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Kukum clinic reopens

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[Published on Friday, August 15, 2025]

BY CHRIS ALEX

After nearly two years of construction and temporary relocation, the Kukum Area Health Centre (AHC) has officially reopened its doors.

The reopening ceremony held on Thursday, August 14, 2025 saw community members, government officials and development partners gather to celebrate the much-anticipated occasion.

Among the speakers was Olivia Bale, nurse in-charge of Kukum AHC, who reflected on the journey.

“Thank you to every guest for your inspiring words, and thank you for turning up this morning to celebrate the reopening of Kukum AHC,” Bale said during her address.

She extended special appreciation to the Vura Clinic team, who hosted the Kukum staff and services throughout the renovation period.

“We are especially grateful to the Vura Clinic team for your patience and support during the past two years. Your cooperation made it possible for us to continue delivering essential healthcare to the community.”

Bale expressed excitement on behalf of her team as they prepare to resume full services in the newly renovated facility.

“We are thrilled by the renovated buildings we’ve seen and look forward to welcoming patients back,” she added.

Gratitude was also extended to the Australian Government, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS), and the Honiara City Council health and medical services (HCCHMS) for their support in making the project a reality.

“Your commitment to improving community health through infrastructure and equipment ensures that the people of Kukum and nearby areas will continue to receive quality primary healthcare close to home,” Bale said.

She concluded by thanking the construction firm behind the project.

“Big thanks to Super Contraction for your excellent work, support, and cooperation.”

The reopening of Kukum AHC marks a significant milestone in improving access to healthcare in Honiara, reaffirming the commitment of local and international partners to strengthening health systems in the Solomon Islands.

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‘IF IT’S NOT DONE RIGHT’

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Premier Atu calls for environmental accountability from Gold Ridge mining company

[Published on Friday, August 15, 2025]

BY CHRIS ALEX

Premier of Guadalcanal, William Atu has called on Gold Ridge mining company to be responsible for the environment as it carries out its extractive operation.

He made the call during a groundbreaking ceremony at the Gold Ridge Mining area on Wednesday, August 14, 2025 and emphasised on unity, transparency and long-term environmental responsibility in the renewed development of the gold mine.

Atu, an environment expert before entering politics, reaffirms Guadalcanal province’s commitment to the success of the Gold Ridge project.

He voiced that they must work together to build Gold Ridge into a successful project where landowners, communities, and all stakeholders are equally satisfied and benefit from shared commitments.

However, the Premier also raised serious concerns about the potential environmental impacts of the mining operation.

While acknowledging that the minerals belong to the government and people of Solomon Islands under national law, Atu warned that any mismanagement could have devastating long-term consequences for the people of Guadalcanal.

“If it’s not done right, we the province and the communities downstream will bear the consequences of the negative effects long after the mine’s lifetime.

“Despite the whole country benefiting, we here will live with the environmental impacts for generations,” he said.

Premier Atu highlighted specific environmental risks, particularly the possibility of heavy metal contamination in local rivers and streams, which could affect both livelihoods and marine ecosystems.

“Gold Ridge is located in the hills and ridges, and environmental damage must be addressed. Leakages of heavy metals will impact streams, rivers, and eventually the marine environments that sustain coastal villages,” he said.

The Premier calls on the government, the mining company, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and local communities to collaborate not only on economic development but also on ensuring environmental safeguards.

“We should work together to make Gold Ridge not just an economic heart of the province, but an environmentally safe area for future generations,” he said.

Premier Atu noted that he had been informed that the parent company in China maintains high environmental standards and urges the company to uphold the same practices in Solomon Islands.

He proposed the establishment of an independent annual environmental assessment, funded by the company, with reports made publicly available to stakeholders.

He further suggests the involvement of environmental science students from Solomon Islands National University in ongoing monitoring efforts to provide practical experience and build national capacity.

“We welcome this development, but the adverse effects concern us.

“Guadalcanal Province supports you as a major investor but we must also protect our environment and people,” he said.

Premier Atu also expressed appreciation to Gold Ridge landowners, the Solomon Islands Government, and the mining company for the financial benefits already received by the province, noting that fees and royalties have supported vital services and provincial revenue.

