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Kenilorea slams Cabinet over Taiwan stance, warns of regional fallout

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BY NED GAGAHE

The Member of Parliament (MP) for East Are’are, Peter Kenilorea Jnr, has launched a scathing critique of the GNUT Cabinet’s handling of Taiwan’s participation in the upcoming 54th Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders’ Summit, warning that it risks tearing apart decades of regional solidarity.

In a strongly worded Facebook post yesterday, Kenilorea described reports that Cabinet is still “deliberating” on Taiwan’s involvement as “deeply concerning,” calling the move a direct challenge to established regional protocols.

“The GNUT Cabinet should never enter the fray on what is a regional matter. This was agreed upon and settled long ago by our Pacific leaders,” he said.

Kenilorea Jnr, a respected former diplomat and son of Solomon Islands’ founding Prime Minister, said the PIF is a regional institution, not a domestic political tool and that “entrenched” practices must be respected by any host government.

His criticism was directed at earlier reports that Taiwanese officials were denied visas to attend the Forum, allegedly at the behest of the Chinese government.

“Since when was China in charge of who gets to enter Solomon Islands and who doesn’t?” he asked.

“When did we become part of China? When did China become the gatekeeper of Solomon Islands? This is a slap in the face of our sovereignty,” Kenilorea said.

Prime Minister Manele in a media conference last week stated that the decision whether Taiwan will participate in this year’s PIF leaders’ summit will be announced soon.

“Cabinet is close to concluding its deliberations on that matter.” Manele told reporters.

The MP for East Are’are warned that such actions signal a deep erosion of national independence and questioned why Solomon Islands would allow external pressure to dictate decisions surrounding a regional event.

He also drew attention to the growing diplomatic fallout, citing reported displeasure from Palau’s President, a country that still maintains formal ties with Taiwan and is slated to host the 2026 PIF Leaders’ Summit.

“If Solomon Islands sets this precedent, can we blame Palau for rejecting Chinese visa applications next year?” Kenilorea asked.

“Both China and Taiwan deserve to be here. We are friends to all, enemies to none,” he said.

Kenilorea urged Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele and the GNUT to uphold the spirit and legacy of Pacific cooperation.

“The wisdom of Solomon needs to be summoned now. Otherwise, we run the risk of being the wedge that breaks apart PIF solidarity for an issue that holds no particular national interest for us, or any of the PIF members,” he said.

On June 2, 2025, Palau’s President Surangel Whipps Jr. reiterated his support for Taiwan’s inclusion, saying he wants to see Taiwan given full access to this year’s PIF Leaders Summit.

Whipps highlighted the significance of unity among Pacific nations:

“It was great to see 17 out of 18 leaders in Tonga for last year’s meeting. That’s the record since we’ve gotten back together. Let’s ensure that that continues, because that’s what we need to see,” he said.

He acknowledged reports of “difficulty in Taiwan gaining access” and urged the PIF team to do everything within its mandate to ensure the conference’s success and full participation by all eligible partners.

Three Forum members, Tuvalu, Palau, and the Marshall Islands, maintain diplomatic ties with Taiwan, not China.

Taiwan has been a development partner of the PIF since 1992, while China has been a dialogue partner since 1990.

Beijing has been insisting that Taiwan is a province of China.

Last week the Taiwanese Government said it will send a delegation to the Forum summit.

While acknowledging that the host Solomon Islands might pose a challenge, it is still preparing to attend so that it could organise the Taiwan Pacific Islands Forum dialogue.

Solomon Islands has cut off all official contact with Taiwan in the wake of its decision to switch diplomatic ties to Beijing in 2019.

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SINTA urges support, understanding as teachers push for improved welfare

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BY INDY MAEALASIA

General Secretary of the Solomon Islands National Teachers Association (SINTA), Robert Lafisi, has called on parents and guardians to support and understand teachers’ calls for improved welfare and working conditions.

Lafisi made the remarks following the union’s formal submission of a 28-day strike notice to the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) on Tuesday, July 22, 2025.

