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Biggest jump in fuel price effective 12am last night

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BY IRWIN ANGIKI

Midnight last night saw fuel prices jump by around 30 percent, the largest increase in the country since the global fuel crisis began.

Petrol is now $12.45 per litre, and Diesel $13.24 per litre.

According to owner of Solomon Motors Ltd Craig Day this represents a 25-35 percent increase.

Former prices were – Petrol at $9.01 per litre, and Diesel at $9.81 per litre.

The increase are the anticipated effects of the global oil price surge from the war in the Middle East.

Authorities are expected to make a statement on this increase later this week.

Government has so far managed to cushion Solomon Islands from the global fuel price hike, and increases in fuel prices in the country have been gradual.

Mr Day posted yesterday evening, and also the Solomon Motor Facebook page in a humanitarian display announcing the midnight increase and encouraging public to refuel their vehicles before midnight.

Last month, in a press conference, Secretary to the Prime Minister (Special Duties) Sir Dr Jimmie Rodgers had foretold of steady price increases in fuel in April heading towards May.

Price Advisory Committee (PAC) under the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labor and Immigration (MCILI) told Island Sun earlier this month that following the initial fuel price increase at the turn of the month, a further increase will take place around mid-April.

Last night’s increase represents this.

Fuel prices are reported to increase on May 1. It is not clear yet by how much.

Photo: Supplied

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Major curriculum reform for future-ready graduates launched

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BY JUNELYN KELLY

Government has taken a major step towards transforming education with the launch of a new senior secondary curriculum reform.

The initiative was officially marked yesterday at Mokolo Building in Honiara during the opening of the Curriculum Development Writers Induction Workshop.

The workshop is part of the Government and Asian Development Bank partnership that funds the Senior Secondary Education Improvement Project and brings together selected curriculum writers and education specialists.

The Ministry of Education is leading the reform with technical support from Cognition Education Ltd.

Permanent Secretary Dr Franco Rodie officiated the event, joined by curriculum writers, education stakeholders and project partners.

The workshop signals the start of with a comprehensive effort to redesign the Years 10 to 12 curriculum to better prepare students for life, employment, and further education.

Mr Rodie said the reform aims to address the evolving needs of the country by equipping young people for a rapidly changing and interconnected world.

“This is not just about updating textbooks.

“It is about redesigning the future of our people and ensuring every learner is equipped to thrive,” he said.

Rodie said the new curriculum will integrate knowledge, skills, and values across all subjects, while introducing core competencies such as critical thinking, communication, digital literacy, and civic responsibility.

“A key feature of the reform is the inclusion of indigenous knowledge systems alongside modern academic content, ensuring students remain connected to their culture while adapting to global demands,” he said.

He said the curriculum will also place strong emphasis on climate resilience, reflecting the country’s vulnerability to environmental challenges.

He said a new subject, “Living Sustainably” will be introduced to promote environmental stewardship and disaster awareness.

In addition, the reform prioritises inclusion and student wellbeing. Programmes such as the Homeroom initiative will provide mentorship and emotional support, while efforts to promote gender equity aim to ensure equal opportunities for all learners.

The workshop concluded with the official declaration of its opening, marking the beginning of what officials describe as a long-term investment in the country’s human capital and future prosperity.

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Leave politics to us politicians: Manele

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BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

PRIME Minister Jeremiah Manele calls on all public servants to remain focused on delivering essential services and leave political matters to elected leaders amid ongoing political developments.

He made the remarks during a dinner hosted by the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs in Gizo, following the official opening of the Western Province Youth Centre.

Manele emphasised that despite the current political situation, government services must continue without disruption.

“Today, I wish to acknowledge all of you who gathered here in Gizo to carry out your different roles,” he said.

He commended the ministry for successfully launching the Western Province’s Youth Hub, describing it as an important initiative for young people in the province.

The Prime Minister also acknowledged the efforts of the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening, which is currently overseeing the handover of government-funded projects across parts of Western Province.

“Your engagement means the government is very much alive and will continue to deliver essential services,” Manele said.

He reassured public servants that the government remains committed to supporting ministries in delivering services to communities throughout the country.

