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Strong wind warning remains effective

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

A strong wind warning from the Solomon Islands Meteorological Services (SIMS) remains effective.

On Thursday, July 11, 2025, SIMS issued “Strong Wind Warning Number Nineteen” at 4:00 pm.

SIMS said the strong wind warning is current for waters of Temotu, Makira, Rennell & Bellona, Guadalcanal, Central, Malaita and Western provinces.

The situation from this strong wind warning is a that a general easterly trade wind flow persists over the Solomon Islands.

SIMS also said southeast winds of 20 to 25 knots are expected over waters of Temotu, Makira, Rennell & Bellona, Guadalcanal, Central, Malaita and Western provinces.

Seas are also said to be moderate to rough with moderate swells at 2.5 meters.

“People in those areas should take precautionary measures, as such strong winds have the potential to impact lives and properties. Sea travellers are urged to consider safety actions as such winds can produce dangerous wave conditions which are hazardous to small boats,” the statement said.

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Bail application for Supreme murder case adjourned

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BY ROMINAH FAKA

High Court has adjourned the bail application hearing for defendant Zayn Taisia Gegeu to August 11, 2025.

Bail application was scheduled for Friday, July 11, 2025, however, it was adjourned following an issue that arose in a separate matter involving the same defendant at the Magistrate Court.

Defendant, Gegeu had been convicted of assault causing bodily harm and sentenced to 17 months’ imprisonment, with the sentence backdated to account for the time already spent in custody.

Prosecution also objected to defence’s bail application and defence needed time to finalise its bail applications considering the defendant’s sentence at Magistrate Court as well.

Prosecution charged Zayn Taisia Gegeu with one count of murder and one count of driving without valid licence.

Prosecution alleged between 3am to 5am on January 1, 2024, he drove a vehicle through Supreme Casino’s second boom gate at the Eastern side and then made a quick turn heading back in the westerly direction at a very high speed.

Prosecutor further alleged that the defendant drove straight towards a group of girls, including the deceased.

When the group of girls saw the vehicle moving towards them, they jumped out of the way but unfortunately it hit the deceased.

After Taisia hit the victim, he reversed the vehicle and escaped out of the Supreme Casino area.

The deceased was transported to the National Referral Hospital (NRH) where she was later pronounced dead.

The accused was arrested and charged with one count of murder and one count of driving without a valid licence.

John Wesley Zoze from Public Prosecution Office act for the Crown and Chris Rarumae act for Zane Taisia Gegeu.

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Stolen gold ash case to return to court July 14

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BY ROMINAH FAKA

The Magistrate Court has administratively adjourned the gold ashes theft case to Monday next week, July 14, for sentencing submissions for Peter Olben, who previously pleaded guilty to the offence.

Two individuals, a couple, Max Gura and Mirriam Keni Sasau, also charged in connection with the stolen gold ashes, are scheduled to appear in court on the same date to enter their pleas to an amended, lesser charge of receiving from simple larceny which they were both initially charged with.

The incident occurred on September 24, 2024, when the principal accused, Peter Olben, stole eight plastic bags of gold ashes weighing 8,992.10 grammes.

On September 26, 2024, Gura allegedly transported Olben in his vehicle to help him evade police and hid him at his village in Guadalcanal.

It is further alleged that Gura received a portion of the stolen gold ashes from Olben after dropping him off at the hideout.

Sasau allegedly sold a portion of the stolen gold ashes and collected approximately $160,000, which she then returned to her husband, Gura and Olben.

Police also alleged that Olben gave Gura and Sasau an additional $10,000.

On October 3, 2024, Sasau was intercepted by officers from Henderson Police at the Henderson area while attempting to sell another plastic bag containing gold ashes, which she had received from Gura and Olben.

Olben later escaped to Auki and handed the remaining gold ashes to Gura, who sought a buyer. Gura allegedly sold the gold ashes in portions.

Police investigations later discovered that Gura had used the proceeds to purchase several vehicles and distributed them among his family members. He is alleged to have bought a three-door RAV4, a two-ton vehicle and a Hilux, all of which were shipped to Auki.

Gura and Sasau are also alleged to have purchased a piece of land at Tasahe B, where they are currently building a home.

On December 5, 2024, police executed a search warrant at the residence of Gura and Sasau in Lunga.

During the search, officers reportedly found a small Szeba bottle containing several grams of gold ashes, $6,317.60 in cash and small medicine-like plastic containers used to store and weigh gold ashes, which still contained gold residue.

Police also discovered police uniforms and other property belonging to the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF).

Iete Tebakota from the Police Prosecution Department is prosecuting the case. Donation Houa of PSO is representing Max Gura, Syvia Pitamama is acting for Peter Olben and Roria Sikua is representing Mirriam Keni Sasau.

