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Man charged with malicious injury to know fate on May 6

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BY MELVILLE TITIULU

A man who has pleaded guilty to counts of malicious injury and criminal trespass will know his fate on May 6 when court delivers its sentence.

The Magistrate Court yesterday heard oral and written submissions from Prosecution and Defence into the case of a man accused of causing malicious injury and criminal trespass.

Billy Buga, 35, of Fourou village, North Malaita, Malaita Province is charged with two counts.

The first count is in relation to malicious injuries contrary to section 326(1) of the Penal Code. It has a maximum penalty of two-year imprisonment.

The second count is in relation to Criminal Trespass contrary to section 189 (2) of the Penal Code. In this case, trespassing into a dwelling house which attracts a 1-year imprisonment maximum.

Mr Buga pleaded guilty to both counts of charges.

Principal Magistrate Mrs Emily Zazariko Pakoa presided over the matter when it came for sentencing yesterday.

Prosecution submits that the court should impose a custodial sentence for the defendant.

Defence on the other hand, call for a suspended sentence for the defendant.

As to the first count, it was alleged that on April 26, 2025, between 9am and 2pm, the complainant and the community of Green Valley were doing their community clean-up beside the road.

At that time, the complainant parked his car beside the road.

While they were busy doing their cleaning up, the complainant saw the defendant walking towards his car and kicked the right-side rear mirror of the complainant’s car, located on the driver’s side. It caused the glass to break into pieces.

After damaging the glass of the car, the defendant then escaped between the houses in Green Valley.

The complainant and the boys ran after the defendant, but he had already escaped. The value for the damaged glass is $1,500.

The complainant is Mr Ronald Konai of Darawarau village, Malaita province.

As to the second count of criminal trespass, the complainant is Melissa Amon, a native of Guadalcanal Province.

It was alleged that on July 20, 2026, at around 5am, the complainant was still in her bedroom when she heard a struggling noise outside in their main living room, in their house.

The complainant’s son was sleeping in their living room when the defendant gained entry through their main door and walked straight to him and tried to steal his phone but luckily he was already awake.

The complainant’s son then grabbed the defendant and with the help of his brother, they both managed to tie both hands and legs of the defendant and take the phone from him. 

The complainant and her family then called the Naha Police who later arrested and charged the defendant.

Irene Mae Bosokuru from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) is prosecuting the matter and Sylvia Pitamama from the Public Solicitors Office represents the defendant.

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HEARING TODAY

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Court of Appeal to hear Attorney General’s challenge of High Court’s ruling

BY MEVILLE TITIULU

The Court of Appeal will this morning hear the appeal by the Attorney General against a High Court decision that favoured the opposition Coalition and ordered Parliament to be convened so a Motion of No Confidence could be debated.

The dispute follows the High Court victory for the majority opposition coalition and comes amid heightened political tension over whether Parliament should be called to test the confidence in Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele’s leadership.

The hearing is scheduled for 9.30am in Courtroom 1.

The appeal, filed by Attorney General John Muria Jnr on Wednesday, April 15, included an application to stay the High Court’s orders as filed together with the Sworn Statement of the Prime Minister.

The application for stay was heard and granted by the Court of Appeal Justices on Thursday, April 16.

The stay relates to a ruling by Chief Justice Sir Albert Palmer delivered on Tuesday, April 14, which directed Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele to convene Parliament within three days so the pending Motion of No Confidence (MONC) can be debated.

The stay means that the High Court’s order is temporarily paused while the Court of Appeal determines the substantive appeal.

Justice Howard Lowry told parties at the last hearing that the court must take a balanced approach by hearing the substantive appeal to minimise prejudice in a sensitive political context. Given the short notice, he said the court must address serious constitutional issues promptly — a factor that contributed to the decision to grant the stay.

Given the public interest and urgency of the matter, the Court of Appeal has indicated a tentative target of Monday, April 27, for delivering judgment.

The three appeal justices — Chief Justice Sir Gibuma Gibbs Salika, Howard Lowry, and Gina Nott — had directed parties that the appeal book be filed by Friday last week. Written submissions to be filed by Monday this week.

