BY CHRIS ALEX

The Diocese of Central Melanesia (DOCM) Anglican Youth Rally was successfully held earlier this month at the St Nicholas Primary School Hall in Honiara.

This event brought together hundreds of young people from across the region for five days of worship, fellowship and leadership training.

Organised under the theme of “spiritual growth and youth empowerment”, participants engaged in a variety of activities including Bible studies, leadership workshops, praise and worship sessions, and discussions on the role of youth in the Church and society.

Among those who shared their reflections was young leader Desmond Rahe, who delivered a powerful testimony about his experience at the rally.

“I’ve learned so much over these five days not just about leadership and ministry, but about unity, cooperation, and having a vision,” he said.

Rahe emphasised the importance of collective action and purpose.

“As a young man, I’ve come to understand the importance of working together, sharing ideas, and working with purpose. I saw firsthand that when we come together with a goal, we can create real impact,” he said.

Rahe also said the rally has deepened his commitment to supporting and mentoring other young people.

“I want to be part of raising up this next generation, not just for an event, but for a movement. I want to see more youths getting involved, to ease some of the unwanted activities in our communities, and rise to become responsible citizens,” he added.

Organisers expressed satisfaction with the turnout and the spirit of engagement shown throughout the event. They hope to build on the momentum by continuing to host youth activities at the diocesan level and empowering young people to play a positive role in church and national development.

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BY BEN BILUA
GIZO

THE Manager of Noro Ports has acknowledged the role of seafarers and maritime workers in the country.

Speaking after a recent thanksgiving service organised by the Mission, Moses Runikera said the Mission to Seafarers is an integral part of Solomon Islands trans-shipping activities rendering support to service and expertise in different areas.

He said seafarers plays a crucial role in sustaining key industries, particularly tuna exports and the broader shipping sector.

“In places like Noro, sea workers are the backbone of industries such as tuna exports and shipping. Without them, many essential services and businesses would not exist.

“They play a crucial role in keeping our economy running and our communities connected,” Rukeni said.

He also acknowledged the collaborative efforts between the Mission to Seafarers, Solomon Ports, and other key stakeholders to ensure the wellbeing of seafarers is prioritised.

Rukeni’s remarks reflect growing recognition of the importance of frontline maritime workers, whose efforts often go unnoticed despite being central to the country’s economic infrastructure.

The Mission to Seafarers has been active in Noro, providing spiritual support, welfare services, and advocacy for seafarers’ rights and safety.

Their work is seen as vital in a region where Solomon Islands is heavily dependent on maritime transport and labour.

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BY NED GAGAHE

Kadere Party has rejected claims circulating online that the Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT) is on the verge of collapse following recent overseas trip and Cabinet reshuffle.

In a statement, Kadere executives said the rumours of a planned mass resignation were “unsubstantiated and misleading.”

“Such speculation only creates unnecessary fear and division. There is no plot, and GNUT remains united and stable,” the party stated.

Lency Vokia MP — Kadere Party Parliamentary Wing Leader and former Minister for Commerce, now reassigned to the Ministry of Lands — has come under fire for taking an unauthorised trip to Vietnam, where he signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) under the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Act 2025, passed by Parliament on May 26, 2025.

Vokia travelled with two political appointees from the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and signed an agreement with a company identifying itself as SI Group.

Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele responded by sacking the two political appointees and reshuffle Vokia from the Ministry of Commerce to the Ministry of Lands.

The party clarified that recent ministerial changes were part of routine governance and aimed at strengthening the government’s delivery on its reform and development agenda.

“Ministerial reshuffles are normal in any democracy. They ensure alignment with GNUT’s vision for unity, reform, and economic transformation,” the statement said.

The statement reaffirmed GNUT’s commitment to national service, noting that the Prime Minister and Cabinet are focused on addressing key priorities and maintaining stability during a challenging time for the country.

“The government is intact. Cabinet continues to work tirelessly for the people,” the statement said.

Kadere Party urges the public to rely on official sources and avoid spreading misinformation online.

“Let us focus on building a stronger, united Solomon Islands rather than feeding into unfounded rumours,” the statement concluded.

The response follows days of speculation on social media suggesting political tension within the coalition.

“We urge the public to refrain from spreading unverified information and instead rely on official sources for updates. Let us focus our collective efforts on building a stronger and more united Solomon Islands,”  the party executives said.

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a global health concern responsible for approximately 95 percent of cervical cases worldwide.

Minister of Health and Medical Services (MHMS), Paul Popora Bosawai, stressed this at the launch of the National Human Papillomavirus (HPV) catch-up campaign at Nguvia Primary School, Guadalcanal Province, this month.

He said in Solomon Islands, the impact of HPV is increasingly concerning.

Bosawai added that cervical cancer ranks as the top most frequent cancer among Solomon Islands women, particularly those between the ages of 15 and 44, followed by breast cancer.

He told participants at the launch that 44 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer infection and 38 women with breast cancer in 2018.

Moreover, the minister expressed that he is pleased to announce that Solomon Islands, through the Ministry of Health, is taking a decisive step for the commencement of the HPV vaccine rollout, which has immediately started.

“I am indeed grateful that some of our young girls between the ages of 9 years and 14 years in Nguvia School will benefit from the HPV campaign programme, receiving a single dose of HPV vaccine,” he said.

The minister said many more girls will receive their vaccines in the future.

“These young girls will be protected from the Human Papilloma Virus later in life and therefore reduce their risk of developing cervical cancer when they become adult women,” he said.

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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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