-Call to investigate Xiao’s Henderson hotel building

-Shops operating in ground floor while three-storeys above under construction

BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

People in East Guadalcanal are calling on the Guadalcanal Provincial Government (GPG) to investigate and stop businesses operating at Xiao’s Henderson Hotel Ltd, located at Henderson.

This is the same hotel that came under spotlight earlier this year in the issue of tax exemption by former finance minister, Manasseh Sogavare.

A total of five Chinese retailers opened their shops on the ground floor of the three-story building, early this month and are operating business as usual while the building is still under construction.

Island Sun also witnessed ongoing work on the upper three floors yesterday.

Speaking to Island Sun yesterday, David Bigha, a teacher by profession, said that responsible authorities must step in and take action to stop such unacceptable actions.

“Who permitted them to open the shops while the building is still under construction. Authorities, especially the GPG, must take action. This is not safe for the general public,” said Mr Bigha.

“They need to come forward, inspect this building, and close down the shops while construction is still ongoing,” he added.

A construction worker who spoke to Island Sun yesterday under condition of anonymity, said the shops started operating as of July 1, 2025.

“The owner decided to open the down floor to business so he could pay back his loan. Rental for shops is $25,000 per month. One of the shops is $50,000 since it is a double room,” the worker said.

The worker said that the building is expected to be fully completed by October this year since construction started in December 2024.

He said the three-story building contains around 200 rooms in the upper floors.

A Chinese shop owner who operates one of the ground-floor shops said he is willing to accept any decision taken regarding the issue.

“I’m operating because my business licence to operate here was accepted.

“However, I am willing to close down my shop if I am advised to.

“So far, we haven’t received any notice from the authorities,” he told Island Sun.

One GPG officer spoken to at the site yesterday said they were surprised to see businesses operating while construction is still ongoing.

“This issue brings more attention, and it needs to be addressed,” the GPG officer said.

The owner of the building could not be reached for comments before this paper went to print last night.

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BY INDY MAEALASIA

Guadalcanal Provincial Government (GPG) has become the first province to formally sign an agency agreement with the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) to implement the Education Act 2023.

The agreement signed on Tuesday, July 15, 2025 at the Honiara Hotel, formalises the partnership between the two parties and marks a major step in decentralising education governance in the country.

Minister for Education, Tozen Leokana said the agreement is a step forward; realizing the vision of decentralisation and inclusive governance and bringing decision-making and support closer to the schools, children and communities.

Under this agreement, the province is given a greater authority in planning and managing its education system, while still being aligned to MEHRD’s national goals, policies and the new act.

“It empowers the Guadalcanal provincial government to make decisions on educational matters that are timely, protocol-specific and based on realities on the ground,” Minister Leokana said.

Speaking to Island Sun, Provincial Education Minister, John Botsi said with the agreement, the provincial government is setting up an additional body to ensure the smooth implementation of the act.

Botsi described the signing as a “new chapter in the history of education”. 

“We are simply repealing the old act so in a way, we are saying good bye to the old act and welcoming the new act,” Botsi said.

The signing ceremony was attended by officials from the MEHRD, GPG and representatives of Education providers and schools.

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BY INDY MAEALASIA

THE Guadalcanal Provincial Government is introducing sweeping reforms to further improve the province’s education sector.

Facing a growing population surpassing 180,000, Premier Willie Atu said education is a key priority for his government.

“The population increase is something that we take on board as an opportunity to make a difference,” said Atu.

The premier said that key policies and programs are in place to implement the new Education Act.

“One of the central pillars of this reform is strengthening our manpower,” he said.

He revealed that his government has increased its human resources budget to support structural reforms, and senior officers have already been recruited to lead the province’s education offices, with more appointments expected soon.

Premier Atu also announced the development of a draft Provincial Education Coordination Plan, which will be shared with relevant ministries upon its completion.

“This is a clear demonstration of our seriousness and readiness to deliver on our mandate under the new Act,” he said.

Under the Provincial Capacity Development Fund (PCDF), the premier confirmed that GPG remains committed to improving school infrastructure, learning facilities, and overall education environments.

“Community participation will remain a cornerstone of the province’s education development agenda,” he added.

Premier Atu also highlighted that under the government’s three-year rolling plan, they have taken into account assessment results indicating that schools in Guadalcanal are underperforming in literacy, numeracy, science, and mathematics.

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By RODRICK DESURI

AUKI

Buma Pastoral Training Centre’s classroom in West Kwaio, Malaita Province is in need of urgent renovation.

