[Published on Saturday, March 28, 2026]

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

The Premier of Makira Ulawa province, Stanley Siapu, says his government is working on policies to protect the world’s largest coral, recently discovered in the province.

Speaking at the recent provincial full assembly meeting in Kirakira, Premier Siapu emphasised the importance of safeguarding the coral for the benefit of local communities.

The mega coral, located in the Three-Sister Islands, is seen as a potential driver of economic growth through tourism.

“There is growing international interest in the mega coral. We must prepare by putting in place the necessary infrastructure and enabling environment to support a sustainable tourism boost in our province,” Siapu said.

At the same time, the premier warns that the province must also be cautious of the need to protect the coral itself.

“My government is working on a plan to ensure the preservation of the world’s largest coral, while also developing the infrastructure needed to promote tourism.

“This may include the establishment of resorts, hotels, and other accommodation facilities to meet the anticipated demand.

“We are committed to exploring these economic opportunities and other initiatives to benefit the people of our province,” he said.

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[Published on Saturday, March 28, 2026]

Edited on April 22, 2026

By RODRICK DESURI 

Auki 

Malaita Province’s Youth Coordinator, Frank Samo Sari has thanked the YouSave and TrigaCash teams for their outreach programme to Malaita Province, especially for visiting the Malaita Youth Council.

He expressed gratitude to the teams after they held a successful awareness event at the assembly house on Friday, March 27, which he hopes will help and support youth save money for the future and better prepare for climate-related risks. 

He said the knowledge shared about the schemes of saving money has allowed the youths to gain insights that will support them to prepare for future disasters and emergencies. 

“On behalf of Malaita youth, we would like to express our sincere gratitude for the TrigaCash initiative implemented under the CBSI regulatory sandbox in partnership with Trans Pacific Assurance Limited, M-Selen, YouSave (SINPF), and supported by the United Nations Capital Development Fund through the Pacific Insurance and Climate Adaptation Programme.

“Your programmes have provided valuable knowledge, practical skills, and emphasised the importance of saving for our youth, particularly during emergencies and times of disaster,” he said.

He said sharing the initiative with the youth and people of Malaita is not only a demonstration of commitment, but also shows empowerment.

“Your commitment is truly making a positive impact on the young people today by empowering our young generation to secure a brighter and more resilient future,” he said.

YouSave is a voluntary savings scheme designed for people in the informal sector, providing a flexible way to save for emergencies and future needs.

TrigaCash is a climate-risk parametric insurance product that provides automatic payouts based on verified weather data, without the need for traditional claims processes.

It helps protect farmers, fishers and micro small and medium businesses from climate risk events such as heavy rainfall, drought and strong winds.

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[Published on Saturday, March 28, 2026]

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

The Premier of Makira Ulawa Province, Stanley Siapu, announced that construction of the Makira Ulawa provincial Youth and Children Resource Centre will begin this year.

The project will be funded by the national government through the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs (MWYCFA), which has supported similar initiatives in other provinces.

Speaking at a recent full assembly meeting in Kirakira, Premier Siapu expressed gratitude to the ministry for supporting the province, highlighting that the future of Makira Ulawa lies in the strength and potential of its youth.

“The construction of the provincial Youth and Children Resource Centre will happen this year. Funding for this development is currently being organised with the Ministry of Women, Youth and Children Affairs,” he said.

He said the centre will adopt a comprehensive approach, featuring a children’s park, a basketball court, a women’s market, and a recreational area for residents of Kirakira Huro.

Land for the project has already been identified, and the government looks forward to its development, which is expected to significantly enhance the appearance of Kirakira town.

Premier Siapu also announced the establishment of a provincial sports council to strengthen sports administration and prepare the province for participation in the 2026 Solomon Games.

“There are plans underway to organise sports events in preparation for the upcoming Solomon games,” he told the assembly.

Additionally, he revealed plans to work with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to host the inaugural Makira Arts and Culture Festival during the province’s second Appointed Day celebrations this year.

