BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

An NZDF P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft on Friday afternoon last week conducted aerial assessment of the damage caused by Tropical Cyclone Maila.

New Zealand High Commissioner Jonathan Curr in a statement said the aerial damage surveillance flight was requested by the Solomon Islands Government.

Mr Curr said that early reports indicate that Western and Choiseul Provinces have sustained the worst damage in 20 years.

“As a member of our Pacific family, we are committed to supporting Solomon Islands in its time of need, working closely with Pacific Islands Forum partners such as Australia.

“The P8 conduct its tasking and will return before Tropical Cyclone Vaianu arrives in New Zealand later this weekend,” he said.

Mr Curr said New Zealand’s High Commission in Honiara will also offer emergency funding to support local response efforts, and will consider further support, as requested by the Solomon Islands government.

“Today’s (Friday 10) aerial damage surveillance flight is the result of excellent collaboration between New Zealand and Australia under the leadership of the Solomon Islands Government,” said Mr Curr.

The High Commissioner also expressed New Zealand’s concern for all Solomon Islanders affected by the devastation brought by TC Maila. 

“Our thoughts and prayers are especially with those who have been injured, and those who have lost their homes and livelihoods,” said Mr Curr.

Photo credit: NZ High Commission

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BY LORETTA B MANELE

The Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Disaster Management (MECDM) Trevor Manemahaga on Friday evening, 10 April declared Western and Choiseul Provinces to be in a state of disaster.

In his address on that evening, he said over the past days Tropical Cyclone Maila has brought severe weather conditions across Solomon Islands, with the inclusion of strong winds, heavy rainfall, flooding and rough seas.

“These conditions have significantly impacted several provinces, particularly Western Province and Choiseul Province, with reports indicating damage to homes, food gardens, community infrastructure and disruption to essential services,” said Manemahaga.

He said in accordance with the National Disaster Council Act 1989, the Initial Situational Overview Report (ISO) serves as the prerequisite assessment required to determine whether conditions meet the threshold for the declaration of a State of Disaster.

The Minister said the ISO, compiled through reports and assessments coordinated by the National Disaster Management Office and endorsed by the National Disaster Council, was formally presented to him for consideration.

And after having carefully reviewed the Initial Situational Overview Report and from the advice of the National Disaster Council, he was satisfied that the impacts experienced in Western Province and Choiseul Province meet the criteria required under Section 12 of the National Disaster Council Act 1989.

“Under the provisions of Section 12(1) of the Act, the Minister may, on the advice of the National Disaster Council, declare the whole or any part of Solomon Islands to be in a State of Disaster if satisfied that such conditions exist.

“Accordingly, I have signed the Order declaring Western Province and Choiseul Province to be in a State of Disaster,” he said.

Manemahaga said this declaration has been made to enable the Government to mobilise the necessary national resources and support mechanisms to respond to the impacts of Tropical Cyclone Maila.

He said that with this declaration, the national disaster management arrangements under the National Disaster Management Plan 2018 are hereby activated, and these arrangements will take the lead in coordinating and delivering the national response to the impacts of Tropical Cyclone Maila in the declared areas.

Manemahaga also acknowledged that parts of Isabel Central, and Guadalcanal Provinces have also experienced impacts from Tropical Cyclone Maila.

“While these areas are currently categorised as non-declared disaster areas, they will continue to be included within the national response arrangements, and further assessments will be conducted to determine the extent of damages and the support required,” he said.

Manemahaga also called for a well-coordinated national response involving all relevant stakeholders.

He said this includes national government ministries and agencies, provincial governments and authorities, Solomon Islands bilateral and multilateral development partners and international and national humanitarian and partner organisations.

Manemahaga pointed out that working together in a coordinated manner will ensure that relief assistance, assessments and recovery support reach affected communities effectively and without delay.

He said the Government remains committed to supporting all affected communities and ensuring that the necessary assistance is delivered in a timely and coordinated manner.

The Minister encourages all citizens, especially those in affected areas, to remain vigilant, take heed official advisories, and to cooperate with response teams as they undertake assessments and deliver assistance.

“Let us continue to stand together during this time and support our communities as we respond to the impacts of Tropical Cyclone Maila,” he said.

Photo: Supplied

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BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

WOMEN from Paeloge and Saeragi communities are facing daily hardship after a key bridge linking their villages to Gizo was destroyed by severe Tropical Cyclone Maila.

With road access cut off, women are now forced to walk long distances to sell their produce at the Gizo Market, carrying heavy loads on their backs in order to support their families.

Island Sun met Mrs. Liuda Lagi at the Gizo Market last week, where she was selling fresh root crops, including cassava and potatoes.

