-Major setback for Solomons’ seaweed trade as major producer, Wagina seaweed farms, severely damaged by currents associated with Russian tsunami, Wednesday night

-Authorities caught napping

BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Wagina seaweed farms have experienced severe damage from strong currents on Wednesday night, July 30, 2025.

The incident is reportedly associated with the tsunami from the Russian earthquake.

As Wagina seaweed farms make up more than 90 percent of Solomon Islands’ seaweed exports, and regarded as the largest commercial seaweed producer in the South Pacific, this is said to be a major setback for Wagina seaweed farmers.

The national disaster management office (NDMO) in Honiara told Island Sun on Thursday, July 31, 2025 that they were not aware of the situation.

Meanwhile, the whole country was put on notice nearly the entire day before, for a potential tsunami from the earthquake that struck off Russia’s east coast 10:25am Solomon time.

The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) declined to comment when Island Sun reached out to them yesterday.

Only Choiseul province’s disaster management office had some sort of plan to respond to Wagina’s dilemma.

An initial assessment carried out by local farmers on Thursday, July 31, 2025 estimated that around 98 percent of seaweed farms have been destroyed.

Member of provincial assembly (MPA) for Wagina, Tongoua Tabe told Island Sun that every farmer in the eastern end of the Tetongo seaweed island group have reported losing “everything”.

Former Wagina MPA, now seaweed farmer, Mofete Tupou told Island Sun on Thursday, July 31, 2025 that in the western end of Tetongo, only three out of 200 farmers reported that their farms were safe.

Speaking to Island Sun, George Tego from Choiseul province’s National Disaster Management Office said they are yet to conduct an assessment regarding the situation.

“Here on the ground, I was not aware of the matter until I saw it in a media article that was published and circulated on social media,” he said.

Tego said the plan now is to discuss with the chairman of the Provincial Disaster Committee (PDC) and the Provincial Disaster Operation Committee (PDOC), call in the committees, brief them and decide on the appropriate action to take.

“What normally happens is to verify the situation, coordinate with the Fisheries officer here. Meaning we have to deploy Fisheries personnel to go and do detailed findings and assessment on the damages and see what their recommendations are to support these farmers. If they need support, then they will liaise with the MFMR fisheries office in Honiara,” he said”

Tego also assured Wagina’s seaweed farmers that the result of the discussion will determine what steps and actions the province can take.

“We will see what action needs to be taken on the ground at the provincial level. The result will be determined from our discussion,” he said.

Meanwhile, Tupou told Island Sun that on Thursday morning, July 31, 2025, that he and other farmers on the western end of Tetongo carried out their assessment of the damages and found that “almost every farm was destroyed”.

He said 510 ropes of seaweed from his two farms have been destroyed, which he estimates to cost around $35,000.

“Only one rope of seaweed remained unscathed by the tsunami,” Tupou said.

One farmer in the eastern end of Tetongo, Bara Tokanapiri, said he had lost more than 100 ropes of his seaweed.

MPA Tabe said that every farmer he had interviewed so far has said the same thing.

“Everything is gone!”

Tabe described the Wednesday night experience as “frightening”.

Tupou said they are now discussing ways of salvaging the seaweed for whatever is of commercial value, and will also come up with how each farmer can get a fair share from sales.

“Because Wednesday night’s tsunami currents rolled up all the seaweeds into huge bundles, which are now scattered on our shores or floating around us. I don’t know which bundle my seaweeds are in,” Tupou said.

Both Tabe and Tupou call on the government and donor partners to assist Wagina seaweed farmers to recover from the disaster.

For feedback, contact:[email protected]

BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Minister of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL), Franklyn Wasi, applauds the launch of the Agriculture Investment for Markets and Nutrition (AIM-N) Project.

On Wednesday, July 30, 2025, he told the paper that he had been voicing the importance of this project since last year up until it’s signing on Monday this week.

“I have been talking about the project on the floor of Parliament since last year, and finally it has just been signed,” said Wasi.

The signing comes after Solomon Islands Government and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) launched US$20 million AIM-N Project to Boost Food Security, Nutrition and Rural Income.