He reiterated his administration’s support under the theme “Together We Build Gold Ridge”, emphasising the importance of patience, perseverance, and partnership going forward.

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Island Sun holds accountability training for staff

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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

In a bid to maintain media credibility and standard, the Island Sun Newspaper has carried out a training on accountability for its publication departments.

The training was supported by the Media Association of Solomon Islands (MASI) in partnership with Internews, and ran on Saturday and Sunday, August 16-17, 2025.

The training pilots a new initiative by MASI in the approach towards empowering media outlets by training senior staff within each media outlet who will then go on to do in-house training for their own staff.

Elton Lonaratha Jnr, Island Sun’s award-winning sports reporter, dubs the training as a success, saying accountability is something most reporters tend to overlook amid the hassle of meeting deadlines, following up on news and sources, facing challenges from a critical audience who are growing in awareness and expectation.

He said it is also from these challenges reporters face that the need for such training is needed more than ever.

“In these times of growing awareness and education among public on the roles of media, we need such training on important areas such as accountability and ethics to remind us journalists and keep us on our toes,” Lonaratha Jnr said.

“We thank MASI and Internews for enabling this training, and our trainer Editor Irwin Angiki for reminding us on media ethics and other media and organisation values and policies which will help get us back on track in our reporting and engaging with our audience.

“Such in-house training contextualises concepts we are trained on, allowing us to reflect back on our weaknesses openly among colleagues with whom we’re familiar and comfortable around and discuss ways to improve going forward,” Lonaratha Jnr said.

Island Sun Editor Irwin Angiki, who facilitated and presented the training echoed Lonaratha’s sentiments, saying such training is important to safeguard media outlets in their operations and also the audience.

“As news outlets, we are accountable to our audience and their right to be informed, which also entails the right to be informed with the facts, the right to be assured that we are actually providing them with factual news,” Mr Angiki said.

“While the Island Sun organisation has policies in place to safeguard its staff and operation, the onus is on us individual reporters and news workers to put them into practice.

“We have media ethics too, and us journalists must put them into practice in our line of work and also how we conduct ourselves outside of work.

“Social media is a new arena but once we stick to our media ethics and our organisation’s policies, and also adapt to the evolving landscape, we should be on the safe side of the fence,” Angiki told the participants.

The training touched on Island Sun’s policies, the media guidelines offered by MASI, media ethics and law, social media and engagement with audience.

Angiki credits MASI and Internews for their support and the training of trainers (ToT) workshop held on August 9-10, 2025 which he attended, enabling him to hold the training for his reporters and staff.

Members of Island Sun’s newsroom, graphics and sales/marketing participated. Island Sun’s Gizo and Auki reporters also participated via online.

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China-Aid Auki road project empowers 120 local workers and boosts local economy

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BY NED GAGAHE
The China-Aid Auki Road Project is delivering tangible economic and social benefits to communities in and around Auki township, with 120 local employees now successfully registered with the National Provident Fund (NPF) and gaining access to essential financial services for the first time.
A statement from the company said the support of the project’s implementing company, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), these workers have opened personal bank accounts with Bank South Pacific (BSP), received BSP Pacific ATM cards, and activated mobile banking services.
This financial inclusion marks a major milestone for many, enabling easier savings, secure transactions, and access to financial tools.
“For many of us, this is the first time we’ve had access to such financial services. It has made our lives much easier,” said Robert Lyle, a local employee. “We sincerely thank the management of CCECC for initiating and facilitating these opportunities.”
Beyond employment, the Auki Road Project continues to inject life into the local economy.
CCECC has made provisions for local fishermen to sell fresh seafood daily at the project site, while food, vegetables, and meat consumed by workers are largely sourced from Auki Central Market and nearby villages.
This demand has boosted incomes for farmers, fishers, and market vendors in the region.
The project has also supported the downstream timber supply chain, purchasing construction materials from local suppliers, further spreading the economic benefits.
The Auki Road Project stands as a strong example of how infrastructure development, when paired with community engagement and local sourcing, can deliver broad and lasting benefits. It not only improves transportation infrastructure but also uplifts livelihoods and fosters financial empowerment within the community.