He urged them to see the bigger picture and consider the conditions that teachers face daily.

“Parents and guardians, it’s true we are all concerned about our children’s education. But we must also think about those handling our children in the classroom. They are suffering.

“They need assistance and support to do their jobs well. The more we support and uplift them, the more that will reflect in the way they teach and care for our children,” said Lafisi.

The strike notice, effective from July 22 until August 29, calls on the government to urgently address ongoing issues affecting teachers.

The general secretary called for understanding from the public and stressed that the goal is not disruption, but meaningful change.

“Let this be the time we stop and listen to our teachers, hear their cries, understanding the difficulties they go through. If we want our children to succeed in school, we must also look after those who teach them,” he said.

He furthered that improving teachers’ welfare is a shared responsibility.

“Let us be fair. Education is important, but the people delivering that education can only do better when they are well supported. There is something wrong with the conditions our teachers are facing, and we must acknowledge that and help them,” said Lafisi.

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Man facing rape, murder to plea today

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BY ROMINAH FAKA

A man accused of the murder and rape of a woman in Guadalcanal Plains in May, 2025 took his plea this morning, Wednesday, July 23, 2025 at Magistrate Court.

Richard Sonia, 25, is charged with one count of murder contrary to section 200 of Penal Code, and one count of rape contrary to section 136 F (1) (a) and (b) of the Penal Code, as amended by the Penal Code (Amendment) (Sexual Offences) Act 2016.

Both charges carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

The deceased was a 29-year-old woman.

The incident occurred on May 21, 2025 in the cocoa area near GPPOL II, North Guadalcanal.

Sonia was allegedly intoxicated when he encountered the deceased while she was washing clothes at a well.  

It is further alleged that the defendant attempted to grab the deceased but when she resisted, he used a stone to hit her on the forehead and then raped her.

The deceased later died allegedly as a result from the attack by the defendant.

Office of Director of Public Prosecution is prosecuting and Donation Houa acts for the defendant.

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Court to deliver judgment on 2013 health ministry scandal next month

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BY ROMINAH FAKA

The Magistrate Court has heard the closing submissions for the health ministry scandal case on Tuesday morning, July 22, 2025 and has adjourned the matter for August 19, 2025 for judgement.

Former finance controller, Stephen Dalipanda, former Senior Accountant Randy Hatigeva, former Health Procurement Officer, Robert Manu and former Accounts Officer, Dalcy Maena are charged jointly with two counts of false pretence each.

They pleaded not guilty and the trial was conducted at the Magistrate Court before Principal Magistrate Ishmael Kekou.

Prosecution called five witnesses and after crown completed its case, all four defendants through their defence lawyer opted to remain silent.

Manu who was charged separately with four counts of official corruption was convicted for using his position to expedite and authorise payments to Eroba Shipping totaling up to $1,608,371 by passing the proper procurement procedures in exchange for large sums of money that was deposited into his personal bank account.

Manu was sentenced to two years suspended sentence for receiving $195,000 in exchange for facilitating payments to a shipping company.

A private local contractor, Tigi Sekele, who was also charged in connection to the scandal, was charged with three counts of false pretence.

Prosecution alleged that he fabricated invoices and submitted them to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) to claim the services done.

It was alleged that he received three payments worth over $1million to his company for the freighting of materials, which was never carried out.

Prosecution alleged that those payments were made because the defendant fraudulently submitted a fabricated invoice to MHMS on each occasion between April 2013 and June 2013.

These former health workers allegedly caused a ghost shipping service, “Joke Shipping Services” to receive a total sum of $1,594,935.10.

The two shipping agents John Biliki and Wesley Poloso of Eroba Shipping Service and Joke Shipping Service defrauded the Solomon Islands Government of approximately $7.3 million.

Taxi driver, Poloso, was already convicted and jailed for two and a half years in 2014 for receiving $1.5 million of the fund.

The matter of the owner of the other alleged fake shipping agent, Biliki was discontinued in 2019 in the High Court after he died from an illness.

