BY MORRIS NAFU

The Solomon Island Council of Trade Union (SICTU) congratulates the Solomon Islands National Teachers Association (SINTA) for having a successful meeting and historic agreement with the government.

SINTA signed a Master Agreement (MA) with a team from the government on Friday, August 29, 2025 to address longstanding welfare issues of teachers across the country.

This is to solve the SINTA’s nationwide 28-day strike notice issued to the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) on Tuesday, July 22 which lapsed on August 29.

SICTU in its statement stressed that SINTA’s resolute and professional leadership has averted an imminent nationwide strike and, more importantly, has resulted in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that stands as a significant victory for every teacher in the country.

“SICTU recognises the immense pressure and dedication required to reach this outcome, and the efforts of SINTA’s leadership and members are truly commendable,” said SICTU.

SICTU also stated that the signed MOU is a testament to SINTA’s able leadership, strategic planning, and unwavering professionalism throughout a challenging negotiation process.

“This achievement will undoubtedly go a long way in improving the welfare and working conditions for teachers and, by extension, their families across the nation,” said SICTU.

It is a huge step forward and a powerful demonstration of what collective bargaining and a united front can achieve for all workers in the Solomon Islands.

SICTU added that while they celebrate this milestone with SINTA, they acknowledge that the work continues as they move to ensure the full implementation of the agreement.

“SICTU offers its continued solidarity and support throughout this next phase,” said SICTU.

This victory serves as an inspiration to all unions and affirms the critical importance of social dialogue and respect for collective bargaining rights. SICTU encourages SINTA to directly communicate these positive results to its members across all provinces, fostering even greater trust and unity.

As part of the signed agreement, the terms of agreement are:

1. Job Security for Teachers

2. Recognition of Teachers’ Experience

3. Teachers’ Salary backdating to January 1st, 2024

4. Early Childhood, Technical and Vocation Education, Training, and Special Needs Education Teachers’ Salary and Classification

5. Long and Dedicated Service Benefit

6.  Establishment of the Teachers Housing Taskforce

7. Teachers’ Annual Leave Package and Balancing Employment benefits with professionalism, conduct, and performance.

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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Tight security will be provided for the 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting, (PIFLM) the Royal Solomon Islands police force has assured.

A total of 1,000 police personnel which comprises of officers from Honiara City Police, Guadalcanal Provincial Police, Rove Headquarter, Western and Choiseul provinces will be part of the security operation.

Supervising Assistant Commissioner National Operation of RSIPF, Mr Francis Ramoni highlighted this during a talkback show at SIBC on Monday, September 1, 2025.

He said the RSIPF has prepared operations to oversee security arrangement for the PIF meeting.

The operations aim to protect the safety and dignity of the leaders, as well as to provide safe, secure and peaceful environment for the meeting.

Ramoni said as part of RSIPF security plan, they will be providing operations on various areas to ensure the safety of the leaders during the course of the meeting.

• RSIPF will provide traffic escort for leaders upon arrival at Honiara International airport to hotels and from hotels to the airport. RSIPF will provide traffic escort for leaders throughout the PIF meeting.
• RSIPF will offer close personal protection to each of the leaders from the 18 Pacific Island countries will attend the forum meeting.
• RSIPF will provide static security at accommodations, meeting venues and visiting venues of the leaders during the one-week meeting.
• RSIPF will also offering sea-mobility security. Patrol boats and police fast crafts will be monitoring seas from Kakabona to Henderson, along the coastline of Honiara.
• And a strong visibility presence of RSIPF along the street of Honiara, even outside of town boundaries.

The Assistant Commissioner furthered that leading to these operations, the RSIPF is currently carrying out the operation Honiara clean-up.

He added that the operation is part of RSIPF’s initial phase of security operation, which includes preparation, planning and intelligent gathering.

Ramoni said the operation is conducted by PRT – mainly for key targeted areas based on intelligent. This includes; illegal sale and brewing of kwaso, black market, night clubs and other illegal activities could be picked up by police intelligence.

Moreover, he said the RSIPF’s security plan for the PIF also covers natural disasters or threats that might arise.

Ramoni appeals to the general public of Honiara for their support and cooperation with police to ensure successful hosting of this regional event.

He also urges road users to bear with police as there will be escort of leaders for the whole of next week’s meetings that sometimes may cause traffic congestion.

Ramoni reaffirms the confidence of RSIPF to provide security for the 54th PIF leaders meeting, which is only 5 days away.  