Laulasi reconciliation, tourism revival is path forward: Sifoni

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By RODRICK DESURI
AUKI
The Laulasi Tribal Reconciliation and Tourism Revival Launching Ceremony at Laulasi Island in Aoke Langa Langa Constituency, Malaita Province, was not only a success but also a pathway forward for economic growth and social healing.
This sentiment was expressed by the Deputy Premier of Malaita Province, Randol Sifoni, during the event on Thursday last week.
He said the reconciliation and tourism revival ceremony initiative is more than symbolic.
“It is a turning point, a gateway to new investment opportunities in the tourism industry for the people of Laulasi,” he said.
He added that Laulasi holds immense potential as a cultural and historical tourism destination, a place where the rich traditions and identity of the people can be preserved and showcased to both domestic and international visitors.
Sifoni stressed that by embracing nature-based tourism and cultural heritage, it can create a special economic zone with the power to stimulate community resilience, support biodiversity conservation, and promote their cultural artifacts and traditional knowledge.
In the meantime, Sifoni appreciated the Laulasi Tribal Reconciliation Organising Committee for their leadership, commitment, and unity in making the ceremony possible.
“I wish to express my profound appreciation to the organising committee for their leadership, commitment, and unity in making this day possible,” he said.
The ceremony successfully ended with the theme, “Cultural Tourism for Transformation through Peace and Unity”.

Malaita 2nd appointed day celebrations open to other provinces

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BY CHRIS ALEX
The Malaita Province Second Appointed Day Committee has extended an open invitation to all sister provinces of the Solomon Islands to participate in the Malaita province’s upcoming celebrations, which will be held from August 14-16 at DC Park, East Honiara.
Speaking at a press conference Yesterday ahead of the event, Committee Chairman Redley Solomon Raramo said the move aims to reflect the unity and diversity of the nation, with Malaita often regarded as the “bigger brother” of the Solomon Islands taking the lead.
“We believe that the unity of the Solomon Islands should see Malaita at the front line,” Raramo said.
“We are extending this invitation to our sister provinces to be part of the celebrations, to embrace unity and reflect the diversity that makes us strong as a country.”
This year’s theme, “Guided by Faith, Rooted in Culture and United for Change” will set the tone for the activities, which will focus heavily on customary practices and heritage preservation Raramo said.
“We want to bring back the focus of all Malaitans to our history and our culture,” Raramo said.
“Participants especially musicians and cultural dancers are encouraged to wear their full traditional costumes and perform songs with Malaitan origins.”

Raramo urged Malaitans living in Honiara, other provinces, and overseas to join the celebrations, emphasising that the occasion belongs to all people of Malaita, wherever they may be.
“This celebration ahead is yours,” he said.
“Come and be part of it. Let us give thanks to God for His goodness, honour our ancestors for their sacrifices, and commit ourselves to building a peaceful, united, and prosperous Malaita for ourselves and for generations to come.”
The programme will also serve as an opportunity to reconnect younger generations with traditional practices, while fostering goodwill among the provinces through shared participation.
The celebrations will take place at the DC Park, located on the eastern side of Henderson International Airport. The program will run over three days, beginning Thursday, 14 August, with a highlight parade scheduled for Friday. The event will feature a vibrant showcase of traditional dances, music, and cultural displays.
Raramo say preparations are in full swing and expect a large turnout for what they hope will be a colorful display of unity and cultural pride.