She said that she was among a group of women who woke as early as 3am to begin their journey on foot from their village.

“We walk from our village up to mile six and then down to Gizo. We carry our produce on our backs because vehicles cannot reach us. The road and bridge are badly damaged,” Lagi said.

She said the journey is both physically exhausting and time-consuming, but necessary for survival.

“We have no choice but to walk long distances to reach the market and walk back home. We need to support our family, so our sacrifice is for our family,” Lagi said.

She said the impact of the cyclone has made an already difficult situation worse, particularly for women who rely heavily on market sales as their main source of income.

“Most families in our village depend on the market to pay school fees and meet household needs,” Lagi said.

She calls on responsible authorities to prioritise repairing the damaged bridge and road access so that transportation can resume.

The destruction caused by Tropical Cyclone Maila continues to present serious challenges for communities across Western Province, with many families striving to rebuild their lives with limited resources.

Photo credit: Ben Bilua

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NEOC dispatches first team to Western province to coordinate relief efforts

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

The National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) officially begun its field operations for the current emergency response, having dispatched its first team of officials from Honiara to Western province at around 3pm yesterday.

In a statement, NEOC said the primary objective of this initial deployment is to establish a strong logistics and coordination framework to support communities affected by Tropical Cyclone Maila.

NEOC said the team has been tasked with setting up a strategic staging area and securing storage facilities for essential relief supplies, including both food and non-food items (NFIs).

The NEOC officials will also focus on strengthening local response capabilities.

NEOC said a key component of their mission is to establish a dedicated coordination centre designed to provide direct support to the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre (PEOC) in Gizo.

“This collaboration ensures that relief efforts are streamlined and that resources are managed efficiently at the provincial level,” said NEOC.

NEOC highlighted that this deployment marks a critical step in the national response, ensuring that necessary infrastructure is in place to receive and distribute life-saving supplies to those in need.

The team was airlifted by a Royal Australian Air Force Hercules aircraft.

Photo credit: NEOC

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BY TONY IROGA

For this first time in Solomon Islands sports history, four locals joined the Hype Pacific All Stars team and participated in the Easter Hockey Heritage Tournament campaign in New Zealand.

The Hype Pacific All-stars team finished in 4th spot in the 11 aside Heritage Hockey Tournament during an Easter session campaign.

Speaking to Island Sun yesterday after their arrival in the country, hockey team captain, Enock Mae said it was a historical start for them to play in a 11 aside hockey tournament.

“We used to play in the Pacific region, in the pacific cup and Pacific games but this is the first time for us to join the international team,” he said.

Mae said he found this sport very useful for young people, highlighting that it was also an opportunity for them to showcase their skills and talents.

“I am fortunate to be able to play in this heritage hockey tournament,” he said.

He said the tournament was a blessing for them as they were able to do something they have never done before; playing hockey overseas.

He mentioned that the tournament was for the Pacific All-Star team, which comprised of players from Pacific Island countries.

“Vanuatu, Samoa and PNG were not able to play in this tournament due to financial difficulties.

He said hopefully, they will be able to join the team and will be playing against players from Fiji and some players from New Zealand.

Mae said it was after the Pacific Cup that he met Brett Liver from NZ Heritage, who then contacted him.

“I considered this opportunity to be very important,” he said.

He also thanks their coach Joachim Rande and others, who continue to support them and provide training for them.

“I would like to thank my team mates for representing Solomon Islands as good ambassadors.

“It’s a totally different level of game, in terms of intensity and high level of how to do things and we have improved a lot and it is an eye-opener for us,” he said.

He added that they have gained a lot of knowledge about the 11 aside game and they will teach the game to hockey athletes in the country.

“We will prepare and work hard for the next tournament in 2027 as the tournament is set for every year,” he said.

Mae said the competition was supported by New Zealand hockey legend, Mr Brett Leaver and he acknowledged him for creating such an incredible opportunity for Pacific athletes.

Speaking to the paper yesterday as well was hockey coach and coordinator Mr Jochim Rande who thanked the boys for representing the country.

He said the boys brought in a lot of motivation to local hockey athletes in the Solomon Islands.

“I welcome the boys’ home and hope the boys had a lot of good experience with international teams,” he said.

He said the Solomon Islands hockey federation has a new initiative with Heritage teams in which hockey boys will have a lot of opportunities from in the future.

The Solomon Islands Hockey Federation (SIHF) thanked and welcomed back its six ambassadors’ home after they proudly represented Solomon Islands on the international stage. 

The four local hockey players are; Nyrick Zuna of Dolphin Hockey Club, Ricky Fairamoa and Jackson Ramo of Renegades Hockey Club, and Enock Mae Paekera of White Kovara Hockey Club.

