PM Manele concludes visit to cyclone-hit communities in Western and Choiseul provinces

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

PRIME Minister Jeremiah Manele has concluded a series of visits to communities severely affected by Tropical Cyclone Maila, reaffirming the government’s commitment to recovery and rehabilitation efforts.

The Prime Minister and his delegation departed Gizo on Saturday night, travelling to Gaomai and Nila in the Shortland Islands before continuing on to Taro and Sasamuga in Choiseul Province.

Prior to the trip, the delegation also stopped at Legana in Simbo to witness firsthand the destruction caused by the cyclone.

Manele said the visit has given the government a clearer understanding of both the immediate and long-term needs of affected communities.

He said Tropical Cyclone Maila has caused widespread social, economic, physical and spiritual challenges across the impacted areas.

Manele said the government remains committed to supporting recovery and rehabilitation efforts in the months ahead.

“We will be working with our donor partners and the provincial governments to roll out recovery and rehabilitation efforts. It will not be easy, but our collaboration can help us restore lives to normal,” he said.

Acting Premier of Choiseul Province acknowledged the Prime Minister and his delegation for reaching out directly to affected communities, describing the visit as both significant and meaningful to the people of the province.

Provincial Member of Assembly for Ward 5, Clarence Vasaro, welcomed the Prime Minister to Sasamuga village, saying the people were honoured by the visit during one of the most challenging periods in their history.

“Today, our hearts are heavy because of Tropical Cyclone Maila, but we are deeply moved by your presence,” she said.

“In our culture, when a home is shaken, family arrives. Your visit feels like a father coming home to check on his sons and daughters. You have not just sent support from Honiara; you have stepped onto our shores to stand with us.

“Our homes may be broken, but our spirit of welcome is whole. Your visit gives us hope of rebuilding our communities together.”

Member of Parliament for South Choiseul, Tozen Leokana, also thanked the Prime Minister for taking time out of his schedule to visit affected communities.

“My people appreciate your visit. This shows your heart for my people,” he said.

Leokana said communities in his constituency are facing significant challenges following the cyclone, with key infrastructure such as hospitals, classrooms and homes severely damaged.

He called on the government and donor partners to assist with recovery efforts, while also acknowledging the presence of the Australian High Commission, fellow ministers and senior government officials who joined the visit.

The Prime Minister’s tour highlights the government’s ongoing efforts to assess damage on the ground and strengthen partnerships aimed at rebuilding communities impacted by Tropical Cyclone Maila.

The solidarity trip by the Prime Minister and his high-level delegation was made possible with support from Australia, Solomon Islands’ nambawan partner.

Photo credit: Ben Bilua

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[Published on Saturday, 18 April 2026]

BY JUNELYN KELLY

A copra farmer in North Savo has suffered significant losses following the impact of Cyclone Maila, which caused widespread damage to coastal communities in the Central Islands Province.

Ataban Tonezepo, a 40 years old farmer of Balola Village, is among those affected after the strong storm surges swept inland, destroying vital farming infrastructure and produce.

In an interview with Island Sun, Tonezepo said he lost an estimated 15,000 mature coconut fruits that had already been collected and were awaiting processing, as well as 32 fully packed bags of copra ready for sale.

“All these were stored in my shed, which is more than 30 meters from the sea, but the sea water still reached it,” he said.

Tonezepo said the cyclone’s powerful waves destroyed one of his storage sheds and damaged another, along with a copra dryer.

He added that equipment including dryer drums and storage facilities were washed away as seawater surged inland.

“To copra losses, the village’s megapode field is an important traditional site where locals harvest megapode bird eggs have also been completely destroyed and replaced with sand”, he said.

Tonezepo is now calling on both national and provincial governments to assist affected communities in Savo, as many continue to recover from the devastation caused by Tropical Cyclone Maila.

The extent of damage highlights the vulnerability of coastal livelihoods to extreme weather events, with communities now facing the challenge of rebuilding both infrastructure and income sources.Top of Form

Photo credit: Tonezepo

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[Published on Saturday, 18 April 2026]

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

The Premier of Central Islands province, Kenneth Sagupari, is calling for justice following the tragic death of Benjamin Sosi, who was killed in a hit-and-run accident earlier this week at Burns Creek in Honiara.