Honiara council of women in Auki

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By RODRICK DESURI
AUKI
About 38 members of the Honiara Council of Women are in Auki to work, collaborate and gain experience with their sister council, the Malaita Council of Women.
Almost half of them are Honiara-based Malaitans, with supporting members from other provinces in the country.
In an interview with Island Sun, Auki, President of the Honiara Council of Women, Anne Butafa said the main aim and goal of their programme is to come here and work in collaboration with the Malaita Council of Women.
She said they will also have the opportunity to give their support through donations to the women’s ward and children’s ward at Kilu’ufi Hospital, Christians Care Centre, and the Auki Prison Service.
“Our main aim and goal of coming here is to work in collaboration with the Malaita Council of Women and also share our experiences.
“We will also give our support through donations to the children’s ward and women’s ward of Kilu’ufi Hospital, as well as to the Christian Care Centre and Prison Service,” she said.
Meanwhile, Butafa said they also paid a courtesy call to the Premier of Malaita Province, Hon. Elijah Asilau’a.
She said their courtesy call to Premier Asilau’a was to congratulate him on his leadership and the tangible changes in development that have taken place in Malaita province.
“We also made a courtesy call to the Premier of Malaita Province, Elijah Asilau’a, to congratulate him and his Malaita Economic Cooperation and Transformation government for the developments that are currently taking place in Auki,” she said.
She added that during their meeting with the Premier, they discussed many important aspects of his development plans.
“During our meeting with him, we discussed many important things for the province; especially, we learned about his development plans ahead,” she added.
The Honiara Council of Women, along with the Malaita Council of Women, will also organise a low-key celebration to mark the Second Appointed Day of Malaita Province, though the provincial government has planned to organise the event at the ward level.

PM Manele pushes back on international media ‘block’ narrative over PIF dialogue partners

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BY IRWIN ANGIKI

Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has pushed back at ‘unfortunate’ international media narrative describing his government as ‘blocking’ forum dialogue partners from attending this year’s leaders’ meeting.
The 54th Forum leaders meeting (PIFLM) will be held in Honiara from September 8-12 this year.
Dialogue partner countries which usually hold post-Forum meetings outside of the main leaders’ meeting will not be attending this year’s one-week event because they have not been invited.
This is because Solomon Islands’ government as host has decided to ‘defer’ the post-forum dialogue for next year.
International media have labelled this as Manele’s government ‘blocking’ the dialogue partners which include ‘US, China, Taiwan’ from attending the PIF leaders meeting. (Taiwan is regarded as a dialogue partner but is missing from the Forum’s list of 21 dialogue partners in the Forum website)
But Manele told a press conference Friday last week this narrative is misleading.
“The decision is we are not blocking anyone. We are basically deferring the post-forum dialogue meeting until our arrangements are in place so that we implement decisions that leaders made during the last forum in Tonga.
“It is unfortunate that there are media interests, of course, country interests represented by certain media platforms using different terminologies.
“We are not blocking, we are not excluding anyone,” PM Manele said.
Manele reiterated that the decision to defer the post-forum dialogue was made in the best interest of the Pacific Forum countries, and has the support of the Forum’s Troika Plus – a sub-group comprising the current chair (Tonga), past chair (Cook Islands), incoming chair (Solomon Islands) and the future chair (Palau).
“It is the Pacific’s collective interest that this deferment will provide Forum officials and members additional time to refine the tiering criteria by December 2025 and enable its adoption by Foreign Ministers in early 2026.
“This deferment will also allow our partners adequate time to understand, respond to, and adapt to the reformed engagement process for genuine and effective collaboration,” Manele said.
“The collective interest of the region takes precedence to reform the partnership and engagement mechanism of the Forum.”
Last week, following PM Manele’s announcement in parliament on Wednesday on the deferment, international media described this decision as ‘blocking’ dialogue partners. Publications on suspected ‘blocking’ were also done before Manele’s parliament announcement.
This narrative is in connection to suspicion that the Solomon Islands government was under pressure from China to exclude Taiwan from the September talks.
China has been insisting in its media statements that it respects the sovereignty of the Solomon Islands and Pacific partner countries and does not interfere with internal matters.
However, on matters involving Taiwan, China flaunts the One China principle.
“China’s position on the Taiwan region’s engagement in the activities of international organisations is consistent and clear,” a PRC embassy to the Island Sun yesterday said.
“That is, it must be handled in line with the one-China principle. The one-China principle is a basic norm in international relations and a prevailing international consensus demonstrated by UNGA Resolution 2758. Taiwan is part of China’s territory, not a sovereign state. Taiwan is neither qualified no ever accepted as a dialogue partner or observer of PIF,” the embassy said.

