BY LORETTA B MANELE

After many years, a professor who once lived among the Sikaiana people to carry out his research makes a return.

According to a press statement from the Sikaiana Cultural Village at Red Beach, North-East Guadalcanal, they received Professor Bill Donner on Wednesday, July 2, 2025.

In an emotional homecoming ceremony, the Sikaiana people welcomed Professor Bill Donner who is a professor of Anthropology and Sociology at Kutztown University in Pennsylvania, United States.

This visit marks 32 years since he last lived among them.

As stated, Professor Donner had conducted extensive ethnographic research on Sikaiana from 1980 to 1993.

“During those years, he immersed himself in the daily life of the islanders, documenting their social structures, customs and worldview in a respectful and lasting partnership”, the statement said.

It is understood that the cultural village typically opens its doors to tourists and visitors but it was opened exclusively for Professor Donner in recognition of the deep bond he has with the Sikaiana community.

“Traditional dances, chants, familiar taste of island food and recollections of the many good old days and the departed (RIP) marked the occasion”, said the statement.

One Sikaiana elder, Robert Elito, expressed that he is not a tourist but one of them.

“He is one of us. He lived with us, listened to us and shared our story with the world,” he said.

As noted in the statement, while in Honiara, the professor will meet with Sikaiana community members to discuss how his research can be better accessed and used by the people themselves.

He is said to also meet with Rev. Dr. Ben Wate and Professor Lincy Pende of the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) and hopes to visit the National Archives and Museum to explore collaboration with the Government Archivist and the Curator.

Also mentioned is that if shipping schedules permit, Professor Donner plans to make a long-hoped for return trip to Sikaiana.

“He plans to make a long-hoped-for return trip to Sikaiana and walk its snow-white shores and swim in its light-blue crystal-clear waters one more time.  Just one more time,” said the statement.

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BY NED GAGAHE

Premier of Central Islands Province, Kenneth Sagupari, has responded to critics who claim that Savo Island has been neglected by the provincial government.

In a statement posted on the Central Islands Province Facebook Forum, Premier Sagupari said that his administration will not ignore the issues affecting Savo people.

“Savo Island is part of Central Province and we will not ignore the issues affecting its people,” Premier Sagupari said.

He said that the absence of large-scale development projects on the island is not due to political bias but rather the result of thoughtful planning and an understanding of local realities.

“Let me be clear: this is not a political issue. Some may think that the lack of large-scale projects on Savo is due to politics, but that is not true,” he said.

“The current approach is based on careful planning and the real situation on the ground. Our people on Savo are innocent and deserve support.”

Premier Sagupari reiterated his government’s dedication to the island, stressing that Savo remains a top priority.

“To those who think Savo is being ignored — you are wrong. Our government strongly prioritizes Savo Island,” he said.

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Malo Kitchen Director and founder, Susan Timi has urged mothers to be positive about their passions.

Also participating at the National Trade Fair in Honiara, she produces two different flours from Cassava and some of her products also include ginger powder, ginger tea and turmeric powder.

Timi expressed that you can produce bread, biscuit, from these cassava flours.

She said for mothers who live in the kitchen, they must be creative.

“We must be creative in what we do in our kitchen,” said Mrs. Timi.

She told the mothers that Cassava is a stable food in Solomon Islands

“In many occasions, people go for plain flour and white flour in the stores. But its better for us to utilize cassava that we grow in our garden and make something out of it. And then there is always a food on the table,” she said.

Timi mentioned that there are also varieties of food that can be produced from cassava starch.

She did not attend any training to process cassava flour but because of her passion in the kitchen, she finally and successfully set up her business in 2021.

Timi thanks the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration (MCILI) for the support rendered towards her business.

Her advice to mothers out there is to always be positive and keep going.

“Always be positive in what you do. Never give up. Keep on doing it. Trust yourself. Think big and go forward,” she said.

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BY NED GAGAHE

Progress is underway in elevating Savo Island’s No Open Defecation (NOD) status after earlier setbacks.

Premier of Central Islands Province, Kenneth Sagupari, revealed that his government recently launched the program in partnership with UNICEF on June 24, 2025.

He stated that the initiative was nearly canceled under the previous administration.

“Just recently, our government launched the UNICEF Sanitation Program for the whole of Savo Island,” he said.

Premier Sagupari stated that the project aims to make Savo a No Open Defecation (NOD) area, potentially one of the first islands in the Solomon Islands to achieve this important health goal.

He said the project is very important to them and although it was nearly canceled under the previous administration, he personally appealed to the donor to allow us to proceed.

“I’m proud to say that we successfully launched the program with UNICEF on June 24, 2025,” said Premier Sagupari.