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Wale condemns colonial hangover mining law and calls for new bill to prioritise landowners

BY CHRIS ALEX

Opposition Leader Matthew Wale has spoken out against government’s ‘below six feet’ mining policy.

Mr Wale described this law as an outdated and unjust monarch law that continues to disadvantage indigenous landowners, particularly those in the Gold Ridge region.

Speaking at a meeting of the Bills and Legislation Committee on Monday, September 1, 2025, Wale condemned the government’s “below 6 ft” policy, which asserts that all minerals and resources found beneath 6ft of the earth belong to the state.

Wale argued that this policy has long deprived indigenous landowners of rightful benefits from the natural resources found on their land.

“Gold Ridge landowners, among others, have been shortchanged by this outdated system. For too long, they’ve only seen a portion of the benefits through royalties, but this is simply not fair.

“These resources belong to them, not the state or the monarchs who once ruled over us,” Wale said.

The Ministry of Mines, Energy, and Rural Electrification (MMERE) presented their proposals for the new Mineral Resources Bill 2025 yesterday, outlining how the legislation will be implemented within the country’s evolving federal framework.

The bill seeks to address many of the issues around resource ownership, distribution, and landowner rights.

However, Wale stressed that the new legislation must prioritise the interests of landowners, particularly in light of the history of land dispossession under colonial rule.

“It is time for this country to recognise that the resources beneath our land belong to the people, not to the state,” Wale said, challenging the historic notion that monarchs had the rights to control such wealth.

“The state’s role should be to fairly distribute benefits for all citizens, but landowners must be at the forefront of this equation,” he added.

Wale emphasised the need for the new bill to ensure that landowners receive a more equitable share of the proceeds generated from the resources extracted from their land.

He highlighted that under the current system many indigenous landowners have seen little benefit while the state has continued to profit significantly from their land’s wealth.

The Opposition Leader’s remarks come as the government faces increasing pressure to reform policies that critics argue continue to perpetuate historical inequities.

As discussions over federalism and land ownership laws intensify, the new Mineral Resources Bill 2025 could serve as a pivotal moment in ensuring a fairer, more just distribution of the country’s mineral wealth.

While the government asserts that benefits from these resources are shared equitably across the country, Wale calls for landowners to be the top priority, signaling a growing movement to acknowledge indigenous peoples’ rights to the wealth beneath their feet.

The final version of the Mineral Resources Bill 2025 is expected to be presented for review in the coming weeks, with consultations continuing on how to best implement federalism while ensuring indigenous landowners are no longer left behind.

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The Solomon Islands Meteorological Service (SIMS) will proceed with groundwork to construct a C-band weather radar station, a first for Solomon Islands.

According to a press statement from SIMS, SIMS and the Civil Aviation Authority of Solomon Islands (CAASI) have signed a Land Use Agreement (LUA).

The agreement allows SIMS to construct the Weather Radar Project with supportive accessories at the CAASI compound at Henderson area.

SIMS is said to have received confirmation of its first Weather Radar instrument through the Pacific-lead Weather Ready Pacific (WRP) Program, which sits under the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP). 

Henceforth, SIMS will now embark the construction a C-Band Weather Radar station in Honiara with funding and technical support under WRP.

This project is a long time coming, as SIMS finally receives the instrument after years of trying.

Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM) said this cutting-edge radar will significantly enhance SIMS capacity in real-time weather monitoring, weather forecasting, early warnings for severe weather events, flooding early warnings, and the aviation weather services.

SIMS said the new instrument plays a critical role towards building climate resilience and disaster risk reduction in the Solomon Islands and the wider Pacific region.

It is understood that the radar is being supplied by Enterprise Electronics Corporation (EWR), a USA-based leader in radar technology, and procurement of the radar equipment and other accessories is underway, with shipment to Honiara expected by the end of 2025.

MECDM said site preparation and installation oversight will be undertaken by the New Zealand Meteorological Service with the support of SIMS, while SPREP will coordinate implementation with funding from WRP donors. Currently, key active donors of WRP include the Australian Government, the New Zealand Government and the UK Met Office.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, Acting Director Dr Alick Haruhiru thanked the Director of CAASI for recognising the radar project and availing it’s land to install infrastructure that will benefit the aviation sector, national stakeholders, and the region as a whole through the services provided by SIMS.

Mr. Haruhiru said they will work closely with CAASI to implement the Weather Radar Project.