According to Fr Charles Taloi Kwai, Director of the centre, the building has been standing since the 1960s thus is not safe to continue using it.

He said that while he oversees and manages the training centre, he’ll try his best to acquire funds to renovate the building. 

Kwai said the renovation of the old classroom will not require any funding from the Diocese of Auki, but he said he will send request letters to his friends in and around Malaita Province. 

He mentioned that he has some good news from his friends so he’s hopeful that he can do this.

However, along with renovating the classroom, the catechists also plan and aim to build some new staff houses when they come back to take Block 4 in December 2025.

The centre is built and manned by the Catholic Diocese of Auki.

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Agita Rex, Chairman of the Solomon Islands Honey Cooperative Society (SIHCS), is optimistic about research work on the threats affecting the country’s bee population.

Mr Rex, a bee farmer himself is also part of the group carrying out research work.

He said the programme is supported by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).

Rex expressed that the research aims to tackle disease and what practices farmers should adopt in terms of safeguarding their bee farms and their population.

“It comes under the project Strengthening Beekeeping Industries for Production and Livelihood in the Solomon Islands,” Rex added.

Speaking to the Island Sun at this year’s National Trade Fair in Honiara, Rex said the Solomon Islands Honey Cooperative Society was revived in 2024 since the 1990s and early 2000s due to the ethnic tension.

He mentioned that today, honey populations are reducing due to invasive species, and farmers cannot prevent the spread due to lack of knowledge.

Rex said so far, research on how to deal with the pest, varroa mites, has yielded a positive result.

“Here in Guadalcanal, bees are not healthy due to the virus, varroa mites that weaken bees to forage,” he said.

Rex added that based on the research, it is believed that varroa mite was introduced into the country from Asian bees through logging.

“One of the approved bee treatments against varroa mites is Bayvarol strips. We also use supplement feeding with local resources such as banana, pumpkin, pawpaw and sugar syrup. Results have started to look promising based on the research,” concluded Mr Rex.

He said that Guadalcanal Plains has around 30 bee farmers under the SIHCS.

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

A meeting that proved to be highly informative and insightful was recently held between the Solomon Islands Rangers Association and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) Embassy in Honiara.

Held at the embassy, the meeting between Solomon Islands Rangers Association and officials from the Chinese embassy was about a value-added initiative for conservation.

The meeting will pave way for Solomon Islands Rangers staff to participate in pre-arranged seminars organised by the embassy focused on critical conservation and climate issues in the future.

In addition, the meeting also provided a valuable opportunity to learn, establish connections, and enhance Solomon Islands Rangers’ ongoing efforts while revitalising both parties’ collaboration with community-based conservation initiatives throughout the Solomon Islands.

Members of the SI Rangers team who attended the meeting were SI Rangers Programme manager Eddie Huitarau, Field officer Clerah Maenuia and Guadalcanal Province Head Ranger, Cyril Kulisuia.

Officials from the Chinese embassy were Third Secretary, Zhang Juchao and Ma Yingmei from the Cooperation Section within the Embassy’s Consular and Overseas Chinese Affairs Division.

Third Secretary of the Chinese Embassy, Zhang Juchao appreciates the noble and commendable efforts carried out by the rangers’ office since its inception in 2015.

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

People with Disability Solomon Islands (PWDSI) have, for the first time, showcased their talents and skills at the 2025 National Trade Fair (NTF) in Honiara.

Speaking to Island Sun in an exclusive interview, Stella Waihaho, PWDSI national disability forum coordinator, said that the event is an opportunity to expose and showcase the skills and talents PWDSI possesses.

She said that a total of six affiliates, including the Solomon Islands Deaf Association, blind, vision impairment, the pioneers of the family, psycho-social disability, youths, the umbrella body, and the National Disability Forum were part of the event.

“Despite the challenges they faced, they came out to showcase their abilities to the public. To show that we can also do things. That is one of the important aspects of this NTF to us,” said Ms Waihaho.

She also highlighted that the event provided the opportunity for the PWDSI to gain confidence to take part in such a major event.

“It is important for us to gain the confidence to come out in public. Most of the time, we do not participate in such big shows. It’s an honour and our chance under our space to come out and showcase what we have,” she said.

At the event, PWDSI showcased products such as lavalava, carvings, homemade fans, baskets, earrings, and cooked foods.

“We are happy to join. This is our first time. Thank you, organisers, for including us in this year’s event, National Trade Fair,” she said.

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