These millions of dollars were from the Solomon Islands Government and aid donors to support and improve rural health services.

Prosecution alleged that defrauding this amount of money had severely affected the implementation of health projects in rural areas.

John Wesley Zoze is prosecuting and defence includes – Jim Seuika for Manu, Ms Happliyn for Dalipanda, Mr Taupongi for Hatigeva and Ms Pama for Maena.

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High Court sentences man to 11 years for rape

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BY ROMINAH FAKA

The High Court has sentenced a 25-year-old man to 11 years’ imprisonment for the rape of an underage girl.

The sentence was delivered by Judge Augustine Sylver Aulanga on Monday, July 21, 2025 at the Auki High Court Circuit.

The defendant who cannot be named to protect the identity of the victim was rearraigned on July 18, and pleaded guilty to a single charge of rape of a child, contrary to section 135 F (1) (a) and (b) of the Penal Code (Amendment) (Sexual Offences) Act 2016.

Both prosecution and defence agreed that an immediate custodial sentence is the appropriate sentence, given the seriousness of the offence.

Prosecution suggested a sentence ranging from 10 to 12 years while the defence proposed six to nine years’ custodial time.

In considering the appropriate sentence, court considered the defendant’s circumstances in this case, his aggravating and mitigating factors, including the recent increase in sentencing for this offence as prescribed by the Court of Appeal.

The victim was 16 years old at the time the offence was committed.

Facts presented from the case say that in September, 2024, both the defendant and victim had boarded a public motor vehicle and were travelling with other passengers.

The defendant was working as a crew member of the vehicle.

When the vehicle reached the village, the victim got off and walking on a footpath, was making her way to her house.

During this time, it was already later in the day, the sun had set so it was dark.

The defendant also made his way out of the vehicle and started to follow the victim.

As the victim continued walking along the footpath, she was approached by the defendant who came to her from behind, asking her to have sexual intercourse.

She refused his request and immediately, the defendant moved close and bit her on the left side of her neck and on the top of her breast.

The defendant then pulled her into the bush beside the road and raped her.

She struggled to resist him but was unable to given that the defendant was physically big and stronger than her.

Court heard that the defendant after raping the victim walked away.

After the offence, the victim walked back to her house crying and informed her aunt of what the defendant had done to her.

The matter was later reported to the police and the defendant was charged with rape.

In delivering the sentence for this case, court took into consideration the aggravating factors present in the case.

One of these factors is the age disparity of nine years between the defendant and the victim which denotes the power imbalance that existed between the defendant and victim, making her defenseless, vulnerable and easily overpowered by the defendant during the time of the offence.

Secondly, the physical injuries sustained by the victim before and during the time she was raped.

Thirdly, from the medical report, she suffered psychological trauma and bleeding to her private part as a result of the offence.

The offence also took place in the evening which meant that there was a breach of trust as the defendant was a crew member of the vehicle the victim was travelling in.

There is also the victim impact statement filed by the prosecution on the victim’s physical and mental health effects which can have a long impact on her.

Lastly, the fact that there is an unprecedented increase of rape cases of young girls in Solomon Islands and the wider public concern regarding the disturbing rise of this type of offence in our communities.

Court stressed that it has a duty to respond to this widespread public concern in the community by ensuring that an appropriate sentence is imposed and one that will send a clear message that those who commit the offence will expect an immediate and lengthy custodial sentence if convicted.

Court therefore, imposed a starting point of eight years imprisonment.

In light of the aggravating factors, court added five years imprisonment to the starting point, making it a total of 13 years imprisonment.

The sentence was reduced by two years to reflect the defendant’s mitigating factors and personal factors such as his guilty plea, being a first-time offender, his remorse and the fact that he is still a single person.

The court therefore, sentenced the defendant to 11 years imprisonment. Time spent in custody is to be taken into account.

Samuel Tovosia acted for the crown while Mr Harunari acted for the defendant.

