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Isabel province receives fast craft from China

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The Isabel Provincial Government yesterday received a Fast craft, MV Isalei, from Shandong Province of the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

Speaking at the official handover yesterday, Caretaker Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele said that MV Isalei’s coming to Isabel Province is not just a diplomatic achievement.

He said that it is a homecoming of hope for the province.

“It is a great privilege as Caretaker Prime Minister to join you and officiate this important and symbolic occasion, the official handover of the Fast craft, M.V Isalei, which was generously donated by Shandong Province of the People’s Republic of China to Isabel Province.

“Let me begin by acknowledging the people of Isabel Province for whom this vessel will bring real and tangible benefits, and the specific benefits that this vessel will bring to our people on Isabel.

“But today is also about something deeper. It is about the maturing diplomatic relationship between Solomon Islands and the People’s Republic of China, a relationship built on mutual trust, sovereignty, and a common vision for a peaceful and prosperous Pacific, including Solomon Islands,” PM Manele said.

He said that the vessel, which is an 11.5 metre length, capacity for 12 passengers and two crew, a 1,400-litre fuel tank, and a 210 nautical mile endurance, is a practical tool.

He said that the vessel symbolises what can be achieved when nations respect each other’s sovereignty and work together for shared development.

“The MV Isalei will improve connectivity for Isabel Province and nearby islands. It will enhance maritime safety and emergency response. But more than that, it represents a model of political cooperation that we wish to see across all our provinces. A model where friendship leads to action and action leads to better lives for our people,” Manele said.

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SI to have highest youth population by 2035

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Solomon Islands (SI) will have the highest youth population in the Pacific by 2035, reaching around 200,000 young people.

Marko Kwaramba, SI World Bank senior country economist stressed this during a media briefing for the launch of the bi-annual World Bank Pacific Economic Update, ”Pacific Jobs Pathway”.

“This would account for nearly one-third of the Pacific’s projected youth population of 600,000,” Mr Kwaramba said.

“Another key focus of the report was youth employment, with projections showing SI will have the highest youth population in the Pacific by 2035, reaching around 200,000 young people. This would account for nearly one-third of the Pacific’s projected youth population of 600,000,” Mr Kwaramba said.

He said that this presents both an opportunity and a challenge, depending on employment and labour participation levels, based on the report.

“To address this, the report highlighted the importance of a ‘jobs-first’ approach focused on improving infrastructure, human capital, regulatory systems, and private sector investment. Major development projects such as the road projects, urban water project, and the proposed Bina Harbour development are expected to create employment opportunities, with the Bina Harbour project alone projected to provide around 1,600 jobs for Solomon Islanders.

“Youth unemployment was another major concern raised in the report. The country’s growing youth population presents both an opportunity and a challenge for the government.

“Macroeconomic stability was also identified as critical for long-term job creation, with emphasis placed on strengthening government revenue, managing debt levels and building economic resilience,” he said.

He adds that the report further acknowledges the growing participation of Solomon Islanders in regional labour mobility schemes.

Mr Kwaramba said the country recorded one of the highest increases in worker participation between 2024 and 2025 compared to other Pacific nations.

“However, labour mobility programs are only a temporary solution and do not fully address unemployment challenges within the country. Instead, the report encouraged greater focus on domestic industries such as tourism and agribusiness, which were identified as sectors with strong potential to create more employment opportunities for Solomon Islanders,” he said.

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Water sector key to jobs and economic growth: report

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Water has been identified as a key driver for jobs and economic growth in Solomon Islands, according to discussions highlighted in the latest Pacific economic update.

Solomon Islands World Bank Senior Country Economist Marko Kwaramba told the media this yesterday, after a media briefing for the launch of the bi-annual World Bank Pacific Economic Update, “Pacific Jobs Pathway”.

He said SI is the second most water-dependent economy in the Pacific after Papua New Guinea, with about 55 percent of its economic activities relying on water-related sectors.

He said that the report highlighted industries such as tuna processing, the Bina Harbour development project, and tourism as sectors that depend heavily on access to clean and reliable water supplies.

“Investment in water infrastructure can help create jobs, support existing industries and protect employment opportunities in the country,” he said.

According to Mr Kwaramba, the report also noted that SI’s rapid urbanisation and old water infrastructure have increased the need for major improvements and repairs, which could also create employment opportunities.

He said that improving the business and regulatory environment is important to allow businesses to grow and create more jobs for young people.

“The report pointed out that while SI performs relatively well in some areas, delays in services such as water connections remain higher than regional averages in East Asia and the Pacific.

