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SICAN’s business plan workshop successful

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The Solomon Islands Climate Action Network (SICAN) has successfully held its business development plan workshop.

Held on June 23-24, 2025, the two-day workshop brought together SICAN staff, executive board members, a few selected SICAN members, and partners from Oxfam Pacific.

The meeting aims to develop a comprehensive business development strategy.

The business development plan also outlines key goals, priorities and the resources needed to mobilise resources and funding to ensure the growth and sustainability of SICAN as a network.

SICAN is a national network that brings together the coalition support of local, national and international CSOs to support and raise the voices of the marginalised Solomon Islands on climate change and to help build a resilient Solomon Islands community.

The meeting was conducted successfully with support from Pacific Islands Climate Change Collaboration and Influencing Project (PACCCIL), one of SICAN’s key partners.

It was facilitated by Edward Huitarau, who is one of the SICAN members.

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Pacific waters attract both fishermen and criminal exploitation

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Pacific waters are not only being exploited by fishing activities but also by criminals exploiting the vast blue spaces.

Professor Transform Aqorau, Solomon Islands National University Vice Chancellor, highlighted this at the Pacific Maritime Security Workshop co-convened by the University of Adelaide and the Solomon Islands National University.

Delivering his welcome remarks at SINU Ranadi campus on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, he said Pacific Island states have seen a sharp rise in maritime drug trafficking and smuggling.

“Our islands are being used as transit points for narcotics bound for other markets, and we have intercepted cocaine and methamphetamine consignments in our region that shock the imagination.

“Human trafficking, money laundering, and contraband smuggling via sea routes also pose growing dangers,” Professor Aqorau said.

He added that these illicit activities are often intertwined with international networks that see the Pacific as a soft transit zone.

“We must prove them wrong. Coordinated patrols and information sharing are our best weapon. Initiatives like the Pacific Transnational Crime Network and the Pacific Fusion Centre are equipping us to fuse intelligence and identify threats early,” he said.

The professor said with the help of partners like the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, which assists Pacific states in strengthening legal frameworks and law enforcement against maritime crime, Pacific Islands are tightening the net on traffickers.

“Yet gaps remain. Many of our ports lack adequate scanning, and our maritime agencies stretch thin across huge distances. So, I stress the need for continued capacity building. More than just training, shipwriter agreements, and more investments in technologies like aerial surveillance, so that no lawless element can exploit our oceanic borders with impunity,” said Aqorau.

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Pinihimae urges Makira people to embrace entrepreneurship for national growth

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BY CHRIS ALEX

Prominent businessman and respected Bauro community leader, Alick Pinihimae, has issued a heartfelt appeal for more people in Makira Province to embrace entrepreneurship as a means of driving national development and building resilient communities.

Pinihimae, one of the province’s most successful local business figures, said the time has come for Makira people to shift their mindset and actively explore business opportunities no matter how small they start.

“It doesn’t matter whether it’s small or whatever you begin with, as long as you earn a dollar per day that’s where business starts to grow. It’s full of sacrifices if we want to build our families, communities, province, and our country as a whole,” he said.

Speaking from his experience and as a leading voice among the Bauro people, Pinihimae emphasized that entrepreneurship is not just about personal gain, but a vital force for change in a country facing high unemployment and ongoing economic challenges.

“Our province truly needs a lot and I mean a good number of entrepreneurs. We need people who are willing to get out of their comfort zones and hustle for business opportunities,” he stated.

Pinihimae highlighted that true entrepreneurs are those who are not afraid to take risks, work hard in all weather conditions, and make personal sacrifices to invest in ventures that will eventually create jobs and feed families.

“We need those who are ready to walk through the sun and rain to support the government by generating revenue. Those who are willing to go hungry to save and invest in opportunities that will eventually feed the children of their employees,” he said.

Pinihimae, widely known for his commitment to grassroots development and local empowerment, said businesspeople must also recognize their role in shaping the country’s economic and social future.

“It’s not just about profit. It’s about creating a better future for our communities, and ultimately making our country a better place,” he stressed.

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Women’s ministry seeks funds for national development centre

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BY INDY MAEALASIA

Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs (MWYCFA) is requesting an estimated SBD 4.5 million in the supplementary budget to fund the design and planning phase of the country’s first-ever National Development Youth Centre.

Speaking in a recent Public Accounts Committee (PAC) hearing into the 2025 Supplementary Appropriation Bill, Permanent Secretary, Cedric Alependava said it is time for the country to invest in a national hub for youth development in Honiara.

“The ministry has been building several youth and children’s centers across the provinces but there has not been any national youth center,” he said.