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TEACHER STRIKE NOTICE

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SINTA issues education ministry with 28-day ultimatum to address seven-point list of demands

BY INDY MAEALASIA

Solomon Islands National Teachers Association (SINTA) has issued a nationwide 28-day strike notice to the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD), that demands swift action on longstanding welfare issues of teachers across the country.

The notice, along with a formal list of demands was officially submitted to the ministry on Tuesday, July 22, 2025 and will lapse on the 29th of August, 2025.

Speaking to the media, SINTA General Secretary, Robert Lafisi said the bold action follows a resolution from the association’s Annual General Meeting held on June 25, citing unresolved issues that MEHRD has failed to address.

“This includes failed assurance from MEHRD, inconsistency in implementing the Education Act and Administrative instruction, discrepancies in terms of teachers’ classification and lack of increase in allowances and entitlements of teachers welfare,” Lafisi said.

Under this first submission, SINTA has outlined seven formal demands for MEHRD to consider:

  1. Job Security for Teachers

All eligible teachers should be offered ongoing contracts, rather than fixed-term agreements.

  • Recognition of Teachers’ Experience

Teachers’ years of service should be recognized and reflected in the salary structure, alongside position and qualifications.

  • Backdated Salaries

Teachers should receive back pay dating to 2014, when the revised salary structure was initially proposed.

  • Salary Structure Review Intervals

MEHRD must establish and communicate clear intervals for reviewing and updating the current salary structure.

  • Recognition of ECE, TVET, and Disability Educators

The qualifications and expertise of teachers in Early Childhood Education, Technical and Vocational Education and Training, and Special Education should be valued equally, not based solely on contact hours.

  • Allowances and Benefits

MEHRD should expand and increase allowances, holiday leave, long service benefits (LSB), and housing rental support for teachers.

  • Education Providers’ Financial Capacity

            Education providers’ financial health must be reviewed to ensure they can           effectively support teachers’ welfare.

Given the time available before the notice ends, Lafisi said the association is willing and open to have further constructive dialogue with the ministry.

“Please, let us talk over these matters to help our teachers. This should not be seen as a threat. These are failures on the ministry’s part. They are issues that should have been addressed long ago. Just accept that and come forward. Let’s resolve this together,” he stressed.

If no response is received within the notice period, Lafisi said SINTA will hold another meeting with its members to decide on the next possible steps.

According to SINTA, there is an estimate of 11,000 teachers nationwide.

The MEHRD is being sought for comments.

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East Malaita landowners halt Telekom service 

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By RODRICK DESURI

AUKI

Several so-called landowners of East Malaita have reportedly barred Our Telekom from carrying out repair works on its towers there.

The Our Telekom official page said the areas that will be most affected are Bethel and the surrounding areas of Ataa, Atori, Fiu, and Gwaelade in East Malaita. 

The branch manager of Our Telekom branch in Auki said Our Telekom mobile network in East Malaita was shut down “because we were not allowed to carry out repair and maintenance to this site after a long time”. 

Fred Ota said the issue is now dire and that their engineers are finding solutions to resolve the issue. 

“We have plans in place, but I will not make them public.

“Usually, when there are land disputes, Telekom remains neutral,” Mr Ota said. 

He added that they cannot say anything but are with their engineers and legal team from Honiara to resolve the issue.

The manager said the issue of land disputes in East Malaita is a long-standing problem, and they have not made any visit to the towers for a long time. 

He also said that during the times they visited the area, they were threatened. 

“We have even been threatened by the landowners at times, so we just use caretakers to check on the tower on our behalf,” he said. 

Meanwhile, when asked when they should resolve the issue, Fred Ota said we are currently working with our engineering department.

He added that they will try their very best and hope to resolve the issue so that the service can return to normal.

“We hope to restore the service as soon as possible, while a permanent solution will be forthcoming very soon after,” he said.

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11 PCDF projects set to roll

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By RODRICK DESURI

AUKI

Malaita province has 11 projects under the PCDF (Provincial Capacity Development Fund) that are ready to be rolled out in the coming months.