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‘Past governments overlooked annual trade fair’

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The reason for not hosting the Annual National Trade Fair (ANTF) for the past 14 years is due to the government’s failure.

The Deputy Secretary Technical for the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration (MCILI), Mr Donga, said that when he delivered his remarks at the NTF closing ceremony held on Thursday this week at Solomon Islands National University (SINU), Panatina village.

“But I would like to say thank you to the current government of National Unity and Transformation. We did not have it during the past 14 years because successive governments overlooked us when we requested the funds to host the event,” he said.

“The current government sees that this is a very important event and so on behalf of the Minister of Commerce, I would like to thank the government of National Unity for seeing this fit, including us and giving us the funds to organise this year,” said Donga.

He said they have been asking the previous government every year to host this important event.

“The Ministry of Commerce and the National Government will continue to support you, so that your products will develop, that you continue to provide employment and expand your businesses, so that you can contribute to the welfare of the people of Solomon Islands,” he said.

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High-level delegation to visit Western province for school meal project

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BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

A high-level delegation from the Embassy of Japan (EoJ), UNICEF and the Solomon Islands Government (SIG) will visit Western province next week.

The visit is part of “The Project for Nutrition Improvement through School Meals,” which is being implemented in Isabel and Western Provinces to improve children’s health, school attendance and learning outcomes through proper nutrition.

The delegation will pay a courtesy call on Western Province Premier Billy Veo upon arrival on Monday, July 14, 2025.

The team will also visit key institutions in Gizo, including the Gizo Hospital, the Provincial Education Office and the Agriculture Division of the Western Provincial Government.

On Tuesday, the delegation will travel to schools participating in the project.

These include RC Nicolson College in South Vella La Vella and Patupaele Community High School in North Kolombangara.

The school meal program is a collaborative effort aimed at improving nutritional standards for students while also boosting agricultural production and promoting healthy eating habits.

It also looks at supporting the local economy by sourcing produce from nearby communities.

The visit signifies the joint commitment of international and national partners to advance education and health outcomes for children in rural communities.

Furthermore, the visit highlights the importance of strong collaboration between government agencies, development partners and communities to ensure the project’s long-term success.

It is expected to bring fresh insights and further strengthen coordination among stakeholders involved in the school meal initiative.

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MCILI acknowledge NTF contributors

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration (MCILI) Deputy Secretary Technical, Mr. Cornelius Donga, has thanked those who made this year’s National Trade Fair (NTF) a success.

Speaking on behalf of the MCILI Permanent Secretary during the closing ceremony on Thursday, July 10, 2025, Mr Donga said that it was not easy for a ministry to host such a big event.

“Ministry of Commerce wants to convey our sincere thanks and gratitude to all of you. It has not been easy, it was challenging for a ministry to host such a big event,” said Mr Donga.

“We thank the government that they allocated funds to support us,” he added.

Mr Donga said that the Ministry of Commerce is also engaged with the World Expo, currently going on in Osaka, Japan.

“It has started in April and it’s ending in October. So, the ministry is stretched in terms of manpower and financial support and so we are very grateful that we have a very successful National Trade Fair,” he said.

Mr Donga mentioned that the previous Trade fair was held back in 2014, 14 years ago.

“I would like to thank all those who have committed,” he said.

Mr Donga said although the weather was not very friendly during the week, participants stayed on and continued with the exhibitions.

“We learned from what we have done today, this year and we promise that next year we will have a better one,” he noted.

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Solomon Islands and China grow cooperation

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BY CHRIS ALEX

The strong diplomatic relations between Solomon Islands and China continues to deepen.

This was highlighted by the donation of essential technology and supplies to the Solomon Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade (MFAET) on Friday, July 11, 2025, ahead of major international events, including the upcoming 54th Pacific Island Forum (PIF) Meeting in September this year.

MFAET Permanent Secretary, Collin Beck, in a statement expressed deep gratitude for China’s ongoing assistance, particularly emphasising the symbolic meaning of ongoing assistance from the Chinese government.

“Let me put this into perspective by using the word “China” as an abbreviation that captures the essence of our relationship,” Beck said.

“C for Cooperation – It reflects the close friendship and solidarity between Solomon Islands and China. Our relationship is built on mutual respect and equality.

“H for Hand of Friendship – Beck highlighted China’s unwavering support for Solomon Islands and the Pacific region, describing it as a true gesture of friendship.

“I for Indispensable Gifts – The donation, which includes ten desktop computers, two laptops, a printer, accessories, 80 handbags, 80 t-shirts and 72 sets of notebooks, is intended to enhance the ministry’s efficiency and comfort. This support also comes at a pivotal time as the country prepares to host several high-level international events.