The appellants are the Governor General of Solomon Islands, The Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, the Speaker of National Parliament of Solomon Islands and the Attorney General (AG).

Attorney General Muria Jnr and his legal team from the AG Chambers represent all of the appellants.

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Son of Iriqila steps in to support community

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BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

A son of Iriqila village has stepped forward to assist families affected by the recent tropical cyclone Maila, delivering much-needed food supplies to his home community and surrounding areas in North Vella Vella.

Alex Kivolyn provided relief assistance consisting of 72 bags of 20kg rice, 100 cartons of noodles, and 10 cartons of Solomon Blue Taiyo.

The supplies were handed over yesterday in Gizo to representatives of the Iriqila disaster committee before being transported to the community later in the afternoon.

Iriqila and nearby villages were among the hardest hit areas in Western Province when cyclone Maila struck, leaving a trail of destruction.

Many homes, churches, and key infrastructure were severely damaged or completely destroyed, forcing families to rely on relief support.

Speaking on his contribution, Mr Kivolyn said the assistance was made possible through the generosity of individuals who were deeply moved by the devastation caused by the cyclone.

“This support comes from people who were touched by what has happened to our communities,” he said.

Community leaders have welcomed the assistance, describing it as timely support as affected families continue to recover and rebuild their lives following the disaster.

Relief efforts across the province are ongoing, with both government and private individuals continuing to respond to the urgent needs of communities impacted by cyclone Maila.

Photo credit: Ben Bilua

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New chess leadership eyes growth despite challenges

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BY RICHARD MENANOPO

The Solomon Islands Chess Federation (SICF) is entering a new phase of development following its recent Annual General Meeting (AGM), with officials highlighting plans to expand the sport while acknowledging ongoing challenges.

Former president Anthony Maelasi confirmed that a new executive has taken over leadership of the federation, with a formal handover scheduled in the coming days.

“We had an election and we now have a new executive board for the federation.

“Next weekend we will be doing a handing over… and from there, they are going to have a plan for several tournaments,” Maelasi said.

He added that the transition comes at a crucial time, with discussions already underway with regional bodies regarding potential funding opportunities.

“One of the Oceania Chess Federation chairmen has linked up with me… to update us on some funds that could be available that we can apply for,” he said.

Despite the leadership change, Maelasi assured that key national events will continue, including the annual Sir Peter Kenilorea Chess Championship held around Independence Day on July 7.

Meanwhile, SICF Technical Officer James Samu outlined the federation’s broader development agenda, focusing on tournaments, training and provincial expansion.

“For this year, we have a calendar that outlines all the programs expected to happen under the federation.

“The three main ones are tournaments, development training, and encouraging provinces to establish chess associations,” Samu said.

He revealed that the federation aims to introduce new competitions such as a Honiara-based chess league, while continuing its annual championship.

Samu also highlighted growing interest in the sport, with over 100 players currently registered under the international chess body.

“We have just about above a hundred registered players… some are rated, some are just registered as FIDE players,” he said.

He also acknowledged key challenges affecting the sport’s growth, particularly limited resources and funding.

“One is the lack of right equipment to use in tournaments… most of the things that we have are outdated.

“We also need exposure for our players to compete internationally,” Samu said.

He stressed that financial constraints have prevented Solomon Islands from participating in regional and global tournaments, despite the presence of talented players.

“We have a lot of talented players… but we need them to be exposed,” he added.

Looking ahead, the federation is also prioritising the introduction of chess in schools and the establishment of provincial associations, with Malaita currently the only province with an active body.

Samu encourages players and supporters to continue engaging in the sport.

“Chess is a very fun game in our mental growth… it helps you to be a strategic thinker,” he said.

The SICF was established in the late 2000s and has since been working to promote chess across the country, with renewed efforts now expected under its new leadership.

