BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

Premier of Western Province, Billy Veo, has raised serious concerns over the lack of consultation on the proposed Mineral and Resource Bill, saying his executive was unaware of any public or provincial engagement on the draft legislation.

In an exclusive interview with Island Sun, Veo revealed that his government only learned about the bill when it reached the Bills and Legislation Committee (BLC).

He stressed that the bill has bypassed a crucial process of inclusive consultation, especially at the provincial level.

“I’m not aware of any consultation that was conducted in Western Province. I haven’t sighted the bill myself,” Premier Veo said.

He stressed that the mining industry is a highly sensitive and potentially destructive form of development that requires a cautious and participatory approach.

“Mining is a devastating development and the government has failed in its responsibilities to ensure that people of Solomon Islands have equal participation in the decision-making processes,” he added.

Former Premier for Western Province, Christian Burley Mesepitu, also confirmed there was no consultation on the bill during his time in office.

“I was an MPA for 12 years and never at any time did I come across the bill.

“I think wider consultation is critical because such development will have devastating impacts on the people and the environment,” he said.

Both leaders pointed to the potential social and environmental consequences of mining activities and called for the national government to rethink its approach by ensuring transparency, provincial inclusion and grassroots participation before finalizing the bill.

The Mineral and Resource Bill is currently under review by the Bills and Legislation Committee, with national leaders continuing to face growing scrutiny over the limited engagement with provincial governments and communities who are expected to bear the brunt of extractive operations.

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BY BEN BILUA

Gizo

The Premier of Western Province has raised serious concerns over the national mining law, claiming that it undermines the province’s authority to regulate mining activities within its jurisdiction.

Speaking exclusively to Island Sun, Premier Billy Veo said the current Mines and Minerals legislation grants decision-making powers solely to landowners and the national government, leaving provincial governments with little to no say in the approval process for prospecting and mining licenses.

“The mining industry is one industry that provinces have no control over. All powers to grant licenses are vested in the national government.

“Provinces are involved in the process after prospecting or mining license are approved at the national level,” he said.

Veo emphasized that the province’s role is limited to issuing business licenses—a step that can be overridden by the national government if deemed obstructive.

“In circumstances where the province refuses to grant a business license, the government will use the Mines and Minerals Law to bypass such requirement. This is where we clash,” he explained.

Veo argued that that lack of provincial involvement in early decision-making has led to tensions and undermines the will of local communities, especially when provinces oppose mining activities.

“As a government, we say no to mining,” he said.

Island Sun understands that Western Province has developed its own Mining Policy to guide decisions and uphold its stance on the issue.

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Premier Billy Veo appeals to SolAir to improve services in light of growing arrival of tourists in the Western province

BY BEN BILUA

GIZO

WESTERN Province has recorded an encouraging rise in tourist arrivals over the past year, but frequent disruptions to domestic flights are threatening to undermine the gains made in the province’s growing tourism sector.

Speaking to Island Sun, Premier of Western Province, Billy Veo confirmed that tourism numbers have been steadily increasing since June last year, particularly in diving hotspots like Munda and Gizo.

“I travel to and from Honiara frequently. I saw many tourists coming to Western Province.

“Most are attracted to our pristine underwater world, our reefs and marine life continue to draw divers from across the globe,” he said.

However, Veo raised serious concerns about the reliability of air services to Western Province, especially the limited and inconsistent operation of Solomon Airlines’ Dash 8 aircraft.

“We have witnessed a number of flight cancellations. Tourists are getting frustrated when they miss their connecting international flights due to delayed or cancelled domestic services,” he said.

Veo stressed that the ongoing flight issues are tarnishing the country’s image and directly affecting tourism revenues for the province and the nation.

He called on the management of Solomon Airlines to urgently address the situation and improve flight reliability to Western Province.

Veo also renewed calls for Solomon Airlines to facilitate direct international flights to Munda International Airport.

“Having direct flights from overseas to Munda would ease the burden on tourists and boost the province’s economic growth,” he said.

Island Sun understands that Western Province is home to some of Solomon Islands’ most iconic natural attractions and is a key destination for the nation’s tourism ambitions.

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Judge Dr Kathy-Ann Brown of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) has highlighted legal duty as one tool for addressing Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing in the Pacific region.

A press statement from the FFA Honiara said Judge Brown made the statement when she spoke during the recently concluded 2025 Judicial Symposium in Honiara, Friday last week.

Judicial representatives from eight FFA Members who attended the Judicial Symposium were from the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu.

Brown called on Pacific judicial leaders to reinforce legal frameworks that address Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing and uphold obligations under international law in her keynote address.

She also outlined how legal responsibilities under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) are evolving, especially in terms of due diligence and flag state liability within the Exclusive Economic Zones.

“The standard of due diligence has to be more severe for the riskier activities,” Judge Brown stated, referencing IUU fishing within Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs).

“The Tribunal addresses the sorts of measures that flag states would be expected to take to fulfil their due diligence obligations concerning IUU fishing in the EEZ,” she added.

“A flag state could be held liable only where there has been a failure to comply with its due diligence obligation,” Brown said.

She voiced that sanctions for IUU fishing must be strong enough to remove the benefits of non-compliance and to deter future violations.

Over the three-day event, judicial leaders engaged in dialogue on international fisheries law, compliance challenges and the critical role of legal interpretation in securing sustainable fisheries for the Pacific region.

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