“N for Enabling Relations – This donation strengthens the relations between our two countries and enhances our ability to maintain global multilateral standards based on international law.

“A for Appreciation – Beck expressed sincere thanks for the timely assistance that will help the ministry to manage the fast-changing international landscape, particularly with cutting-edge technology,” he stressed.

Beck highlighted that the gifts are more than just tools as they are also enablers of growth and progress.

“This generosity supports our national development goals and ensures that we can contribute to a united and prosperous global community,” he added.

The relationship between Solomon Islands and China has been growing stronger over the years, with China emerging as one of the Pacific region’s largest trading partners. The donation also aligns with broader infrastructure initiatives in the region, such as the 161 telecommunications towers currently under construction, marking a significant step forward in improving connectivity and fostering development in the Pacific.

“China has consistently shown that it is a trusted dialogue partner and we deeply appreciate their role in our growth.

“As we prepare for the Pacific Island Forum and continue to strengthen our bilateral ties, we remain committed to upholding the principles of sovereignty and the One-China Policy”, said Beck.

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PINCH AND PAN

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-Number of police officers in security operation at Gold Ridge mine accused of stealing ore

-‘At end of shift they would return with rice bags filled with high-grade soil and pan them’

BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Police officers in an ongoing security operation at Gold Ridge are taking out high mineral content soil and selling gold they pan from this soil, it is reported.

Police officers from this security operation who witnessed the above activity, spilled the beans to Island Sun describing the action by their colleagues as tantamount to stealing Gold Ridge property.

Gold Ridge management said they are not aware of this allegation.

Police have also chosen to remain silent.

It is understood the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) provides security support to the Gold Ridge mine under an agreement between the two entities.

RSIPF officers deployed in this operation are from the elite police response team (PRT), central response unit (CRU), Central police station, frontline, Henderson station, Kukum traffic station and White River station.

“After their shift, our colleague police officers involved in this stealing activity brought back bags laden with high-grade soil and panned them. They then sold the gold they got from panning these ores,” the police officers told Island Sun.

“They make big money out of this activity and buy properties such as cars, some slowly build their houses. One officer came back with three 10kg rice bags filled with the soil and got $75,000 from the gold he panned,” the officers said.

The officers told Island Sun that this action is stealing because any soil with commercial value within the mining tenement belongs to the Gold Ridge company.

“Although it may seem like a small, minor action to take away bags of this soil, it is still illegal and the last people who should be doing such are police officers. This goes against our constitutional duties and responsibilities,” they said.

Walton Naezon, chairman of Gold Ridge Mining Limited (GRML) said he was not aware of these allegations.

“I am not aware of this alleged activity. It was a rumour and as a chairman of Gold Ridge Mining Limited (GRML) and Gold Ridge Community Investment Limited (GCIL), the landowner company that owns a stake in the mine, I deny that,” Mr Naezon said in an interview on June 18, 2025.

He said RSIPF has an agreement with GRML to provide safety at GRML site and ensure that employees, landowners and nearby residents respect the GRML operation as it is a national project.

“In terms of the RSIPF security operation, we, the GRML, have an agreement with them. This agreement would lapse at the end of this month (June). It was started two months ago,” said Neazon.

“The agreement is to ensure that there is no illegal mining operation, illegal gold buyers who have no license, reduced anti-social behaviours and illegal selling of alcohol in the GRML premises. More importantly to ensure the GRML working environment is safe for every party and we must know that it is a government national project, for this reason, we came up with this agreement,” he said.

Island Sun understands that the operation has not ended.

Meanwhile, a senior officer within the RSIPF who wishes to remain anonymous, said in an interview last month that it would be wrong for the RSIPF to be involved in such a security operation without proper agreements and arrangements.

 “What I understand is that the RSIPF previously had an MOU with the St Barbara Gold Ridge mining company. We have an MOU with them under our previous management, but not under the current RSIPF Management.

“From what I heard, officers are paid to provide security operations, which is illegal. RSIPF has a policy against “secondary employment ” that prohibits police officers not to have other jobs apart from their current job.

“So, this means that these officers have breached this policy and they should have been terminated,” said the officer.

The officer said that this issue has been going on for quite some time now.

“Pay per day per head for the officers was $300. I know this information from interacting with officers,” the senior RSIPF officer said.

RSIPF has not responded to enquiry emails sent through its media unit for a month.

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Fiji, SI, Vanuatu historic joint submission of ECS areas to UN

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BY LORETTA B MANELE

Fiji, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu together have presented a joint submission of Extended Continental Shelf (ECS) areas to the United Nations, a move considered historic.

According to a recent statement from SPC, (The Pacific Community), the three countries have taken a major step to secure 453,400 square kilometres of shared ocean heritage.