Supervising Permanent Secretary for MECDM, Deputy Secretary Technical (DST), Ms. Agnetha Vave-Karamui acknowledges the presence of former SIMS Director, Mr. David Hiriasia and former DST, Mr. Chanel Iroi, who under their leadership, have steered and contributed to ensuring that SIMS continues to pursue this project.

She commended CAASI, the Prime Minister’s Office and other government agencies, for continuously supporting SIMS to deliver efficient, accurate and quality services for people, communities and provinces.

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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Minister for Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification, who also chaired the last week’s Pacific Water and Wastewater Regional Ministerial Forum in Honiara, Derick Manuari acknowledges leaders from the Pacific, PWWA staff and individual leaders from related organizations, donor partners and other stakeholders for their invaluable support towards the successful hosting of the weeklong 16^th Pacific Water and Wastewater Association (PWWA) conference at the Aquatic Centre in Honiara.

The conference catered to more than 300 delegates from across the Pacific region who came together to deliver presentations, have discussions and learn from each other.

PWWA’s main mission was to “Strengthen advocacy, collaboration and capacity building for sustainable and resilient water and sanitation” in the region.

Minister Manuari, in a congratulatory message on his Facebook post, expressed delight for the collective efforts in hosting the regional event, although it was his first time to chair meetings at a regional level.

“Chairing the Pacific Water and Wastewater Regional Ministerial Forum and Ministerial Retreat was no easy task for me, especially as a first timer with no experience in chairing meetings at that regional level,” he said.

Manuari appreciated the invaluable support rendered by staff of the Ministry of Mines and Rural Electrification (MMERE), particularly the Permanent Secretary, Mr Chris Vehe, and other resourceful personnel within the Ministry.

He extends his gratitude to SPC staff, the PWWA CEO and Secretariat for their commitment and hard work in guiding the deliberations of the conference that made the meeting easier and successful.

The Minister also acknowledges Solomon Water, partner government ministries and other important stakeholders that had contributed immensely to the success of the regional conference.

He also commends the contribution of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism through its Culture Division for the grand and memorable cultural performances during the opening ceremony of the conference.

Moreover, Manuari thanks local private sectors – Solomon Telekom, South Pacific Oil and Solomon Breweries Limited for vital support toward the event.

He recognizes the country’s development partners – DFAT (Aust High Com to SI), MFAT (NZ High Com to NZ), PRC, ADB, World Bank, and others for supporting the event and ongoing support towards the country.

“We look forward to your ongoing meaningful and mutual partnership and cooperation moving forward into the future,” Manuari said.

The Minister – on behalf of MMERE and GNUT government acknowledges each and every regional leader, stakeholder and donor partner for their unselfish support that resulted in the successful hosting of the event – making a stronger blue Pacific continent.

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BY SAMIE WAIKORI 

Within the past recent years, Malaita province has been the largest recipient of transportation infrastructure development projects – worth hundreds of million dollars.

The projects come under Solomon Islands Road and Aviation Project (SIRAP), National Transport Fund (NTF), Solomon Island Infrastructure Program (SIIP), and individual donor partners, particularly Australia and China.

Just last week, a grand signing of four-road improvement projects worth SBD60 million under Australian-supported National Transport Fund project was conducted in Auki.

In a statement from the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, four-road improvement contracts for Malaita province were officially signed, marking a significant step forward for the country’s transportation infrastructure development.

The projects are as follow;

• Busurata Road Repairs in Central Kwara’ae — awarded to Exodus Trade Development
• Maoa (West Kwaio) to Hauhui (West Are’are) Road Repairs— awarded to Trades Transformation Company 
• North East Malaita Road Repairs— awarded to FT Construction 
• Kwaibala to Oibola Tar Sealing— awarded to Trades Transformation Company

Contributing to road and transportation infrastructure development in the province is the PRC (People’s Republic of China), funded tar sealing Auk Road project, of which implementation is currently underway.

During signing of the four road improvement projects in Auki, a contract was also signed for the newly Australian funded Malu’u market project set to be implemented by Exodus Trade Development. 

“A huge thank you to the Australian government, Malaita provincial government, and all key stakeholders for making this happen,” MID stated.

In the past recent years, the World Bank funded SIRAP project carried out road improvement and constructed bridges in Malaita province.

A good number of projects have already reached completion while work on other projects like the Kolofe bridges, Su’u and Bira bridges are still ongoing.

These projects will contribute to enhancing economic activities and boosting social services in the province.

Photo: Australian High Commission (AHC)

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