Photo: Supplied

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GET INTO RUGBY

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West Honiara schools gear up for first GIR Festival for 2026

BY RICHARD MENANOPO

Secondary schools in West Honiara are set to come together this week for the first Get Into Rugby (GIR) School Festival for 2026, which aims to introduce young students to the fundamentals of the sport in a safe and inclusive environment.

The festival will be held this Friday, April 24, at the Town Ground Rugby Stadium, bringing together eight participating schools: Mbokona Community High School, New Hope Academy, St John’s Community High School, Bishop Epalle School, Tamlan Secondary School, Amoana Christian School, Kelyn Community High School, and White River Community High School.

Targeting students are aged between 13 and 15 years and the event will focus on non-contact forms of the game, with girls taking part in T1 Rugby while boys will compete in tag rugby.

Organised under the Get Into Rugby (GIR) programme, the festival is designed to introduce new participants to the sport by teaching fundamental skills, basic rules, and simple game strategies.

In a social media post shared on the Rakabi Solomons Facebook page, contributor Freda Te’atanga Matangi highlighted the purpose of the initiative, stating that the festival “is a non-contact tag rugby program that is safe, inclusive, and enjoyable, targeting students aged 13 to 15 years.”

She said the event aims to bring together students from different schools while introducing the fundamental skills, rules, and strategies of rugby in a safe, non-contact environment.

The initiative also seeks to promote rugby’s five core values—respect, discipline, integrity, solidarity, and passion—among young participants.

According to information shared by organisers, the event is expected to attract a strong turnout of students, reflecting growing interest in rugby at the school level in West Honiara.

The two-hour programme is scheduled to run from 1:30pm to 3:30pm and marks the first GIR festival for the year, setting the tone for similar activities expected to take place later in 2026.

The festival will provide an opportunity for students from different schools to interact, learn, and enjoy the sport in a fun and supportive setting, while also helping to build grassroots participation in rugby across the capital.

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Sipiti visits SIHF to strengthen regional partnership

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BY TONY IROGA

Team Up Partner Coordinator for Vanuatu, PNG and Solomon Islands, Daisy Sipiti yesterday visited the Solomon Islands Hockey Federation at the National hockey Centre as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen regional sports partnerships.

Her visit focused on reinforcing collaboration between Team Up and SIHF, particularly in supporting hockey development programs across Solomon Islands.

Speaking to Island Sun yesterday in country Coordinator for Hockey 4 health Joachim Rande said the visit highlights an opportunity to expand participation, improve capacity building, and enhance pathways for local athletes.

Mr Rande said the engagement reflects continued commitment from regional partners to boost sports development and promote inclusive opportunities for athletes in both Vanuatu, PNG and Solomon Islands.

Speaking to local hockey athletes yesterday team up partner Coordinator Sipiti says they are committed to working closely with SIHF to ensure hockey continues to grow at all levels.

“This partnership is about creating opportunities for young people, especially boys and girls, to be involved in sport,” Sipiti said.

Coordinator for Hockey 4 health, Rande said by working together, they can strengthen systems, support coaches and players, and ensure sustainable development of hockey in Solomon Islands and across the Pacific.

He said the engagement reflects continued commitment from regional partners to boost sports development and promote inclusive opportunities for athletes in both Vanuatu, PNG and Solomon Islands.

Rande said they are grateful for the continued support from Team Up through Daisy Sipiti’s visit.

“This partnership is helping us build stronger pathways for our athletes and develop hockey across the country,” he said.

Rande said they are grateful and honoured to welcome Daisy Sipiti, Team Up Partner Coordinator for Vanuatu, PNG and Solomon Islands, who took her time to visit them yesterday at the National Hockey Centre, KG in Honiara.

“Her presence brought great encouragement and inspiration to our team and young participants,” he said.

It was a simple but powerful message that touched both the kids and adults in our program.

He said following the session, they moved onto the turf where their Under-12 players took part in a fun and exciting small competitions.

“This activity is part of our ongoing development program, designed to build skills, teamwork, and confidence among our young athletes,” he said.

He said this more than just playing hockey, it’s about shaping character, building friendships, and inspiring the next generation.