The late Sosi, believed to be between 10 and 15 years old, was a form one student at Mercy School and hailed from Ngella in Central Islands province.

“I want justice to be served for this young soul. The person responsible must face the maximum penalty for this crime,” Premier Sagupari said.

He condemned the incident in the strongest terms and called on the relevant authorities to thoroughly investigate the matter and ensure those responsible are held accountable.

As the leader of the province the boy came from, Premier Sagupari said he shares the grief and pain of the family and relatives.

“This is a loss for the province. We have lost a young life that could have contributed to the future development of Central Islands province,” he said.

He added that the boy’s future had been cut short, along with the hopes and dreams his family had for him.

While reiterating his condemnation, the Premier also urged parents in Honiara to take extra care of their children.

“There are careless individuals whose actions can lead to tragedies like this,” he said.

He further called on youths from Central Islands province living in Honiara to act responsibly while living among people from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Premier Sagupari urged everyone to take greater care and ensure that such a tragedy is not repeated.

He reiterated his call for justice, stating that those responsible for the young boy’s death must face the full force of the law.

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[Published on Saturday, 18 April 2026]

BY IRWIN ANGIKI

A number of copra farmers have come out supporting the new management fee introduced by the Commodities Export and Marketing Authority (CEMA) on buying prices.

The new fees introduced on March 17 this year was initially met with criticism by farmers and small buyers. Major copra and cocoa exporters said it would ‘put them out of business’.

From the market buying price of $6 per kilogramme, the new fee was $3.05 per kg ($3,051 per tonne) for copra exports.

Deputy Prime Minister and acting minister of Commerce, Manasseh Sogavare announced on March 23 a review of the new fees.

CEMA has explained that the new fee was targeted at exporters who were making ‘huge profits’ from the industry at the back of the hardworking farmers, who were earning marginally less.

CEMA also said the fees would go towards its plan to buy a landing craft which it would use to go around the country directly to the cocoa and copra farmers and buy their products where ever they are.

The authority argued that the new fees underscores its motto of ‘Farmers First’ which guides its activities and programmes.

However, exporters in turn dropped their buying price to $2.95 per kg, some as low as $2, to cater for this new fee.

Farmers who are selling their copra to CEMA say this action by the exporters is best described as shirking the obligation to pay the new fee and throwing it on the farmers by reducing their buying prices.

“By reducing their buying prices from $6 to $2.95 or less, the exporters are transferring the burden of the new management fees onto the farmers,” a group of copra farmers told Island Sun on Saturday, April 11.

“The exporters should just shoulder the cost of CEMA’s new management fees and continue buying our copra at $6,” the farmers said.

Turning to CEMA

Ataban Tonezepo, 40, a copra farmer and buyer since 2012, said he was struck at first when the new fees were introduced.

“The exporter I sold my copra to told me their new buying price was $2.95 because of the new fee. I was not aware of the new fee and I negotiated for them to buy my copra for the old $6 per kg rate. To which they agreed. But, the next time I was told I was going to have to sell my copra to them at $2.90 per kg because they were no longer buying at $6 per kg. They blamed CEMA for this price drop.

“I wanted to find out for myself so I went to CEMA for an explanation. CEMA explained to me the truth, and then offered to buy my copra at $6 per kg.

“This is what the exporters should do, like CEMA, buy our copra at $6 and pay CEMA their $3.05 management fee,” Mr Tonezepo said.

He encouraged other copra farmers to sell to CEMA.

Another farmer from West Guadalcanal, Kevin, shared similar experience.

“I sold my copra to the exporters but ran losses and very small profit due to transportation, accommodation and labour costs. But then I came to CEMA and learnt the truth from them, I now make good profit selling my copra to CEMA,” he said.

Downside of exporters CEMA aims to address

CEMA said with the new management fee it was planning to purchase a landing craft to allow it to go to the farmers in the provinces and buy their copra where they are located.

This should help remove costs of transporting copra to the capital, Honiara, meeting accommodations while transiting in the capital, and reduce labour costs.

The new management fee would also go towards purchase of copra bags to distribute free-of-charge to copra farmers, CEMA said.

Exporters sell and make profit from copra bags, CEMA told Island Sun.

