BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

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

The Solomon Islands Meteorological Service (SIMS) said the situation: a general southeast trade wind flow persists over the Solomon Islands.

SIMS said there is an expected southeast wind of 20 to 25 knots over waters of Rennell/Bellona, Makira, Temotu, Guadalcanal, Malaita and Central provinces.

Additionally stated, seas will be moderate to rough with moderate swells (2.5 to 3.0 meters).

People in the above areas are advised to take precautionary measures as such strong winds have the potential to impact lives and properties.

SIMS stated that sea travellers are urged to consider safety actions, as such winds can produce dangerous wave conditions, which are hazardous to small boats.

“A strong wind warning means that winds of 20 to 25 knots, which may gust up to 33 knots, are expected to produce hazardous sea wave conditions to small crafts. The decision as to the degree of hazard will be left up to the boatman, based on his experience and size and type of boat.

“Be aware that these wave forecasts are an average. the height of some individual waves can be expected to be as much as two times greater,” said SIMS.

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-IUU fishing costs Pacific economies over USD 333 million each year

BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Despite major progress in combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, the threat continues to undermine the hard-won gains of Pacific Island states in safeguarding their tuna resources.

Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) Director-General Mr Noan Pakop, addressing regional judicial leaders at the 2025 Regional Judicial Symposium in Honiara, warned that the fight is far from over.

“While these achievements are significant, they are not guaranteed,” said Mr Pakop.

“IUU undermines conservation efforts, drains vital revenue and erodes the long-term viability of our tuna stocks.”

IUU fishing is estimated to cost the Pacific over USD 333 million annually — funds Mr Pakop says are stolen from the region’s future.

“Every dollar lost to IUU fishing is a dollar taken from our children’s classrooms, our health systems, our vaccinations, our infrastructure and our communities,” he stressed.

While the Pacific has managed to reduce IUU-related losses by 50% since 2017, the Director-General made it clear that the battle is not yet won.

He called on the region’s legal custodians to play a more active role in strengthening fisheries protection.

“Strong legal frameworks, vigilant enforcement and responsive judicial systems are indispensable,” he said.

“I hope that through your rulings, your gavels become powerful deterrents against IUU fishing.”

The Regional Judicial Symposium, which concluded on Friday last week, brought together chief justices, high court judges and international fisheries law experts.

The aim is to deepen legal understanding and cooperation on fisheries management across national, regional and global levels.

Tuna fisheries is one of the Pacific’s most valuable natural resources, generating billions in economic benefits across the region.

But experts warn that continued vigilance and legal reform are crucial to preserve them for future generations.

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BY LORETTA B MANELE

There are some challenges I face a long the way as a female chief.

Rose Irene Nida, a female chief from Central Province voiced this during a recent interview with the paper at Leitongo village over the weekend during a consultation meeting for chiefs from the province.

She stressed that one challenge she experiences is people not following what she says.

Nida said at times, when this happens, she decides just to stay out of the way but at the end of the day she doesn’t let this stop her from carrying out her duties as a chief.

“But this doesn’t affect me all the time. I just continue to do my work as a chief.”

Nida mentioned that in her community, as female chiefs they are also responsible for solving issues or problems that may occur between couples and even between women.

When asked about her advice for a woman who will soon become a chief, she said as a female chief they must carry themselves with the character of a woman that is caring for her community, people and strangers.

She was one of a few female chiefs who attended the recent two-day “Sandfly Buena Vista House of Chiefs Consultation Meeting” from Sunday, June 15 to Monday 16 in Leitongo village, Central Province.

The meeting was held accommodating three Houses of Chiefs namely; Vatilau, Sandfly and Ravu Houses of Chiefs.

Chiefs in attendance at the meeting came together and on the second day of the meeting voted to form a new House of Chiefs called “Sandfly Buena Vista House of Chiefs” of which Nida is now a part of.

Prior to being a part of this new setting, Nida comes from Vatilau House of Chiefs.

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BY NED GAGAHE

Soltuna Limited donated 15 cartons of tuna to support upcoming Biabina Youth and Children Festival scheduled to take place at Poro village, Isabel from July 1-7.

The weeklong event is expected to bring together well over 1000 youths within Gao/Bugotu Constituency to participate in various activities.

The cartons of tuna will supplement prizes that will be presented during the competitions and will also be used for consumption.

During a brief handover yesterday at Soltuna, Marketing Manager Mr Kenwood Harry said Soltuna is happy to support the Biabina Festival.

Mr Kenwood said Soltuna Ltd as a locally owned company with NPF as a major shareholder always supports initiatives like this.

He said the company has been here for more than 40 years and helps a lot in the communities.

“As part of our corporate social responsibility we are proud to be part of nation building in terms of youth development in the country,” Mr Harry said.

He said Soltuna Ltd is very encouraged to support young people who will become leaders in the near future.

“How you choose to use the donation—whether as prizes or for consumption—is entirely up to you. What matters is that this contribution reflects our commitment to supporting our communities. Initiatives like this are vital for shaping young people to become valuable members of society in the future,” Mr. Harry said.

Coordinator of Biabina Festival Fr. Ellison Gito has acknowledged Soltuna for their kind support on behalf of the organizing committee.

He said seeing local companies supporting our young people is encouraging.

“I sincerely thank Soltuna for these cartons of tuna that will be used during the festival,”

“On behalf of the local organizing committee I would like to register our sincere acknowledgement for kind donation,” he said.

Fr Ellison Gito said he looks forward to future partnerships with Soltuna Ltd to develop youth through such festival.