Manele stressed that the current political issue will be handled by politicians in due course, urging public servants to stay neutral and focused on their duties.

“Let politicians deal with political issues. Your responsibility is to continue serving our people,” he said.

Manele and his delegation returned to Honiara yesterday morning after completing visits to communities that have been affected by cyclone Maila in Western and Choiseul Provinces.

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Concern raised over ‘risky’ Chinatown overhead bridge

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BY IRWIN ANGIKI

Concerns have been raised over the Chinatown overhead bridge which is reported as a risk to drivers and public.

Concrete blocs making up the bridge pavements are being held together with chains.

Taxi driver Mason Jnr, 38, told Island Sun recently the concrete slabs in the northern end of the bridge dropped and can now be seen clearly tilted downwards.

“When I drive along the traffic and stop under the overhead bridge, I feel fear, just anxious when a concrete bloc would slide and land on my car killing me and my passengers. It is scary,” Jnr said.

“Authorities must remove the bridge now before anything happens and lives lost or huge damage.”

The Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) is responsible for the overhead bridge.

When sought for comments last week, MID said a team from its Transport Infrastructure Management Services Division ‘will inspect this bridge in due course’.

MID said the bridge was earmarked last year to be demolished.

To this day MID is still waiting for funds to demolish the bridge.

“MID had deemed the bridge as a failed infrastructure. We blocked it off for use but some unknown members of public removed the caution tapes we had cordoned off the entrance,” MID communications boss Teddy Kafo said.

MID explains the chains were temporary measures to keep the bridge together until demolition.

“Chains are to prevent the concrete decks from lateral movement due to vibration from vehicle impact and/or earthquake. Every headed shear stud supposed to act as shear connectors between concrete slab and steel girders were compromised when a Gold Ridge heavy lift truck impacted the bridge some years back, then a big earthquake the same year totally snapped them.

“Impact of the cargo of the Gold Ridge truck (a massive mining excavator) had caused the steel girders to start buckling,” MID said.

MID said currently the bridge is closed to public including banner advertisements.

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Man pleads guilty to ‘persistent’ sexual abuse of 6-yo

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BY MELVILLE TITIULU

The Magistrate Court has started hearing into the case involving a man accused of ‘persistent’ sexual abuse of a child aged 6.

The accused who cannot be named to protect the identity of the victim – was charged with one count of persistent sexual abuse of a child contrary to section 142 (2), 136F (1) (a) (b) and 138 (1) (a) (b) of the penal code as amended by Penal Code (Amendment) Sexual Offences Act, 2016.

The maximum penalty for the offence of ‘persistent sexual abuse of child’ is life imprisonment.

Principal Magistrate Felix Hollison presided over the matter when it came for plea yesterday.

The accused was in attendance in court yesterday. He pleaded guilty to the charge when arraigned.

Prosecution alleged that the defendant, on six separate occasions between January 1, 2018 and January 17, 2026, had engaged in acts that constitute persistent sexual abuse. Specifically, having sexual intercourse without the child’s consent on five occasions.

Court heard that on the sixth occasion, having been in a position of trust, the defendant committed an indecent act on the child by touching her breast, without her consent.

As the Principal Magistrate put it: “in any event, the girl [victim] is too young to have given consent”.

The matter will be referred to the High Court for trial proper as it is the Court of ‘unlimited Jurisdiction’, where it has powers to deal with serious sexual offences like that of persistent sexual abuse of a 6-year-old child.

The defendant is also facing two separate counts of charges namely house breaking and criminal trespass.

The house breaking charge is in relation to breaking into a bottle shop and stealing. The defendant pleaded ‘not guilty’ to that charge yesterday.

In addition, the accused is yet to be arraigned for possible plea of whether or not he pleaded guilty to the second offence of criminal trespass.

The matter was adjourned to Friday, May 15,at 9.30am for mention and plea.

At the next mention, these matters will be given case separation (different criminal case numbers).

The court extended a Remand of Warrant for the defendant.

Grace Chow is acting on instructions from Steward Tonowane and Amanda Mono, and she representS the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODDP).

The defendant was represented by Wendy Poia, and she represents the Public Solicitor’s Office (PSO).

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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.

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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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