“The countries submitted three Extended Continental Shelf (ECS) submissions to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS),” said SPC.

As stated, the submissions, cover the North Fiji Basin (Fiji, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu), the Melanesian Borderland Plateau (Fiji and Solomon Islands) and a national claim for the extended continental shelf (Fiji) of the Lau-Colville and Tonga-Kermadec Ridges.

SPC said international recognition is sought for seabed areas beyond 200 nautical miles under Article 76 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

“They are crucial to securing Pacific sovereignty, protecting ocean resources for sustainable development, safeguarding entitlements against sea-level rise and ensuring clear jurisdiction for managing ocean spaces,” said SPC.

SPC stressed that establishing ownership of extended continental shelves and their resources is important for the wellbeing and political stability of Pacific Island States.

“Until these “gaps in the world map” are closed, coastal states cannot fully protect their interests or effectively manage their ocean resources,” said SPC.

With support from a consortium of partners, The Pacific Community (SPC), has been instrumental in assisting countries with these submissions.

These submissions as mentioned by SPC, will ensure ownership of the extended continental shelf areas to unlock marine resources for economic growth, strengthen sovereignty, create jobs and help safeguard the ocean for future generations.

SPC’s Maritime Boundaries Advisor Malakai Vakautawale, said this is important for Pacific Island countries because it enables them to benefit from natural resources vital for marine conservation, climate resilience and sustainable development.

He also stated that these submissions align with global efforts to secure climate-resilient maritime boundaries that protect sovereignty and preserve entitlements against sea-level rise.

“They also support SDG 14, Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdictions and the vision of a thriving Blue Pacific Continent,”, said Vakautawale.

Fiji’s Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Dr Raijeli Taga, expressed that the submission was about ensuring that ocean wealth supports national development and environmental protection.

“This achievement is about safeguarding the future of our people. By securing these rights, we can ensure that the wealth beneath our ocean contributes to national development while protecting our marine environment,” he said.

Solomon Islands Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mr Collin Beck, raised importance of national sovereignty and community benefit.

“This submission strengthens our sovereignty and our ability to manage ocean resources in a way that benefits every Solomon Islander, today and in the future,” he said.

Vanuatu’s Head of Maritime and Ocean Affairs, Toney Tevi, reflected on what the joint effort means for Pacific solidarity.

He highlighted that our ocean is the very foundation of our livelihoods, sustaining our communities and cultures.

“This collaborative effort exemplifies the powerful outcomes that can arise from Pacific unity. Together, we are committed to safeguarding the marine environments that nourish us and future generations,” he said.

The joint ECS submissions were able to make way with support from the Pacific Community (SPC) Maritime Boundaries Programme.

This programme is a multi-year initiative funded by the United Kingdom Government, in collaboration with regional and international partners and technical consultancy provided by GeoLimits Consulting.

SPC stated that during their submissions, the governments of Fiji, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu expressed their deep gratitude to the United Kingdom government for their generous financial support which was core for the multi-country effort to succeed.

The Pacific Community noted that the submissions demonstrate Pacific leadership in global ocean governance and contribute to shared regional goals, including the 100 percent ocean-managed Pacific vision and Sustainable Development Goal 14.

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A successful National Trade Fair concludes

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The Solomon Islands 2025 Annual National Trade Fair (NTF) successfully came to an end yesterday, Thursday, July 10, 2025.

This year’s theme is “Trade for Transformation – Rebuilding our Happy Isles”.

The fair is a revival of the event, previously known as the “Trade Show” and aims to showcase local industries, products and services, alongside cultural performances and business networking.

The two-week event was formally closed by the Minister for Agriculture and Livestock, Franklyn Wasi.

Present at the closing ceremony were senior government officials, Minister for Women, Youth, Children & Family Affairs, Ministry for Commerce, Industry, Labour & Immigration, Deputy Secretary Technical, National Trade Fair Chairman, Representatives of State-Owned Enterprises, Private Sector and Business Community Representatives of NGOs and Civil Society Organizations and Stall Operators and Participants of the National Trade Fair.

Was voiced that events like the trade fair are critical platforms not only to showcase local products but to attract investment, encourage innovation and inspire transformation in agriculture and beyond.

Wasi, thanked exhibitors who brought their best to the fair, the organisers behind the scenes and every citizen who supported local products to make a meaningful connection in this year’s event.

“As we bring this chapter to a close, let it not be the end but the beginning of renewed collaboration among government, business and the people. Let this trade fair be a springboard for continued dialogue, innovation and inclusive growth.

“With these final words, ladies and gentlemen, I am honoured to officially declare the Solomon Islands Annual National Trade Fair 2025 closed,” said Wasi.

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