Nearly a year without health & medical services, people of Sikaiana are desperately pleading authorities

[Published on Saturday, August 16, 2025]

BY CHRIS ALEX

As Malaita province celebrates its 42nd anniversary, its people on the outlier atoll of Sikaiana are about to mark a year without health-medical services.

A year without a nurse and the 400-plus people on the remote atolls, mostly children and elderly, are reiterating their plea to authorities not to forget them.

The last nurse left Sikaiana before October in 2024.

Since then, many calls have been made for a replacement. These calls turned to pleas. Still, authorities are sitting on this problem.

Member of Provincial Assembly for Malaita’s Ward 33 (Sikaiana) Lemuel Kevianga is amplifying his people’s call, urging responsible authorities not to turn a blind eye to his people.

Kevianga, who is also Malaita province’s finance minister, said already two emergency medical cases have had to be evacuated by helicopter from Sikaiana.

“These emergency situations could have been avoided if Sikaiana had a nurse to treat the patients in their early stages of disease,” Kevianga said.

He adds that it is an expensive exercise to airlift emergency cases, straining their limited budget.

Speaking to Island Sun, Kevianga emphasised the urgency of the matter.

“Our people are in dire need of professional care. I urge the responsible health authorities to take swift action and resolve this issue as quickly as possible,” he said.

In response to Kevianga’s calls, Richard Maegerea, Malaita’s health director, assured that efforts were underway to address the situation.

He acknowledged the logistical challenges of deploying a nurse to such an isolated part of the country.

“We are working hard to resolve this issue. We’re not reluctant to send a nurse to Sikaiana.

“Discussions with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services are ongoing, and we are also awaiting new recruits that can be dispatched to the island,” Maegerea said.

The health crisis has been compounded by the fact that the last nurse stationed on the island left before October in 2024, just last year, leaving the atoll without medical support for nearly a year.

Since then, Sikaiana’s residents have had to face the harsh reality of limited healthcare options, relying on herbals and costly airlifts for emergency cases.

As local leaders and residents continue to voice their concerns, the situation remains critical.

The call for immediate action grows louder, with the Sikaiana community hoping for a prompt and effective resolution to the healthcare crisis.

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[Published on Friday, August 15, 2025]

BY CHRIS ALEX

Illegal miners digging and panning in sites within the Gold Ridge tenement have been called on to leave.

In a strong appeal made during the groundbreaking ceremony of the Gold Ridge Mine Processing Plant Expansion Project on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, Walton Naezon, Chairman of Gold Ridge Community Investment Limited (GCIL) and Director of Gold Ridge Mining Limited (GRML), called on illegal miners to vacate the Gold Ridge sites immediately.

Addressing chiefs, tribal leaders and dignitaries gathered at the ceremony, he said the Gold Ridge mining area is a legally granted site and unlawful mining activities must cease.

His message was directed to residents of Guadalcanal and individuals from other provinces who have entered the site without authorisation.

“To make this project successful, let me make this announcement clear.

“I repeat myself to the 17 tribes who own the Gold Ridge land, the chiefs of North Guadalcanal, and everyone surrounding please, as of today, ask your good people, your good Christian people, to leave their mining fields,” Naezon said.

He stressed on the cultural and spiritual significance behind the traditional offerings (chupu) that have been presented over the years in efforts to maintain peace and resolve land disputes.

“We presented almost 100 chupu before. That should be enough for you to respect our leaders when they ask you to stop this illegal practice,” he said.

Naezon issued a notice for all illegal miners to leave the site, adding that the support of community leaders, churches, and families is vital.

“This is a very important announcement, and I ask that it be taken seriously,” he said.

In a heartfelt plea, he asked church leaders and the Christian community to pray for those occupying the area illegally, to encourage them to return to their villages and communities.

“Where they are standing is not a good place for Christians. Go back to the village where the churches are there,” he urged.

Naezon also thanks the police and law enforcement officers for maintaining order around the mining site and reaffirms the importance of respecting the law and traditional leadership.

The Gold Ridge Mine is a significant project in the Solomon Islands, that aims to provide economic opportunities and community development.

Leaders hope that with the removal of illegal activities, the expansion project can proceed smoothly and benefit the rightful landowners and the nation at large.

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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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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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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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