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By LORETTA B MANELE

Female health practitioners from the National Referral Hospital (NRH) for the first time attended a meeting with representatives from the National Council of Women (NCW) and Vois Blong Mere Solomon (VBMS) yesterday.

The meeting, held at NRH’s conference room was to discuss collaborative efforts to advance women’s health through advocacy and campaigns.

Kristina Sogavare, Vice President of NCW whilst speaking to the paper, said they came to establish a network with female health workers at NRH.

She said NCW is an umbrella body that represents women organizations across the nation thus having this space with women working at the hospital is very important.

“The medical field is very important to push for women’s agenda in terms of women’s health and maternal health.

This association is very important because there has been a lot of cries from women working in the health sector over the years.

So NCW, as an umbrella body wants to take everyone on board so that we can work together.”

In her message to female health practitioners, she said as women, there are many times where we work a lot and we don’t feel that we are heard and we see our job as just a 9-to-5 job.

Sogavare stressed that amidst this, we have to be strategic and work within existing legislative structures.

“We have a lot of needs and so it is important to not give up. We must work and strive hard. We must work together and collaborate with other organizations.

“Never give up. Work hard. I know our nurses are very hardworking women.”

Nerol Vaekesa, Director for Vois Blong Mere Solomon referred to the meeting as “exciting”.

She said the day was exciting because they’ve started a partnership.

Vaekesa highlighted that both NCW and VBMS are happy to partner with NRH and now they have a space where our health practitioners especially women can raise their voices on issues that affect them not only in their workplaces but as well as in their communities.

“So, we look forward for an exciting collaboration.

It is important to collaborate with NRH because health intercepts with many things in our lives and many of us women can become sick or affected if any one in our homes get sick.

And when we get sick and come to the hospital, it is the health practitioners that will take care of us.”

Vaekesa pointed out that it is also important that the environment of health practitioners is safe and conducive so they can enjoy their work at the same time serve patients who come to the hospital.

Dr Janella Solomon, Medical Superintendent of NRH voiced that the meeting was a first of its kind for them.

“This is the first time for our female clinical and non-clinical health workers to hear about the work and role of NCW and how we can contribute positively to their work and how we can benefit from it.

It is also the first time for some us to hear about VBM. So, we are looking at how we can utilize this space to help support women through VBM.”

Solomon calls on all women working in the health sector including those in the provinces and those who contribute in any way to work in the health sector to join NCW and utilize VBMS so they can collectively address the needs and gaps in their workplaces.

Female health workers at the meeting included clinical and non-clinical workers from different departments of NRH.

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Judiciaries have and will continue to play a pivotal role in the development and implementation of legislative and institutional regimes for sustainable development.

Chief Justice of Solomon Islands, Sir Albert R. Palmer voiced this during at the opening of a three-day Judicial Symposium 2025 at the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) conference centre which commenced in Honiara yesterday.

In attendance at the symposium are chief justices, high court judges and international fisheries legal experts to strengthen the understanding of how legal developments impact the management of fisheries nationally, regionally and globally.

“A judiciary well-informed on the contemporary developments in the field of international and national imperatives of environmentally friendly development will be a major force in strengthening national efforts to realise the goals of environmentally friendly development and in vindicating the rights of individuals substantively and in assessing the judicial process and development,” said Sir Palmer.

He said the fisheries sector is not only foundational, but also fundamentally shared.

“Since the mid-1980s, our political leaders have demonstrated remarkable vision by embracing regional cooperation through the establishment of the Forum Fisheries Agency. This has evolved into one of the most admired regional fisheries organisations,” he said.

Sir Palmer said FFA’s success has fostered a harmonised regional approach to fisheries law and policy.

“With this harmonisation comes a pressing need for consistency in judicial interpretation and application across jurisdictions. As our legal and environmental challenges evolve, so too must our jurisprudence and professional development,” he said.

“Many of the rules and principles on this page were not part of the curriculum when many of us entered the legal profession. Therefore, continuous learning and judicial education are essential to remain current with the shifting landscape of international fisheries law.”

He said this is the third symposium co-hosted by the Solomon Islands Judiciary and the FFA, the first being in 2016 and the second in 2019.

“It is my strong belief that through dialogue, collaboration and shared learning, we can continue to strengthen our judicial systems and bridge our solidarity,” said Sir Palmer.

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BY BEN BILUA

A surge of unregulated gold seekers at the Gold Ridge mine site is becoming an issue to licensed mining company legally endorsed to operate at the site.

Chief Walter Nazon has raised serious concerns about the situation, describing the influx as a “human drift” of people from all over the country pouring into the area with the hope of striking it rich.

He said, the chaos is taking a toll not only on the community but also on the formal mining sector as the situation contributes to the rise of other social issues.

“Gold Ridge is being invaded by people trying to pan gold for a living.

“This has never been experienced before,” Nazon said.

He said licensed miners who are supposed to operate under strict safety and environmental regulations are now forced to work alongside hundreds of unregulated individuals posing huge risk to human lives.

“This is a national project.

“The landowners and the government agreed on a lease of 36 years and we were given the right to be there as per our license,” Nazon said.

He further stated that the presence of foreign actors operating with locals is contributing to the issue.

Nazon alleged that there is a network of foreign businessmen operating through local buying agents at the site.

“Some of these businessmen are not licensed to buy gold, meaning these people breached our laws without consequences,” he said.

Nazon said his company has reached an agreement with the national government and now officers from the Royal Solomon Island Police Force are being deployed to manage the area.

He said people are slowing leaving the mining site with the help of the police.

Nazon acknowledges the government for its support towards the Gold Ridge National project.

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