In terms of the economy, Mr Kwaramba said that the SI economy recorded positive growth in 2025 despite growing global economic challenges.

He said that based on the report, SI achieved a 3.6 per cent economic growth rate in 2025, while also recording its first current account surplus since 2012 and maintaining low inflation.

“However, the positive outlook has been affected by the ongoing Middle East energy-induced crisis, which is expected to slow economic growth to 2.9 per cent and push inflation up to 4.6 per cent due to rising fuel and commodity prices,” he said.

He said that the report also noted that SI’s large investment pipeline has become a major driver of growth, but rising costs are expected to slow investment activities.

He said that concerns were also raised over the country’s growing debt levels, which increased by almost 14 percentage points from 2020 to the current rate of 30 per cent.

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Conversion case against Manetoali set for PTC

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BY MELVILLE TITIULU

The conversion case against former Member of Parliament for Gao/Bugotu, Samuel Manetoali, has been further adjourned for Friday, May 22, for oral Pre-Trial Conference (PTC) where parties will meet to fix a proposed trial date.

Mr Manetoali is currently facing 10 counts of conversion charges after the Court of Appeal (COA) ruling delivered on October 31, 2025, upheld a 2023 High Court decision ordering a retrial, resulting in the matter being remitted back to the Magistrate Court before a different Magistrate.

The conversion charges stemmed from the alleged misuse of $100,000 Tawain Constituency Development Fund (CDF) deposited into the Gao-Bugotu constituency account in December 2014.

Manetoali pleaded not guilty to the 10 counts of conversion when arraigned last month.

Chief Magistrate Ricky Iomea presided over the matter when it came for mention yesterday.

Defence informed court that the counsel who is in charge of the case file and who represented the defendant was sick and unavailable, hence, sought an adjournment.

Iomea granted the defence application for an adjournment. The matter was adjourned to Friday, May 22, at 9am for mention.

The court directed that the parties settle the PTC documents and have them filed before the next mention date.

In the meantime, bail for Manetoali was extended to Friday, May 22.

Mr Steward Tonowane appeared on instructions from Mrs Olivia Ratu Manu, and he represents the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Mr James Tetea from the Public Solicitors’ Office appeared on instructions from Donaldson Hou, and he represents the defendant.

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Illegal gold trading case adjourned awaiting interpreter

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BY MELVILLE TITIULU

The Magistrate Court has further adjourned a criminal case involving a foreigner accused of illegal gold trading after defence requested time to secure an interpreter to properly assist the accused to have his plea entered.

Xiao Yulin, 39, a Chinese national, was charged under sections 53(a) and 63 of the Mines and Minerals Act for allegedly engaging in illegal gold dealing and for allegedly obtaining a Business Certificate by False Pretense under section 311 and section 41 of the Penal Code.

He was scheduled to enter his plea to that amended charge before Chief Magistrate Ricky Lomea yesterday.

Prosecution informed court yesterday that it intends to proceed with the two charges.

Defence told the court that the accused would not be in a better position to enter his plea at this stage, as he would need a Chinese translator or interpreter that would assist him with his arraignment. This had prompted an adjournment.

Prosecution made objections in court, suggesting that issues as to securing a translator or transcriber should have been made at the preliminary mentions.

Prosecution told court yesterday that in previous cases involving an accused person of Chinese nationality, they normally would have sought a Chinese interpreter from Chung Wah School.

Thus, he suggested that he would liaise with a possible translator and inform both the Defence and the court of proposed arrangement in due course.

Chief Magistrate Lomea subsequently granted an adjournment to Friday, May 15, at 9am, when the accused is expected to enter his plea.

The court further directed that the agreed bail considerations should be submitted by close of business on Friday.

In the meantime, the police bail for Mr Xiao was further extended till Friday.

Steward Tonowane is prosecuting the case, and he represents the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, while Private Defence lawyer Mark Sina from Honiara Attorney at Law represents the accused.

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SI loss and damage media training – a call to action

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BY LORETTA B MANELE

The Solomon Islands Loss and Damage Media Training is not just another workshop but a “call to action”, says David Hiba Hiriasia, permanent secretary for Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management & Meteorology (MECDM).

He made the remark when he spoke on the first day of the three-day training at Rock Haven on Monday.

The training is being facilitated by Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) with support of the New Zealand Government through the Loss and Damage Capability and Capacity (LDCC) Project.

Addressing representatives of different media organisations in the country, Hiriasia told them that it is a moment for them to recognise the power of storytelling, the influence of communication and the responsibility of the media in shaping how the world understands the lived realities of climate change.

