BY IRWIN ANGIKI

The Pacific Water and Wastewater Association (PWWA) conference begins today in Honiara with regional countries to share how much they utilise this important life resource.

The 9th Pacific Water and Wastewater Ministers Forum and 16th Pacific Water and Wastewater Association (PWWA) Conference and Expo (PWWC25) will run from Monday to Thursday, August 25-28.

The forum gathers government ministers of Pacific countries and the conference brings together officials from water utilities, including Solomon Water, policymakers, water professionals and development partners.

The importance of these events was underscored at a press conference on Saturday, August 23, 2025 by local water authorities and Pacific Water and Wastewater Association (PWWA) – we come together and share and learn from each other on elevating water as an important natural resource in our countries.

“Water is so important, it sustains all biodiversities, without water we cannot live. Advocating for water as very important for our countries, especially in the Pacific, and making sure that it is elevated to be made known, to protect it, and build awareness about where your water is coming from, all these different aspects of water are discussed at the PWWA conference,” CEO of PWWA Pitolau Lusia Sefo-Leau, one of the conference panellists said.

“We need to elevate our understanding and appreciation that water is indeed life. That is the purpose of this forum and conference. The forum aims at working together and achieving a common purpose in the water sector. We need to find ways we can create solution where there is no water tariff. How do we get there. There has to be a reason why tariff on water is zero, it could be because the government is subsidising. Countries will present how they go about developing tariff for water. PWWA provides the opportunity where we can learn from our neighbours,” Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification (MMERE) Dr Chris Vehe told media.

In the Solomons, the authority governing water is a Division within the MMERE.

Solomon Water CEO Carmine Piantedosi said, “It’s really important for us to share knowledge and our experiences with other utilities in the Pacific. We’re going to share our challenges with other water utilities, which are similar to their challenges in their water sector … some of our main ones will be on the security of water supply, and addressing them through infrastructure development, capacity development of our workers, water treatment plants, storage facilities, and treatment, delivery of water has security issues, we assess the liability of supply to our customers, climate change risks and impacts which narrow down to two main issues, heavy rainfall and sea-level rise… Another is non-revenue water and the challenges surrounding it. Another is urbanisation and its challenges.”

Despite water being one of life’s essential needs, access to clean water remains low in the Pacific, trailing other developing regions in the world such as Africa.

“The Pacific lags far behind other regions of the world in terms of access to clean water. We have about 55 percent access as a region. That’s not good. We’re behind Africa and other regions of the world in that sense,” CEO Sefo-Leau said.

Access for sanitation is worse.

“For access to sanitation, about 35 percent access. Which means we are still using the beach and bush to go to the toilet. We need to understand those statistics and need to pay attention to where we are at in terms of our access,” Sefo-Leau said.

The PWWA works to strengthen advocacy, data collection, and peer learning among water utilities throughout the Pacific.

PWWA is a membership association made up of 30 water and wastewater utilities from the 21 countries and territories of the Pacific.

PWWA’s conference is unique as it has a political co-event in the ministerial forum which runs alongside it, involving political representation from Pacific countries.

“This will be the 16th conference and expo that PWWA has hosted and the ninth ministerial forum. The ministerial forum started in PNG in 2015. It started because there was recognition after 10 years of the technical conferences that there should be some recognition by political leaders of water,” CEO Sefo-Leau told the press conference.

“During the 8th forum and 15th conference last year in Cook Islands, former Mines minister Bradley Tovosia offered to host this year’s session in the Solomon Islands,” PS Vehe said.

The theme for the event this year is ‘Water and Wastewater for All: Connecting People, Policies, and Communities for a shared Sustainable Future’.

The programme line-up for this week includes networking, digitalisation of water in the Pacific, resilience and water security, governance of water sector, resilience and water security, inclusion and people management, climate change and extreme events, utility organistation and strategy, water and sanitation for remote communities, and strengthening utility technical operations.

The press conference on Saturday was held at the HP Hotel and involved a panel comprising MMERE PS Vehe, PWWA CEO Sefo-Leau, SolWater CEO Piantedosi, and MMERE Deputy Secretary Christopher Hunupauro.

