainably.

As the Solomon Islands and other Pacific nations look to strengthen water resilience amid climate and infrastructure challenges, KlipTank’s approach may offer exactly the kind of locally driven, smart solution that’s needed.

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BY CHRIS ALEX

As water scarcity tightens its grip on remote Pacific islands, New Zealand-based environmental solutions provider Bluemont has set its sights on bringing relief to Rennell and Bellona, the most water-stressed province in the Solomon Islands.

Present at the Pacific Water and Wastewater Conference 2025 (PWWC2025) and the 9th Pacific Water and Wastewater Ministers Forum, Bluemont is showcasing its innovative, solar-powered desalination systems, a potential game-changer for island communities struggling with drought and saline groundwater.

Representing the company at the event, Australian water sector expert Paul Hart introduced the community-based solution that Bluemont is advocating for: solar desalination units housed in compact, containerized systems that operate entirely off-grid.

“These systems are built for the Pacific.

“They’re clean, reliable, and scalable. For places like Rennell and Bellona, where communities depend solely on rainwater and groundwater is too salty to use, this technology can be life-changing,” said Hart in an exclusive with Island Sun News.

Bluemont has already submitted a grant proposal to Renew Pacific, developed in partnership with Solomon Islands’ Minister of Traditional Governance, Peace and Ecclesiastical Affairs, John Tuhaika Jr.

The request seeks funding for four units to be installed across critical communities on Rennell and Bellona.

As climate-driven water challenges escalate, Bluemont hopes its installations in Rennell and Bellona will act as proof-of-concept for national and regional replication, offering a lifeline to island communities grappling with water scarcity.

Each unit is capable of producing 12,000 liters of safe drinking water per day, enough to support the daily needs of hundreds of people. The unit displayed at PWWC 2025 provides a smaller model, generating 4,300 liters per day, aligned with WHO guidelines for community consumption.

“These communities have no access to clean groundwater.

“They’ve drilled boreholes only to find salt. But with solar desalination, you bypass that problem entirely. You just need sunlight and seawater both abundant here,” Hart explained.

The Bluemont system stands out for its sustainable design. It runs entirely on solar power, requires no fossil fuels or chemical additives, and includes a patented freshwater backwash system that reduces maintenance and extends the lifespan of its reverse osmosis membranes.

But Bluemont’s impact goes beyond technology.

“We don’t just deliver systems we build local capacity. Each site will have at least three trained community operators ideally women who have proven to be our most effective stewards of this technology. This is about more than infrastructure, it’s about empowerment and resilience,” Hart emphasized.

As climate-driven water challenges escalate, Bluemont hopes its installations in Rennell and Bellona will act as proof-of-concept for national and regional replication, offering a lifeline to island communities grappling with water scarcity.

Founded in 2004, Bluemont is an Australian-owned company operating out of New Zealand, with a mission to deliver climate-resilient, community-centered solutions. With in-country teams and stocked inventory, the company is equipped for fast delivery and deployment throughout the Pacific.

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Collin Beck, Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) National Committee co-chair, has thanked Solomons students, together with Pacific Island Students Fighting Climate Change, for bringing the issue of climate change to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change (PISFC) is a youth-led organisation whose members are students from Pacific Island countries, including Solomon Islands.

In March 2019, 27 USP Law students from 8 Pacific Island countries came together and campaigned to convince the Pacific Island Forum leaders to seek an Advisory Opinion from the ICJ on climate change and human rights.

“We have this year, the ICJ issued an advisory opinion on the issue of climate change. We need to unpack that and consider the responsibility of the state as far as climate change is concerned.

“On this note, I want to acknowledge the youths, especially our youths from Solomon, who participate in terms of helping and facilitating to work with the Vanuatu government to push the issue to the ICJ in Hague, to make an advisory opinion on it.

“So, to the youth, thank you so much for doing something for humanity, but also doing something that the region identified as the number one threat,” said Mr Beck.

Earlier this year, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in Hague, Netherlands, issued its advisory opinion on the obligations of states in respect of climate change.

The ICJ ruled that States have an obligation to protect the environment from greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and act with due diligence and cooperation to fulfil this obligation. 

The Court further ruled that if states breach these obligations, they incur legal responsibility and may be required to cease the wrongful conduct, offer guarantees of non-repetition and make full reparation depending on the circumstances.

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BY CHRIS ALEX

The Government of the Solomon Islands has successfully launched three new routes under its Franchise Shipping Scheme (FSS), marking a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to boost maritime connectivity and foster economic development in remote island communities.

This initiative aims to improve access to essential goods, services, and opportunities, with a focus on island regions that have long struggled with inadequate transport options.

The newly operational routes include:

Route 3: Servicing Sikaiana Island, which is currently running.

Route 5: Connecting to Rennell Bellona Province, with the first trip scheduled soon.

Route 6: Covering the Makira Island Weather Coast, which began its first trip two weeks ago.

These routes are part of a broader initiative that includes seven routes in total, designed to service some of the most isolated and underserved areas of the country.  

The remaining routes serving Temotu, Ontong Java, Ndai, Shortland Islands, and Guadalcanal’s weather coast are still under deliberation by the Ministerial and Central Tender Board.

The Franchise Shipping Scheme, originally launched in 2009 and co-funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the European Union (EU), is now fully funded by the Solomon Islands Government.  

This strategic shift aims to ensure long-term sustainability and operational success as the government allocates grants through the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) budget to subsidize shipping services on these crucial island routes.

Chris Resana, FSS administration officer, outlined the rigorous requirements for shipping operators applying for the scheme, which include minimum vessel capacity, a proven track record of over 12 months of operational experience, and compliance with safety regulations.

These standards ensure that the scheme will provide reliable and safe shipping services to outer island communities.

“We are focusing on both near-coastal and in-shore services. Near-coastal services cover the more distant outer islands such as Temotu and Shortland Islands, while in-shore services are designed for coastal regions like Makira and Guadalcanal’s weather coast,” Mr Resana explained.

The FSS aims to improve vital transport links for islands with insufficient maritime infrastructure, which have often faced irregular shipping schedules.

These challenges have hindered economic growth by limiting access to markets, goods, and services. Through the scheme, the government is working to ensure that communities in these remote areas can access essential resources, boosting both local economies and social well-being.

The latest development in the FSS highlights the ongoing commitment of the Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT) to support the productive sector, with a clear recognition of the critical role that reliable and efficient shipping services play in driving economic development in the Solomon Islands’ more isolated regions.

“We are conducting a comprehensive review of the scheme to ensure operational efficiency, service reliability, and its continued alignment with our goals of economic growth and social development.

 “The new routes will have a significant impact on local economies, improving access to critical services, and facilitating trade and communication across the islands,” said Resana.

As the FSS continues to expand, the government remains committed to addressing the challenges faced by island communities, ensuring that all regions benefit from the national push toward improved infrastructure and connectivity.

The scheme’s success marks a critical step in reducing isolation and fostering greater national unity through enhanced transportation networks.

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