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BY NED GAGAHE

Premier of Central Islands Province, Hon. Kenneth Sagupari, has assured the people of Central Province that his government remains committed to ensuring fair and equitable distribution of development across the province.

Premier Sagupari made the assurance following public criticism that Savo Island has been overlooked in recent provincial development plans.

“To all our good people of Central Province, especially those on Savo Island, I would like to make it clear that under my leadership, Savo Island remains a top priority for the Central Islands Provincial Government,” Premier Sagupari said.

He clarified that Savo has not been excluded from development plans, particularly in terms of coordination with national government ministries.

“Our government is very concerned about development on the island,” he said.

Premier Sagupari also pointed out safety concerns raised during 2022–2023 by the Ministry of Disaster Management under the leadership of former Premier, Polycarp Galaigu.

The ministry had presented risks related to ongoing volcanic activity on Savo, which affected planning for major infrastructure development.

“Because of these risks, our government will push for the national government to consider a resettlement scheme for the people of Savo,” he said.

However, Premier Sagupari assured that in the meantime, his administration will continue to deliver essential services and small-scale development projects for the island.

Former Premier of Central Province, Michael Salini, has welcomed Premier Sagupari’s assurance that the people of Savo are included in the government’s development agenda.

“It’s good that the Premier and his executive assure the people of Savo that they are prioritised in current development plans,” Salini said.

He confirmed that in the current 2025/2026 budget, funds have been allocated for several projects on Savo under the Provincial Capacity Development Fund (PCDF).

“I would like to urge the Premier and Executive to continue implementing those projects — especially the two classrooms that were not completed. We will be following up on this assurance and keeping the government accountable for its promises,” he added.

On the proposed resettlement scheme, Mr. Salini welcomed the initiative but also called for further progress on the geothermal energy project on Savo.

He said the Ministry of Mines had informed them in a previous meeting that it is working on a national geothermal policy to guide future development in the area.

“Once the policy is in place, then further discussions can proceed. Yes, the resettlement programme is an important one that must be pursued,” he said.

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BY INDY MAEALASIA

THE new Solomon Islands Tertiary Education Skills Plan (SITESP) 2026 will offer 1,445 scholarships aimed at building qualifications and skills in critical workforce shortage areas.

Speaking at a recent official signing, Minister for Education Tozen Leokana said the plan is strategically focused on sectors such as health, education, infrastructure and maritime engineering, including Class 3 and Class 2 marine engineer certification.

“This is to strengthen our national maritime workforce pipeline,” Leokana said.

Under the 2026 plan, 82 percent of scholarships are allocated to Pre-Service applicants, while 18% are reserved for In-Service professionals.

These allocations are based on national workforce needs and priority training areas identified in the SITESP framework.

According to the SITESA Board, 88% of the scholarships will be delivered in-country, primarily through the Solomon Islands National University (SINU), while 12% will support overseas study in specialized fields such as health and maritime.

“This reflects the government’s focus on strengthening local institutions while maintaining critical international partnerships,” the Minister added.

Applications for SITESP 2026 scholarships will open on July 14 and close on September 14.

“I encourage all eligible Solomon Islanders to apply early and carefully review the academic fields and training programmes listed in the approved SITESP 2026 plan,” Minister Leokana urged.

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Philip Micah Tatagho from the Guadalcanal Province reforestation department from the Ministry of Forestry and Research has called on Solomon Islanders to engage in reforestation.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Island Sun yesterday, July 4, 2025, Mr Tatagho said the country’s forest resources will be gone one day if unsustainable harvesting continue.

He said forest resources especially trees have started to decline due to logging, commercial agriculture and population pressure.

“Very soon and one day, our forests, trees will be gone and so the only option is to plant trees,” he stressed.

Mr Tatagho said that the department’s role is to encourage people to plant more trees.

He pointed out that some places in the Solomon Islands do not have trees.

“One day there will be no timber to build our houses, to cook our food, to export, or to sell to meet our needs and wants. That is why reforestation is important to recover the over harvested forest,” he said.

Mr Tatagho said that the phase in which trees have been harvested over the years is more than three to four times unsustainable.

“For example, in GIPPOL, they have to buy timber from timber yards in Honiara to build their house or even for firewood to cook their foods and this is worrying,” he said.

Mr Tatagho said the Reforestation department of the Ministry of Forestry and Research is introducing new tree species in the ongoing National Trade Fair (NTF) at FOPA, SINU Campus.

“The newly introduced tree species are Teak tree, Mahogany and Eucalyptus and they have more value. It can be harvested within 10-20 years. We are also introducing our local trees, but it takes times to be harvested. The public can come and visit our stall located near the Western gate at FOPA,” he said.

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