He said for us in Solomon Islands and across the Pacific, climate change is not a theory but a lived reality.

“We see it in stronger cyclones, rising seas, flooding, drought, coral bleaching, and the gradual loss of the natural systems upon which our communities depend,” he said.

Hiriasia said the recent Tropical Cyclone Maila is a stark reminder of this reality and one which brought devastation to Western and Choiseul provinces; two provinces that usually don’t experience cyclones of such intensity.

He said this demonstrates how climate change is altering patterns, expanding risks, and exposing new vulnerabilities.

“And it is your role, as media professionals, to ensure these stories are told, heard, and understood,” he said.

The Permanent Secretary said loss and damage is a new and emerging issue in the global climate agenda.

He said it is distinct from mitigation and adaptation, and it has its own separate funding modality.

“This recognition is critical for countries like ours, where the impacts are already severe and where the costs both economic and non-economic continue to grow,” he said.

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More policies needed to address loss and damage: Tufah

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BY NED GAGAHE

The Deputy Director of the Climate Change Division at the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM), Henry Tufah, says there is a growing need for stronger policies and reliable data systems to address climate-related loss and damage in Solomon Islands.

Speaking during a three-day media training on loss and damage, Mr Tufah highlighted several ongoing and upcoming government initiatives aimed at strengthening the country’s response to climate impacts.

He said the country’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), developed and submitted in 2025, already identifies loss and damage as a major challenge facing Solomon Islands.

Tufah said the NDC is supported by a Nationally Determined Contribution Investment Plan, which identifies priority areas the government must focus on in addressing loss and damage.

“We have the National Loss and Damage Dialogue that was held last year, and now we have the media training. The next step is to implement a pilot project on loss and damage,” he said.

He added that work is also progressing on a national loss and damage policy, which will be informed by discussions from recent consultations and training workshops.

“Everything that we discussed last week and also this week will be documented and help inform the loss and damage policy which will be developed later,” Tufah said.

He said an investment roadmap will also be developed to support implementation of the policy.

Tufah further revealed that another major initiative, known as the Satellite Observation for Loss Assessment and Climate Data Evaluation project, is in its final stages before implementation.

According to him, the project will help strengthen climate data collection and provide evidence needed to support claims and responses relating to climate loss and damage.

“We can describe loss and damage and express it in every way we can, but there is only one way we can support it, and that is by showing that loss and damage is real and having data to prove that,” he said.

Tufah said that reliable data will play a key role in helping Solomon Islands address climate-induced loss and damage in the future.

The three-day workshop, held at Rock Haven Inn from May 11 to 13, brought together journalists and media practitioners to strengthen reporting on one of the country’s growing challenges — climate-induced loss and damage.

The training is facilitated by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) in partnership with the Media Association of Solomon Islands, with funding support from the Government of New Zealand through the Loss and Damage Capability and Capacity Project.

The training concludes today with a field visit to Koa Hill and April Valley, where participants will meet communities affected by climate impacts and put their reporting and storytelling skills into practice.

Photo credit: Ned Gagahe

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GONE FOREVER

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Five islands already submerged by climate change in the Solomon Islands, more under threat

BY NED GAGAHE

Five small islands in Solomon Islands have already disappeared beneath the sea due to rising sea levels linked to climate change, according to Henry Tufah of the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM).

Speaking during a three-day media training on loss and damage at Rock Haven Inn, Mr Tufah presented scientific data and satellite imagery showing the steady disappearance of several low-lying islands over recent decades.

He said islands including Kale, Rapita, Rehana, Kakatina and Zollies were completely submerged by 2014.

“These are islands that existed before, but over time the land continued to reduce until they disappeared completely beneath the sea,” Mr Tufah said.

According to data presented during the training, Kale Island measured about 14,890 square metres in 1947 but had completely disappeared by 2014.

Mr Tufah said the findings were based on studies comparing aerial photographs and satellite images taken over many years.

He explained that sea level rise remains one of the biggest slow-onset impacts of climate change affecting Solomon Islands.

“Slow-onset events happen gradually over time, like sea level rise, coastal erosion and saltwater intrusion,” he said.

Mr Tufah also highlighted the case of Walande in South Malaita, where the settlement gradually disappeared due to coastal erosion and rising seas.

He said aerial images showed that around 85 buildings existed on the island settlement during the 1940s, but by 2024 no part of the island remained above sea level during high tide.

Tufah said communities were eventually forced to relocate inland, losing homes, cultural sites, burial grounds and parts of their traditional way of life.

“When you lose your home, you lose your identity, your culture and your connection to the land,” he said.

Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology, David Hiba Hiriasia, said climate-related loss and damage is becoming a major national challenge for Solomon Islands.

He said the draft Solomon Islands Climate Loss and Damage Evidence Base Report 2026 estimates that the country loses around USD79 million annually due to climate-related loss and damage, equivalent to 8.69 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product each year.

“This is not just an environmental concern; it is a national development challenge, a growing economic burden, and a human crisis,” Mr Hiriasia said.

“We saw this clearly in the 2014 Honiara floods. The Post-Disaster Needs Assessment conducted by the World Bank documented that in just a matter of days, the event caused USD107.8 million in damages, equivalent to 9.2 percent of GDP.

“Twenty-two lives were lost, more than 50,000 people were affected, and beyond the economic losses, some impacts cannot be measured in dollars,” he added.

Tufah warned that many coastal and low-lying communities across the country remain vulnerable as sea levels continue to rise.

He said scientific projections show temperatures and sea levels will continue increasing under all greenhouse gas emission scenarios.

The training brought together journalists and media practitioners to strengthen reporting on climate-induced loss and damage in Solomon Islands.

The workshop was facilitated by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) in partnership with the Media Association of Solomon Islands through the Loss and Damage Capability and Capacity Project funded by the Government of New Zealand.

Photo credit: SPREP

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PHYSICAL EDUCATION LEVEL-UP

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OSEP, NSC host 2- day coaching workshop training for HCC school sports masters

BY TONY IROGA UFUNONI

The Oceania Sport Education Program OSEP and the Solomon Islands National Sports Council (SINSC) are currently hosting a two-day workshop training that started yesterday for sports masters from Honiara City Council schools at the Multi-Purpose Hall in Honiara.

The workshop course is being facilitated by OSEP and NSC course facilitator, Atu Balekana and it focuses on strengthening the knowledge and skills of sports masters in areas such as sports leadership, athlete development, event coordination, and the promotion of healthy lifestyles through school sports program.

Gabriel Riotarau, director of Youth, Women and Sport Division in his opening remarks said the training aims to improve sports development and management within schools and encourage more students to actively participate in sporting activities across Honiara.

“As the director, I would like to see more training like this continue in the future. I want teachers in schools to have better parental access and engagement in schools, and we understand there is a big challenge with the growing population, especially among youths in Honiara.

“If you want to train and influence more people, you must go further. So today, the call is upon us. We would like to thank you all so much and wish you the very best during these days of the workshop.

“I believe sport is one of the avenues you can use to start capturing, accommodating, or intervening to address what you see. The more we keep them engaged in sports at their school courts and at home, the better,” Riotarau said.

He thanked facilitator Balekana Atu and his team for hosting the two-day training and the teachers who participated.

Speaking to Island Sun yesterday, Sport Development Officer Mr Chris Bakeua said the workshop is mainly designed for school sports masters, focusing on athlete development, inter-school sports, and physical education activities.

He said sports teachers are the main contact points in schools and play an important role in carrying out physical activities with students to promote active and healthy lifestyles.

“We are planning for a two-month HCC school sports event scheduled to start on June 22. Before the competition begins, we believe it is important to conduct workshops for teachers so they can have the right tools and knowledge to help develop and support our students,” Bakeua said.

Participants will receive their certificates after the training concludes today.

Photo credit: Tony Iroga

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SICF two days coaching camp underway at SINIS

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BY TONY IROGA UFUNONI

Solomon Islands Cricket Federation (SICF) officially commenced its two-day Cricket Coaching Camp at the Solomon Islands National Institute of Sport (SINIS) yesterday.

According to National Sport Council (NSC), the coaching camp aims to strengthen the skills and understanding of SICF athletes through both classroom learning and practical field sessions focused on the fundamentals of cricket and athlete development.

“Day one of the programme covered an introduction to the Solomon Islands Cricket Federation, the basics of cricket, rules and structure of the game, bowling fundamentals, discussions and question-and-answer sessions, followed by practical ground training,” a NSC statement said.

NSC said the second and final day (today) is expected to focus on SICF’s future plans, inclusivity in cricket and safeguarding, wicket keeping and fielding fundamentals, coaching and session planning, net practice and match preparation.

“The coaching will conclude with a practical coaching session, mini match, evaluation, feedback and certificate presentation,” the statement said.

The programme was officially opened yesterday by SICF President Sajeewa Liyanage and the coaching camp is being led and facilitated by Solomon Islands Cricket Federation National Coach Saman Madalakanda and Consultant Janaka Ranatunga.

Photo Credit: NSC

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