Tonezepo said he looks forward to CEMA realising its vision to have a landing craft and also free distribution of copra bags to farmers and buyers.

CEMA also adds it is proposing a minimum fee of $4.50 per kg for copra buyers and exporters, to coax them not to totally transfer the weight of the management fee onto the farmers.

Exporters are important in the industry: CEMA

CEMA says it sees exporters as vital players in the copra industry in Solomon Islands.

“We need exporters. They are very important just as the farmers are. But the gap between profits has to be narrowed.

“And we encourage and tell exporters to come and discuss with us their challenges with the new management fees so that we can come up with a win-win arrangement. But this has to be done on an individual basis because each exporter faces situations different to others,” CEMA said.

CEMA told Island Sun since the new management fees were introduced, no exporter has approached the authority for dialogue.

Exporters hit back

Exporters who spoke with Island Sun describe the new management fee as ‘killing copra’ in Solomon Islands.

A senior worker of one of the major copra exporters of the country, speaking to Island Sun under condition of anonymity due to not having official authority to speak on behalf of the company, dismissed the idea of exporters making huge profits.

“Copra exporters pay a lot of fees and licences. We used to pay $50 per tonne, now it’s $3,051 per tonne thanks to CEMA’s new management fee. We pay an export licence, sampling requests, and Customs declarations. Our operational costs and storage costs are huge, a lot of fees and charges. Then there are the shipping and logistics costs, cost, insurance and freight costs,” the exporter said.

The exporter adds that it is false to say that exporters do not go to the provinces to buy copra from the farmers.

“We do have buying centres in the provincial capitals which are also an expense to operate and manage,” the exporter said.

Solomon Islands Commodities Private Ltd (SICPL) told Island Sun yesterday that due to CEMA’s new management fee, farmers are turning away from them.

“One week we have not bought any copra although we are buying at $3 per kg. No copra. Our price is uncompetitive. CEMA are paying higher so any copra are going for CEMA.

“It’s a going to be a disaster. We cannot offer competition for farmers to get the best price. That’s what we’re worried about, we’re worried about our customers. It’s a bigger problem,” Dave, manager of SI Copra, told Island Sun in an interview yesterday.

John from C-Corp Solomon Islands shared the same sentiments.

“Our copra warehouse is stacked to the roof with thousands of fully packed copra bags which we cannot export because we are running at a huge loss. So, the commodity is just stocked there awaiting any time when the prices are returned to sensible rates,” John told Island Sun.

He adds that CEMA’s new fee is impacting all stakeholders of the copra industry.

“Farmers are losing money, ship owners are losing money, boat owners are losing money, basically everyone involved in the process of this commodity are losing out, and only CEMA stands to gain.”

A visit to the C-Corp warehouse yesterday saw roof-high stacks of copra, sitting waiting for when they could be sold.

Photo credit: Irwin Angiki

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[Published on Saturday, 18 April 2026]

BY JUNELYN KELLY

A luxury expedition cruise ship, Hanseatic Inspiration, visited Langa Langa Lagoon in Malaita Province this week, bringing international tourists to experience local culture firsthand.

Speaking to Island Sun, Mr Bernard Dakero said the vessel carried about 180 passengers, mostly from Germany and Switzerland, as part of a cultural exploration voyage aimed at promoting immersive tourism experiences.

Dakero said during the visit, tourists landed in Busu and nearby coastal communities, where they participated in a range of traditional activities organised by Authentic Malaita Tours.

Activities included demonstrations of shell money making, traditional bridal gift ceremonies, and artificial island building—an indigenous engineering practice unique to parts of Malaita.

Visitors also took part in hands-on food preparation, learning local cooking techniques, while cultural showcases featured baru carving and face tattooing.

Traditional performances such as panpipe, Mao and Afai dances entertained the visitors, highlighting Malaita’s rich storytelling, music and cultural heritage.

Dakero said community leaders welcomed the visit, saying it plays an important role in preserving culture while creating economic opportunities for local people.

The tour marks the revival of cultural cruise visits to Malaita, which were suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The return of such voyages reflects a growing trend in small-scale expedition cruising focused on meaningful, low-impact tourism that connects travelers with remote communities.

Passengers are expected to leave with a deeper appreciation of Malaita’s unique traditions and way of life.

Photo credit: Bernard Dakero

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