Photo credit: Tony Iroga

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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

The Sagupari led Government of Change and Rural Transformation (GCRT) reaffirms its commitment to drive meaningful change in the province through its 2026/2027 budget theme: “Empowering Transformations, Resourcing Our Future.”

The theme will also be adopted for the Central Islands province Second Appointed Day on June 29 this year, reflecting the government’s ongoing policy direction and development priorities.

Speaking during the recent provincial full assembly meeting in Tulagi, premier Sagupari emphasized that the theme underscores the government’s commitment to drive positive change by making effective use of provincial resources.

“Our focus will be on empowering communities, leveraging resources, and building a sustainable future for Central province,” he said.

The premier added that the approach aims to improve service delivery, expand economic opportunities, and enhance the overall well-being of residents particularly youths, women, and children.

“Our goal is to build a prosperous and self-sufficient Central province. Through these strategies, GCRT is positioning itself as a driver of transformation, with a strong focus on resourcefulness and future-oriented planning,” he said.

The premier further noted that the government is taking necessary steps in this year’s budget to address gaps and challenges that have hindered the province’s progress, with these measures reflected throughout the draft budget.

Key priorities include investment in economic infrastructure, education and health services, entrepreneurship and economic empowerment initiatives, improved service delivery in rural areas, and the implementation of community-driven projects.

He also highlighted that programs are being aligned across all thirteen wards in the province to ensure that the “change” being promised is both tangible and impactful for the people.

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BY JUNELYN KELLY

Construction of the new terminal building at Santa Cruz Airfield in Temotu Province is progressing steadily, marking another key milestone in the government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen aviation infrastructure in the eastern region of the country.

The project is part of the Second Solomon Islands Roads and Aviation Project (SIRAP2), funded by the World Bank and implemented by the Ministry of Communication and Aviation (MCA) and constructed by China Harbour Engineering Company.

SIRAP2 in a statement yesterday also mentioned that completion of the project is expected in June this year.

SIRAP2 said recent construction site reports highlight successful installation of the rebar mesh for the slab-on-grade of the New Terminal Administration Building and the hoisting of the Airfield Ground Lighting container control room.

Also noted is that inspections have verified the steel columns supporting the Departure Extension Shed canopy, confirming compliance with structural standards.

Ministry of Communication and Aviation (MCA), Permanent Secretary, Alwyn Danitofea, said while upgrade of the airfield has already been completed, the terminal building will further improve the experience of passengers and operational efficiency at Santa Cruz.

“This project reflects the Government’s commitment, with support from our partners, to improve connectivity and provide safer and more reliable aviation infrastructure for the people of Temotu Province,” he said.

The upgraded terminal facility once completed will provide enhanced services, greater comfort for travelers, and also support the long-term growth of air transport services in Temotu province.

Apart from the Santa Cruz Airfield terminal upgrade, SIRAP2 is also working on the delivery of critical transport infrastructure across the country.

These transport infrastructure projects include; construction of Suavanao Airfield in Isabel Province, investments in air navigation systems in Makira-Ulawa and Temotu Provinces, routine maintenance of regional airports, the rehabilitation of 21 kilometres of the East Road between Baratolo and Atori, and the sealing of 12 kilometres of the North Road between Auki Gwaunaru’u Airfield Junction and Kwaisuliniu Road Junction.

Photo credit: SIRAP2

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BY JUNELYN KELLY

The Ministry of Communication and Aviation (MCA) has announced a series of public hearings ahead of the proposed upgrade of Suavanao Airfield in Isabel province.

On an online post this Wednesday, the ministry said the hearings are part of the Second Solomon Islands Roads and Aviation Project (SIRAP 2), funded by the World Bank.

According to MCA, the consultations will be conducted by the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM) in several communities, including Kolopakisa, Suavanao, Baolo and Papatura Resort.

The purpose of the hearings is to present the Public Environment Report and gather feedback from affected communities.

The planned upgrade works include sealing the runway, improving drainage systems and installing ground lighting.

These improvements aim to enhance safety and strengthen climate resilience at the airfield.

The project is currently in the technical evaluation stage, with confirmation of the successful contractor expected soon.

MCA Permanent Secretary, Mr Alwyn Danitofea, emphasised the importance of community participation and encouraged residents to share their views.

“The Suavanao airfield upgrade is a critical investment in improving connectivity and service delivery for our people in Isabel province.

“We encourage all community members to attend the scheduled hearings and share their views, as their input is essential to ensuring the project is implemented in a way that is environmentally responsible and responsive to local needs,” Danitofea said.

Members of the public are also invited to submit written feedback to the Director of the Environment and Conservation Division within 14 days after the hearings.

Photo: Supplied

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