According to a press statement from MAL, the project aims to improve food security, enhance nutrition, and build resilience to climate change, directly benefiting more than 18,000 people over six years.

The agreement was signed by the Minister of Finance and Treasury, (MoFT) Harry Kuma, and IFAD Country Director and Representative for Pacific Island Countries, Chandra Samekto.

The statement said that AIM-N project will tackle issues such as stunting and overweight by revitalising local food systems and creating sustainable economic opportunities linked to nutritious food production.

MAL said that the total project costs US$19.82 million, with a US$6.1 million grant from the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) to be administered by IFAD, and a US$9.3 million loan from IFAD.

The agriculture ministry also noted that a financial institution from the private sector will contribute US$820,000, while the government and community will provide domestic co-financing of US$1.2 million.

As noted, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) will manage another US$1.4 million from GAFSP.

Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) will implement the project in Choiseul, Isabel and Western provinces.

The project is expected to benefit 18,330 people in 65 rural communities where subsistence farming is the main source of livelihood.

For feedback, contact:[email protected]

BY INDY MAEALASIA

VICE Chancellor of Solomon Islands National University (SINU), Professor Transform Aqorau emphasised the importance of unity and coordinated maritime security in fostering peace and prosperity across Pacific communities.

Speaking at a recent maritime workshop, Aqorau described Pacific communities as “diverse yet interdependent”, noting that their strength lies in mutual support and shared success.

“Maritime security coordination is like tending to a shared lagoon of cooperation. It involves clearing away the foreign threats what I call the “crown of spiders” which bring crime and conflict, and ensuring our waters remain clear and safe for all,” he said.

Aqorau highlighted the need for a collective and strategic approach to security and development in the region, supported by the principles of solidarity, sovereignty, and peace.

He pointed out that as a region, we have charted our navigational course based on these values.

 “We’ve surveyed the waters, acknowledged the dangers that lie ahead, and prepared our canoes with strategies, partnerships, and institutions to face them.

“What remains is for us to paddle forward together, with courage and clarity of purpose,” said Aqorau.

For feedback, contact:[email protected]

BY BEN BILUA
GIZO

Six communities in Ward 13, Western Province have received much needed projects, courtesy of their Provincial Member, Alesina Redfern.

The projects were received following a series of handover programs in the communities.

Redfern said the projects are part of the Ward Development Grant 2024-2025 allocation which totalled to SBD100,000.00.

He added that the projects were identified by WDC of Ward 13 following consultations with communities within Ward 13.

Six projects are as follows;

-Mandou community – zone 1, (15hp engine),

-Kinda Women’s Group (15hp engine),

-Samarae Clinic (sanitation project),

-Niu Mala Women Group (Sewing Machines),

-Boboe community (community hall project)

– Rarumana Primary school (roofing irons).

Redfern said SBD100,000.00 maybe small but careful consideration and planning can enable such a small fund to help communities.

He acknowledges the Ward Development Committee for their support and identifying much needed development projects within ward 13.

WDC Chairperson Allenia Viga urges project recipients to utilise the machines and tools for the benefit of everyone.

He strongly encourages community leaders to take good care of the projects.

For feedback, contact:[email protected]

BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Regional solidarity is not just a lofty ideal, but it is a practical necessity today, says SINU Vice Chancellor, Professor Transform Aqorau.

He highlighted this at the recent Pacific Maritime Security Workshop, co-convened by the University of Adelaide and the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) in Honiara.

Aqorau stressed that maritime security means more coordinated operations, shared assets and integrated policies.

“We have promising examples, the Quad Lateral Defence Coordination Group, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Japan, India and France and New Zealand have long combined resources for aerial and naval surveillance across our region,” he said.

Aqorau said their joint patrols and information sharing, often in cooperation with local officers via ship rider programmes, have extended the country’s enforcement reach.

 “We welcome these contributions, especially where they operate under our regional frameworks,” he said.

Aqorau said the Pacific Fusion Centre, an outcome of the Boe Declaration, is enhancing how Pacific states pool intelligence on issues from illegal fishing to broader geopolitical trends.