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BY MORRIS NAFU

Members of the Royal Solomon Island Police Force (RSIPF) have raised concerns over unpaid allowances in the ongoing removal of illegal miners’ operation from the Gold Ridge mining lease area in Central Guadalcanal.

An informant who asks to remain anonymous expressed the officer’s frustration, saying it’s almost 3 months now and yet, authorities are still holding on to the payments.

“The work we have done during the operation is tiring and We have sacrificed a lot during the operation and almost 5 fortnights now yet still nothing has done.

“We have made several attempts to informed our seniors but they have turned deaf to our issues.

“We are plotting to boycott the Pacific Island Forum (PIF) operation. If the Government and the Ministry of Mines continue to hold on to the payments, we will certainly boycott the event,” he said.

The informant confirmed that the team that initiated the plan to boycott are Police Response Team (PRT) officers.

Meanwhile other groups from other Police stations have given greenlight to join to boycott the PIF with approximately 100 Policers officers in total.

The operation was deployed in teams and only the first group have received their allowance while remaining teams have been unpaid to date.

The spokesman urges the government and the ministry to stand accountable and fulfil their duties.

Island Sun has reached out for comments to the RSIPF however RSIPF remained silent.

Minister of Mines, Energy and Electrification, Derrick Manu’ari in a recent parliament sitting, revealed that the Government has supported the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) in removing illegal miners from the Gold Ridge mining lease area in Central Guadalcanal.

He said the program has successfully engaged with illegal miners, explained the legal implications of their actions, and developed a peaceful removal strategy.

This strategy is now being implemented by the RSIPF with continued government backing, at an estimated cost of $0.7 million per month.

“To date, an estimated $4.2 million has been spent, and costs are projected to reach $9 million if operations continue for the full 12-month period,” Minister Manu’ari said.

At the moment, the operation is in now in 6 months of operations and is expected to continue up to it’s 12-month period.

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) has commenced operations ahead of this year’s regional meetings in Honiara this week and towards September, next month.

The 9th Pacific Water and Wastewater Ministers Forum and 16th Pacific Water and Wastewater Association (PWWA) Conference and Expo (PWWC25) kick starts today, Monday, 25 to 29 August at the National Aquatic Centre in Honiara.

It is hosted by the Solomon Islands Government, through the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification (MMERE).

The 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting (PIFLM) is to be held from 8 to 12 September.

Speaking in a SIBC Radio talkback on Sunday, August 24, 2025 yesterday, RSIPF Supervising Assistant Commissioner (AC) National Operation, Francis Ramoni said RSIPF commenced operations on Friday last week.

He said the operations aim to provide a safe and secure, peaceful environment for leaders and the general people in Honiara.

“Our intended objective is to protect the safety and dignity of our leaders and visiting leaders upon their arrival in Honiara. We will have our technical areas, like the bomb disposal unit, to provide a search two hours before the arrival of our dignitaries.

“We’ll have our close personal protection unit department to provide the close personal protection for each leader as part of the security operation,” he said.

He said that amongst the six phases in their security operation, phase one is currently ongoing, which is planning and preparations leading up to the main event, the PIFLM.

He said that phase two is the arrival of leaders, which EOD with close personal protection and the traffic unit will be part of the contingent to meet the arrival of leaders according to the schedules.

“Phase three is the proper opening of PIFLM and the meeting. Phases three and four are the retreat down at Noro. This will include RSIPF officers from Honiara and Taro to support the security forces in Western Province for the retreat,” said Ramoni.

He said that security has also been drawn up for the closing ceremony, which is phase five and the departure of VIPs, until the last VIP departs from the country.

“Phase six is the debrief, to see the gaps for further improvement on similar national events in the future,” he said.

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By RODRICK DESURI 

AUKI 

The recent Shell Money Festival at Busu Community in Aoke/Langalanga Constituency, Malaita Province, has attracted many tourists from overseas. 

The two-day event, which took place from August 16-17, 2025 was a milestone and a platform for the people of Langalanga Lagoon to showcase their different traditional customs and attires.

According to the constituency’s project officer, Bernard Dakero, the event has created a connection between the local tourism operators and the tourists. 