Northwest Guadalcanal plans to plant 1 million cocoa trees

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BY SAMIE WAIKORI
The Northwest Guadalcanal constituency is proposing to plant one million cocoa trees under its Economic Zone initiative recently launched at Mamara in west Guadalcanal.
The proposal formed an integral aspect of the EZ that gears at strategic crop expansion – a vision for growth to enhance the initiative.
Member of Parliament for Northwest Guadalcanal constituency, who is also Minister for Public Service, Francis Sade said his office and people are looking forward to pursue the milestone initiative.
He said to drive this productivity revolution; the Northwest Guadalcanal Constituency is launching a bold initiative to scale up high-value crop production:
1, Cocoa expansion: planting one-million trees
• We aim to plant one-million cocoa trees across the constituency, revitalizing our cocoa sector and positioning Northwest Guadalcanal as a leading producer in the Solomon Islands.
• This initiative will include nursery development, farmer training, and cooperative-led processing and marketing, ensuring that value is retained locally.

  1. Coconut plantation revitalization
    • Many of our coconut plantations are aging and underutilized. We will rehabilitate and replant these areas with high-yielding varieties.
    • We will also support value-added processing—such as virgin coconut oil, desiccated coconut, and coconut-based handicrafts—to increase income and create jobs.
  2. Diversifying into fruits, vegetables and high-value crops
    • We will expand the production of bananas, pineapples, taro, cassava, leafy greens, spices, and medicinal plants.
    • These crops will not only improve household nutrition and food security, but also open up new market and export opportunities.
    The Minister said the proposal will elevate local incomes, especially for women and youth engaged in farming and processing.
    Adding it will strengthen food security and reduce reliance on imports and contribute directly to national GDP growth, demonstrating the vital link between rural productivity and national prosperity.
    He said the Northwest Guadalcanal constituency cannot carry out this development along, and they will be working together with national government and development partners.
    • Development partners to support seed distribution, training and infrastructure.
    • Private investors to co-finance processing facilities and export logistics.
    • Government agencies to align policies and provide technical support.
    MP Sade strongly believe that through the EZ initiative, they can transform the constituency into a model of agricultural excellence, where every tree planted and every crop harvested brings them closer to a future of shared prosperity.

Manele yet to receive letter from Marape on PIF issue

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BY NED GAGAHE
Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele says he has not received any official letter from Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape or any other Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) leaders regarding Solomon Islands’ decision to defer the Post-Forum Dialogue with development partners.
Speaking to local media on Friday, August 8, in response to recent comments attributed to Prime Minister Marape, Manele clarified that no formal correspondence has been received by his office.
“I have not received that letter, not from him or from the others,” Manele said. “Of course, I respect the views of other Forum leaders. They have their own views and opinions.”
He added that he hopes regional leaders will understand Solomon Islands’ position once they have reviewed the government’s formal communication outlining the reasons behind the deferment.
“I hope after receiving my letter and the justifications that I stated in the letter in terms of the deferment, I believe colleague leaders in the region, like the President of Palau, will come on board and understand and accept the decision that we have taken,” he said.
Prime Minister Manele explained that the decision to defer the Post-Forum Dialogue, which involves 21 development partners was made in the spirit of sovereignty and respect for the “Pacific Way.”
He said the decision aligns with discussions and resolutions made during the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting (PIFLM) held in Tonga last year.
He further noted that the move has the backing of the Forum’s Troika Plus, a high-level political consultative body made up of the current Forum chair (Tonga), the immediate past chair (Cook Islands), the incoming chair (Solomon Islands), and the next chair (Palau).
The core reason behind the deferment, according to Manele, is that the new criteria and mechanism for partnership and engagement with development partners agreed upon at the 53rd PIFLM, have not yet been finalized.
“These mechanisms were expected to be ready by December last year and piloted during the 54th PIFLM in Honiara,” Manele said.
“However, as they are not yet in place, we have decided to defer the Post-Forum Dialogue to a later date.”
The deferment has stirred debate among some regional leaders, but Manele maintains that the decision is grounded in established regional processes and a desire to ensure meaningful engagement with partners based on updated and agreed-upon criteria.

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