PS Alependava told the PAC that the requested funding would support the initial designing and planning phase of the project center, which is expected to provide space for offices, training workshops, and accommodate regional youths and their programmes.

“This is according to the government’s policy to empower youths through the economy, and their health and well-being,” he added.

PS Alependava also expressed hope that by establishing a center, it would lay the foundation for a future bill, which could help channel consistent funding into youth-focused programs nationwide.

The ministry has already made investments in youth and children’s initiatives in various provinces over the years.

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MEHRD advances implementation of education act 2023 in second year

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BY INDY MAEALASIA

THE Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) is progressing steadily in the second year of implementing the Education Act 2023, according to Permanent Secretary Dr. Franco Rodie.

Speaking during a recent Public Accounts Committee (PAC) hearing, Rodie acknowledged that while full implementation of the act will take time, the ministry is moving at a “comfortable rate” despite challenges such as high travel costs and logistical demands.

“This is the second year of implementation. It will take time, but we are making steady progress,” Rodie said.

As part of the implementation plan, MEHRD staff have been deployed to provinces to socialise the act, support the establishment of new structures, and inform education providers about their roles and responsibilities under the new act.

Rodie further highlighted the importance of working together with education providers.

“This year, we are working closely with education providers. Our officers are out in the field engaging communities and schools, ensuring that everyone understands the key changes and requirements of the act,” he added.

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MEHRD seeks funds to settle outstanding benefits to retired teachers

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BY INDY MAEALASIA

The Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) is seeking an additional $2 million in the supplementary budget to clear outstanding long-service benefit payments owed to around 60 retired teachers.

The ministry disclosed this during a recent Public Accounts Committee (PAC) hearing into the 2025 Supplementary Appropriation bill.

“There are still about 60 teachers from last year who haven’t been paid, even though we budgeted for them. Unfortunately, due to budget cuts, we couldn’t meet those obligations. That’s why we’re requesting additional funding now,” Permanent Secretary Dr Franco Rodie said.

He said the ministry has made progress in addressing outstanding payments under the Long-Service Benefit Scheme,

“And we’re on top of things. But we need this funding support urgently. If we don’t pay them this year, it will lead to frustration,” stressed Rodie.

The issue is not new, with the ministry having struggled for years to accurately predict the number of teachers eligible for the benefit each year.

“This problem has persisted for years. Each year, we try to budget based on estimated retirements, but the numbers often change. Sometimes we overestimate, and the finance and the public service would question what we’ll do with the surplus,” he told the committee.

Rodie highlighted the importance of early and accurate information from education providers about retiring teachers or those who pass away while in service.

“To have exact data or estimates, we require early notification from education providers on who is retiring or who has passed away while in service. With good planning and accurate data, this can be managed,” he added.

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GTC to identify suitable cemetery site

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BY BEN BILUA
GIZO

Gizo Town Council (GTC) is working to identify a suitable location for a cemetery as the township’s population continues to expand.

Clerk of Gizo Town Council, Charles Kelly, said the cemetery initiative is part of a broader town plan to ensure the dead are laid to rest in a respectful and appropriate environment.

He said a proper cemetery is essential for any growing urban centre, not only for cultural and traditional reasons but also for health and planning purposes.

“Everyone will eventually pass away. We need a proper and dedicated place for burials. It’s about showing respect to those who have passed on and maintaining order in our growing community,” Kelly said.

He stressed that cemeteries play a critical role in urban settings, offering a formal space for grieving families to honour their loved ones.

Kelly also highlighted that well-managed burial grounds contribute to public health, especially in densely populated areas where informal burials may pose environmental and health risks.

At present, Gizo does not have an official cemetery, and as a result, the council is now focused on identifying and securing a suitable area.

Kelly said his office is working closely with stakeholders to assess potential sites, considering factors such as accessibility, land use, and future development needs.

He assured the public that the GTC is committed to addressing the issue in a timely and respectful manner to serve the needs of Gizo residents.

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Communities at risk of food poisoning

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BY BEN BILUA
GIZO

Communities within the Thousand Ships Bay, in Isabel Province are at risk of food poisoning if government continues to turn a blind eye on mining issues in the province.

Nurse in charge of Talise Rural Health Centre made the revelation to Island Sun earlier this year.

In an interview, Cominis Tada said the current situation is frightening as mining wastes spill to the ocean, rivers and also mangroves.

“I’ve just return from my visit to two of the mining sites and what I saw was frightening. I saw inappropriately dumping of crude-oil and solid wastes which spill over to the ocean. I strongly believes that we will have cases of food poisoning soon, I mean very soon,” he said.