“Yesterday was a beautiful reminder that growth starts small and with the right guidance and support, those small moments can turn into something truly meaningful,” he said.

Photo: Supplied

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NSC and Bulk Shop give venue for futsal pathway & development

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BY TONY IROGA

The National Sports Council of Solomon Islands (NSC) and Bulk Shop have once again demonstrated their strong commitment to youth and community development by co-sponsoring Friendship Hall as the official venue for all SALT Futsal Pathway and Development programmes in 2026.

The programmes will run from March to the end of September, providing consistent and structured futsal activities for schools and communities.

According to SALT, these programmes are a significant investment.

A statement from SALT said the cost of hiring and maintaining the facility is not cheap, especially when hosting multiple school leagues, community competitions, championships, and development programmes throughout the year.

SALT said through this partnership arrangement, Bulk Shop will contribute $120,000 towards the venue costs, while the remaining half stands as NSC’s direct contribution to futsal development.

“Their consistent support continues to motivate young players and communities to pursue excellence both on and off the court,” the statement said.

SALT also said that this collaboration is a powerful statement of shared responsibility and belief in the growth of the game.

“Their partnership strengthens the broader futsal family and community impact in the Solomon Islands,” the statement said.

SALT extends its sincere appreciation to the CEO of NSC, Alison Burchell, for her leadership and vision in supporting futsal development in the Solomon Islands.

The statement also thanks Bulk Shop for not only covering venue costs but for also providing prizes across all SALT school leagues, community leagues, and championship competitions.

SALT also expresses heartfelt gratitude to Hatanga for sponsoring prizes for the Hatanga competitions and for their ongoing support of SALT FC as they compete in the Super League this year.

SALT remains committed to using futsal as a tool for discipline, unity, leadership development, and social and spiritual transformation and this partnership ensures that the vision continues to grow stronger each year.

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A Solomon Islands envisioned in 5 to 10 years

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BY LORETTA B MANELE

Dr Transform Aqorau, SINU’s Vice Chancellor gave an account of how we should see Solomon Islands in the next 5 to 10 years.

Delivering his “New Academic Year Opening Address” earlier this month, he spoke about the kind of society we should strive for in the future.

“I believe that we all share dreams for our country, dreams that transcend politics or problems, rooted in the desires of our people.

“Let me paint a picture of the Solomon Islands we strive to build in the next five to ten years,” he said.

Educated and empowered citizens

Aqorau firstly touched on education in which he said we want a country where every child, boy or girl in town or in the remotest village has access to quality education and the opportunity to realise their full potential.

He said in 5 to 10 years, we envision significantly higher literacy rates and more of our youth gaining advanced skills and qualifications.

Aqorau highlighted that an educated society is a confident and innovative society.

“We want our classrooms to produce not just job seekers but job creators and problem solvers.

“We want our people to be informed citizens, able to engage in national discourse and exercise their rights and responsibilities wisely,” he said.

Resilient and sustainable economy and environment

Aqorau said we want a Solomon Islands that is more self-reliant economically, tapping into the creativity of entrepreneurs and the richness of our natural resources in a sustainable way.

He said in a decade, let us see a more diversified economy where sectors like agriculture, fisheries, tourism and creative industries thrive alongside responsible mining and forestry.

Aqorau also said that we aim for communities that have embraced sustainable practices, ensuring that development does not come at the cost of our environment.

To add on, he said we envision investing in renewable energy, solar, hydro, perhaps even geothermal, to reduce our dependence on imported fuels and to reach rural areas with electricity.

Aqorau said in this future, Solomon Islands should also have stronger infrastructure, reliable transport linking our islands and reliable internet linking us to the world.

He also shed light on climate resilience.

“Crucially, we see a country leading in climate resilience with sea walls protecting vulnerable villages, climate-smart agriculture ensuring food security and emergency response systems that safeguard our people from disaster.

“We want our children to inherit an environment that is not depleted but nurtured. Oh, how we long for these things as our people out in the western journey are struggling at the moment with their values of safety and wellness,” he voiced.