Provincial Secretary, George Erick in an interview on July 16, 2025 said these projects can be implemented if there is partnership and cooperation among resource owners, stakeholders and the provincial government.

He urged the people of Malaita to put aside their old ways that their forefathers held on to for years and work together, have one mind, and be patient with the current provincial government and the national government, as many projects will be coming to the province.

“I want to urge our resource owners to please put aside our old ways that our grandfathers taught us, allow our resources to be used, and work closely with the government. This is the only way we can develop our province,” he said.

“We have Bina Harbour, Auki Tar Sealing, Kilu’ufi expansion, and other national projects for the province, but these really depend on our resource owners,” he added.

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Auki police raid kwaso brewing site

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By RODRICK DESURI

AUKI

Police in Auki, Malaita Province have raided a kwaso producing site at Aligegeo School area on Monday, July 21, 2025.

According to the Provincial Police Commander, Superintendent Michael Ramosaea, the incident took place at a small settlement just behind the Aligegeo Provincial Secondary School. 

He said no arrests were made during the raid, but they collected all the home brewing equipment. 

“We haven’t made any arrests, but we collected all the home brewing equipment related to the home-brewed alcohol,” he said.

Ramosaea added that somebody must have told the “home brewing man” to escape before the police arrived at the scene. 

“When we arrived at the scene, there was no one. Everyone had escaped into the bush,” he said. 

The Provincial Police Commander appeals to community elders, leaders, and chiefs to work together and report anyone who is still producing home-brewed alcohol.

“I want to appeal to the community elders, leaders, and chiefs to work together with the police to stop the bad attitudes associated with producing this illegal product in our societies,” he said.

Ramosaea also calls on them to help the police by reporting anyone or any group involved in producing the illegal alcohol and other social activities that the community discourages.

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Its MUP’s turn: Premier Siapu

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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Since Solomon Islands has forged diplomatic ties with China in 2019, a number of provinces in the country have established sister relationships with provinces in China.

Almost of half of the country’s nine provinces have either established relations with Chinese provinces or are on the pursuit of doing so.

The latest is Makira Ulawa province. This comes following a recent meeting the premier of Makira Ulawa province, Stanley Siapu had with government officials from Guizhou province in China.

The meeting was held on the margin of the Global Eco Forum held in Guiyang City between 30th June to 6th July, in Guizhou province.

Premier Siapu and his Commerce Minister, Hon Martin Karani were part of a government delegation led by the Deputy Speaker to Parliament, Hon Morris Toiraena to the forum.

In an interview, Siapu acknowledged the government of Guizhou province for history that both provinces are on the verge of creating.

“When we presented out interest to PRC Embassy in Honiara for sister relationship, Guizhou province was ready at that time with similar interest.

“This is where we began. Our meeting was the first formal roundtable discussion held on the sister relationship.

“During the meeting, I presented the profile of Makira Ulawa province and the entire idea behind the pursuit of the province for the sister relationship,” he said.

He highlighted the areas of interest of which his province wants to seek cooperation with Guizhou province on and they include; health, education, fisheries, forestry and tourism.

Siapu said Guizhou province has expressed interest on the cooperation and even shared the support they have been rendering to Solomon Islands since 2019.

He mentioned that Guizhou province was instrumental behind medical assistance provided to Solomon Islands in the past years.

“This is one of the areas Guizhou province assured us to work closely on.

“And in response to my presentation, first two areas they assured to support Makira Ulawa with are transportation and medical service.

“The assurance was made based on my presentation and I sincerely acknowledge the people and government of Guizhou for the history we are about to create,” Siapu said.

He noted that now the two provinces have established a link, they will work-on from there towards the establishment of the sister relationship.

“My province sees this undertaking as privilege to realize the potential we have, which will mutually benefit both provinces and countries.

“My government is committed to work towards the establishment of this historic sister relationship between Makira Ulawa province and Guizhou province,” Siapu said.

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