Tada said the situation not only puts the lives of this generation at risk but many more generations to come if responsible authorities fail to take immediate action.

He said thousand ship bay is a life-line to most communities from Bugotu to Hograno providing much needed protein like fish and other eatable marine resources for the people.

Tada stressed that failure to address the situation now means putting the lives of thousands of people at risk.

Chief of Lelegia, Vahi alleged that his community’s source is at risk as exploration activity now reaches the community’s water source.

He also alleged that some of the streams that people used to drink from are now contaminated.

“My community will suffer very soon in the hands of these miners. We are concerned but we have very limited power to stop such destructive development.

“We know that if we take the law into our hands, we will also be penalised for what we think is the best way to stop mining.

“It is our request for the government to ensure our important resources are not damaged by mining,” Vahi said.

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‘We must guard against becoming pawns in anyone’s great game’

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Solomon Islands National University Vice Chancellor, Professor Transform Aqorau has raised concern regarding the challenge of geopolitical pressures and strategic vulnerabilities faced by Pacific Islands countries.

He raised the concern during a two-day workshop titled “Charting a Shared Course: Enhancing Maritime Security Coordination in the Pacific” held at SINU Ranadi campus on Wednesday, July 23, 2025.

The workshop hosted by the Solomon Islands National University (SINU), in collaboration with the University of Adelaide, aims to encourage dialogue and coordination on maritime security among Pacific Island countries and their key partners.

It brought together leading academics and experts from across the region and beyond to discuss priorities, partnerships, and practical strategies for regional maritime cooperation.

“Our blue Pacific has become an arena of intensifying geostrategic interest. Major powers are increasingly looking to the Pacific, seeing not just our fisheries and minerals, but our strategic position astride vital trade routes,” said Aqorau.

He said that while this can bring opportunities, new partnerships, infrastructure and aid, it can also bring significant risks if not managed wisely.

Aqorau expressed that Pacific Islands have witnessed how great power rivalry between the United States and China is playing out across the region, raising concerns about militarisation and the Pacific becoming a chessboard for other strategic ambitions.

“Pacific nations like my own have felt the weight of diplomatic pressure and competing offers of security assistance,” he said.

Aqorau stated that the Solomon Islands government’s decision to sign a security cooperation agreement with the People’s Republic of China in 2022, for instance, introduced new dynamics into the region’s security landscape.

“This agreement, controversial to some, underscored the shifting terrain in which the Pacific states must assert their sovereignty. It is our responsibility to ensure that external engagements serve our interests and values and do not compromise the Pacific’s stability or unity.

“We must guard against becoming pawns in anyone’s great game. This calls for a strong, united Pacific voice about our security priorities. Our region has a proud tradition of declaring what we do not want, making the South Pacific a nuclear-free zone. To our leaders, today we are calling for the Pacific to remain free of military competition,” he said.

Aqorau mentioned that Pacific Islanders must steer their canoe, maintain their solidarity and insist that the Pacific security architecture be shaped by Pacific hands, not by external ambitions.

“That is the bottom line in the face of the current geopolitical,” he said.

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Renbel seeks additional constituency and ward

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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

The Pongi led Alliance for Reform and Progress Government of Rennell and Bellona province has asked GNUT government to consider creating an additional constituency and a provincial ward in the province.

This came following a resolution passed by the provincial government for Rennell Bellona province to have a second constituency, and one more provincial ward to have an odd number of seats in the provincial assembly.

Speaking at the celebration of the 32nd 2nd Appointed Day held at the provincial capital of Tingoa on Tuesday, 22, July 2025, Premier Derek Pongi presented the idea to the Prime Minister, Jeremiah Manele, who was the key guest at the occasion.

He said the Rennell Bellona provincial government continues to face challenges in its second-tier election as well as the speaker’s election, because of the even number of seats at the assembly.

“Our province has ten wards, an even number that has caused issues during elections of premiers and speakers over the years.

“And we urge the Prime Minister and Minister of MPGIS to consider establishing an additional ward in Rennell and Bellona before the 2028 election,” Pongi said.

He emphasized that this will help resolve current challenges and improve service delivery in the province.

In the meantime, Premier Pongi also shared the wish of the Rennell Bellona provincial assembly to create an additional constituency in the province.

He said in pursuit of the idea, the provincial assembly has deliberated and passed a motion on the matter which they look forward to it being brought to parliament for further discussion.

“Our provincial assembly has unanimously passed a motion to revisit the idea of creating an additional constituency in Rennell Bellona province. 

“We look forward to engaging with the national government for its consideration,” he said.

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