A unified and inclusive Solomon Islands

Aqorau said we are proud of our cultural and linguistic diversity stretching from the clans of Makira, from our Polynesian outliers to our Polynesian and non-Polynesian heritage.

“And in a decade, we hope to see even greater cohesion and mutual understanding among our people,” he said.

Equal opportunity

Aqorau said we also seek a society that offers equal opportunity; one in which women participate fully in, where all citizens have fair access to jobs and services, and where corruption has no place.

“This means strengthening our institutions, demanding accountability from our leaders and ourselves, and living to the ideal of the leaders we serve.

“And if we are to achieve this, the Solomon Islands of 2030 will shine as a model of ethical leadership and social harmony,” he said.

In further remarks, Aqorau said most importantly, the Solomon Islands we want is one that remains grounded in our timeless language.

“We are a deeply spiritual nation.

“Our faith in God has carried us through hardships and it will continue to guide us,” he said.

Addressing the university’s students and staff, stakeholders, government representatives, Aqorau said we must remain a caring society where we look after our wanderers, respect our elders and nurture our youth.

“We must hold on to humility and hard work, traits our village life has taught us,” he said.

Photo credit: Loretta B Manele

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Delay in project process concerning recipients

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By RODRICK DESURI 

Auki 

There is miscommunication along the Solomon Islands Agriculture and Rural Transformation (SIART) project process that is affecting project recipients. 

The delay of essential materials and tools for the project recipients in Malaita Province has raised frustration among them as the project deadline approaches.

Reports reaching this paper say that some of the project recipients are pausing their project implementation while waiting for the materials and tools. 

In an interview yesterday, Ruth Mae, a young professional said the failure in the process was not from the person in charge in Auki, but from those in Honiara.

She said their attempts to reach the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock procurement officers, who are responsible, have been unsuccessful.

“We are facing a difficult time reaching the staff of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock who are responsible for informing us about the delay, after we received information from the project recipients,” she said. 

She said that due to miscommunication between them, they (Young Professionals) don’t know what to do, but they encourage the project recipients to fund their travel to Honiara to find out what caused the delay. 

“Due to the miscommunication between the procurement staff of the Ministry and us, we encourage the project recipients to fund us.

“This is the only option for us. The project recipients need to fund a trip from Auki to Honiara and back, so that we can reach out to the procurement staff and understand the reasons for the delay of their materials,” she said.

The initial aim of the Solomon Islands Agriculture and Rural Transformation (SIART) Project is to increase agricultural production, improve market access, and enhance livelihoods for smallholder farmers, particularly through strengthening Agribusiness Producer Organizations (ABPOs).

The SIART project is funded by the World Bank, with the aim of empowering youth through a Young Professionals program and supporting commercialization in the agricultural sector.

Currently, the SIART project is being implemented in three provinces – Guadalcanal, Malaita and Makira/Ulawa.

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Kilu’ufi improvement facility to be handed over April 30

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By RODRICK DESURI 

Auki 

The Kilu’ufi improvement facility is expected to be handed over at the end of this month. 

This follows an inspection of the building by a team from the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) on April 16. 

According to engineer MacLean Iro the facility will be handed over to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services before the official handover, which is scheduled for mid-June this year or later. 

He said the installation of medical equipment and training for the nurses are also in progress. 

“Installation of medical equipment is in progress, along with training for the nurses on how to use the equipment. The soft component training for selected medical staff will be in May 2026,” he said. 

Iro said that bad weather and delays in material procurement have become issues.

“One of the major challenges faced is the weather conditions, along with delays in receiving construction materials from overseas.

“Materials first arrive in Honiara before being shipped to Auki, contributing to the setbacks,” he said.

The improvement of Kilu’ufi Hospital in Malaita aims to transform the facility into a modern, resilient, and comprehensive regional hospital by 2026.

The facility will be provided with upgraded with a new delivery unit, advanced operating theatres, improved sanitation, stable power and water supply, and reduced patient referrals to Honiara.

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