He expressed that the main highlights at the festival were shell money-making demonstrations, bride gift ceremonies, and artificial island building. 

“The main highlights of the two-day event are the shell money-making demonstrations, as we were the first people to start making shell money in the country.

“We also have a bride gift ceremony and we showed how we built artificial islands in our lagoon,” he said.

Dakero mentioned that cultural entertainment was also part of the event where the Langalanga people performed their diverse traditional dances and songs.

He explained that the event has brought money to the rural communities through the sale of their sea products, artifacts, seafood, and accommodation.

“My people have earned income from this event. Some have sold their artifacts, seafood, and tourists have occupied our tourist hubs in the lagoon,” he said.

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BY NED GAGAHE

The Australian Government reaffirms its commitment to strengthen the accounting profession in Solomon Islands through its continuous support for the Professional Diploma in Accounting (PDA) programme.

Australia’s Acting Deputy High Commissioner Emily Flahive, in her remarks at the Institute of Solomon Islands Accountant’s (ISIA) annual congress on Thursday, August 21, 2025 shared the highlights of the program on the country’s professional and public service sectors.

She said to date, 116 scholarships have been funded, primarily benefiting public service employees, enabling them to improve financial management and professional standards within their ministries.

Ms Flahive mentioned that ministries that participated in the programme have reported positive outcomes, demonstrating the diploma’s effectiveness in building capacity and strengthening governance.

She added that 30 percent of students are currently on the phase of completing the programme and this has been instrumental in enhancing government auditing and accounting capabilities.

Ms Flahive also announced that the Australian Government will fund scholarships for the next cohort of the PDA and encourages interested participants to contact ISIA coordinators for further information.

“The PDA is not just a training programme—it is a vital step in supporting the growth of a skilled and professional accounting workforce in the Solomon Islands,” she said.

The Acting Deputy High Commissioner said the continued investment reflects Australia’s broader partnership with the Solomon Islands in fostering sustainable economic growth, professional development, and enhanced public financial management.

“I am delighted to announce that scholarships will again be funded for the next cohort. Interested participants are encouraged to contact the ISIA coordinators,” she said.

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BY NED GAGAHE

Eighty-seven participants from the public service and private sector attended the second Institute of Solomon Islands Accountants (ISIA) Annual Congress, which commenced on Thursday, August 21, 2025 at Heritage Park Hotel and will continue today.

The theme for the two-day congress is “Shaping the Solomon Islands Financial and Economic Future Landscape – Relevance of the Accounting Profession,” and it brings together accounting professionals, policymakers, and industry leaders for discussions, strategic insights, and networking opportunities.

Minister for Finance and Treasury, (MoFT) Harry Kuma, graced the opening ceremony as the keynote speaker.

In his address, he warmly acknowledged government dignitaries, statutory bodies, corporate leaders, and members of the wider accounting community.

Minister Kuma commended the Institute for its progress in elevating the profession and for hosting a landmark event.

“Your unwavering dedication to professional excellence and capacity building is commendable. Hosting such a landmark event reflects visionary leadership, collaboration, and innovation,” he said.

Highlighting the pivotal role of accountants, Minister Kuma said the profession remains a key partner with government in building sustainable economic growth and resilient communities.

He linked accountants’ work directly to the national budget theme of “Accelerating Economic Transformation,” which focuses on innovation, inclusive growth, high-impact investment, and strong governance.

The minister also outlined national priorities, including boosting productivity, expanding connectivity, strengthening service delivery, and building resilience against shocks and disasters, emphasizing that these require practical collaboration across sectors.

The congress also carries special significance with the launch of the inaugural ISIA Accounting Awards, set to be presented tonight during the Gala Dinner.

The awards will celebrate excellence and innovation across the profession, recognising individuals who are making transformative contributions to the field.

The first day of this programme featured keynote addresses, interactive panel discussions on emerging industry trends, and sessions designed to equip professionals with cutting-edge tools, strategies, and insights.

The Gala Night promises to be a highlight, offering an evening of inspiration and celebration as leaders in the accounting profession are honoured for their achievements.

The congress continues today.

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