He voiced that the Fusion Centre, alongside the Pacific Coast National Crime Coordination Centre, helps ensure that no piece of critical information falls through the cracks between the region’s national agencies.

Aqorau said the roles of the Pacific Islands Forum and sub-regional the Melanesian Spearhead Group and the Polynesian Leaders Group have become more important than ever to maintain unity and resolve differences internally.

“We have a collective identity and a common purpose reinforced by our Blue Pacific strategy for 2025.We, the people of the Pacific, own our ocean and will decide its fate,” said Aqorau.

For feedback, contact:[email protected]

BY LORETTA B MANELE

Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has highlighted the significant achievements of Rennell Bellona province.

He spoke about this during his remarks in Tigoa, Rennell Island at the province’s 32nd Second Appointed Day celebration on Tuesday, July 22, 2025.

Manele said Rennell Bellona Province has made significant achievements and over the past year, have demonstrated unwavering commitment to reform, good governance, and service delivery.

“Through strategic partnership with the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening, and with support from the Solomon Islands Government and development partners, your province has successfully delivered nineteen capital development projects, with a total investment of nearly 3 million Solomon Dollars,” he said.

These projects as outlined are;

-Health: Four health projects worth over 1.17 million dollars have benefitted more than 1,100 men and women.

-Education: Three projects have created better learning spaces for children across the islands.

-Water and Sanitation: Four initiatives have brought clean water and improved sanitation to rural communities.

– Rural Electrification: Three electrification projects have lit up homes and lives.

– Additional developments in administration, culture, fisheries, and tourism have added vital value to the province’s economic and social wellbeing.

Manele stressed that these results reflect the enduring spirit and capacity of Rennell Bellona’s provincial government and communities, when supported by the right resources and guided by transparency and accountability.

Moreover, he said this year marks a milestone for the province and not just in the projects delivered but, in the systems, built and integrity restored.

“Let us not forget that just a few years ago, this province was ineligible for PCDF support due to governance concerns. Today, you are a qualified and reform-driven province,” said Manele.

He highlighted that the journey is not yet complete but it is clear that when provincial leadership, national support, and donor partnership converge, reform becomes reality.

Manele also acknowledged development partners for their support.

“I also acknowledge the role of development partners, including the Australia, European Union, World Bank UNDP, PRC, and ADB, for their continuing support in areas such as health, education, security lighting, tourism and infrastructure,” he said.

The Prime Minister noted that this is the kind of multilateral cooperation that strengthens national development, unity and delivers peace dividends.

For feedback, contact:[email protected]

BY CHRIS ALEX

New Zealand has reaffirmed its support towards empowering Solomon Islands’ democratic growth through strengthening parliament.

New Zealand’s Acting High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, Rebecca Williams, delivered a message of democratic solidarity during the opening of a parliamentary induction programme on Monday, July 28, 2025.

Williams reaffirmed New Zealand’s enduring commitment to strengthening democratic institutions across the Pacific.

She highlighted the crucial role of parliamentary committees in building a strong, accountable democracy.

Drawing on New Zealand’s own legislative process, she stressed on how select committees are essential to crafting inclusive, transparent laws and ensuring that public voices are not just heard but actively shape governance.

“Parliamentary committees are where democracy gets practical.

“They turn broad debates into detailed analysis, transform public input into legislative impact, and hold governments to account in a way that is both careful and fair,” said Williams.

New Zealand’s committee model, which refers every bill to a select committee after its first reading, serves as a cornerstone of legislative scrutiny and public participation.

Williams emphasised that open submissions from individuals and communities help foster trust, cooperation, and long-term stability.

“We are proud to support this initiative. This week provides a great platform to explore how you, as parliamentarians, can champion good governance through the engine room of Parliament committees,” she said.

The induction programme, supported by New Zealand, aims to equip newly elected Members of Parliament in the Solomon Islands with practical knowledge on legislative functions, committee processes, and democratic responsibility.

For feedback, contact:[email protected]