“The proposal is for a youth-driven festival, with young boys and girls actively participating in the inaugural Makira Arts and Culture Festival,” Siapu said.

He said that the focus of these initiatives is to empower the province’s youth.

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[Published on Saturday, March 28, 2026]

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Makira Ulawa province is on the process to establish a sister-province relationship with East Sepik Province in Papua New Guinea.

The proposed partnership is driven by agricultural objectives, particularly to strengthen Makira Ulawa’s cocoa industry and explore opportunities to introduce and develop East Sepik’s vanilla industry within the province.

Speaking at a recent provincial assembly meeting in Kirakira, Makira Ulawa Premier Stanley Siapu announced the initiative, describing it as a significant step forward for the province.

“Work is progressing on a potential sister relationship between our province and East Sepik province of Papua New Guinea.

“This undertaking is specifically aimed at strengthening our cocoa industry and exploring opportunities to bring East Sepik’s robust vanilla industry into our province,” he said.

Premier Siapu confirmed that formal diplomatic correspondence has already been made with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Honiara, as well as with Papua New Guinea’s Foreign Affairs authorities.

Meanwhile, he said efforts to finalise a separate sister-province relationship between Makira Ulawa and Guizhou province of China are ongoing.

He said the partnership with Guizhou has already delivered positive results, including the donation of two boats that are currently being shipped to Honiara.

“We are in close liaison with PRC officials in Honiara, and we expect to enter into a formal agreement as soon as possible,” he said.

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[Published on Saturday, March 28, 2026]

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

FOUR communities in Western Province successfully undergone business modelling training with support from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Solomon Islands.

The participating communities—Saeragi, Kogu, Pusiju and Boeboe took part in the training that aims to strengthen their capacity to establish community-based enterprises focused on value-added products from sea-grape.

In an interview with Island Sun, Community Enterprise Specialist Brown Onahikeni said the initiative is designed to help communities better utilise their marine resources while ensuring sustainable management.

He said the training is to support the communities to establish a community enterprise targeting value-added products from sea-grape.

Onahikeni said the four communities are currently working in partnership with WWF to both manage and benefit from their marine resources, particularly sea-grape, which is abundant in Western Province.

He said sea-grape is a unique natural resource in the province and it presents strong potential as a commercial commodity if further efforts are made in value addition.

“It is important to note that these communities are engaging in conserving this resource at the community level.

“While they currently sell sea-grape at local markets to meet household needs, they can gain greater benefits by adding value to this resource, increasing their income,” Onahikeni said.

He said participants were introduced to key business concepts including how to start and manage a business, identify value-added products, target markets, and sustainably harvest sea-grape.

Mrs. Taru Ago from Boeboe Community said the training has broadened her understanding of food security while also highlighting the business potential of locally available resources.

She said participants also learned about sustainable harvesting practices to ensure that future generations continue to benefit from the resource.

Mrs. Keith Tovokera, representing Pusiju Community, expressed appreciation for the opportunity to take part in the training, noting its importance for women and youth.

“This training is important, especially for us women and youth, as such knowledge will help build better communities.

“I believe the outcomes of this training will bring greater benefits, particularly in creating job opportunities for our youths and contributing to community and national development,” she said.

Mr. John Baegu of Kogu Community highlighted the importance of partnerships with non-governmental organizations in improving community livelihoods.

Meanwhile, Mr. Alpha Ghelly of Saeragi Community said the training has equipped his community with the knowledge and confidence to venture into value-added production.

He said Saeragi and other participating communities are now exploring the production of sea-grape-based products such as body lotions, soaps and other items to boost income generation.

“This training helps us better understand our business ideas and how we can tap into different markets,” Ghelly said.

The communities acknowledge WWF Solomon Islands for its continued support in empowering rural communities to sustainably manage resources while improving livelihoods.

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[Published on Saturday, March 28, 2026]

BY RODRICK DESURI

Auki

Three clinics in Malaita Province are now benefiting from newly installed hybrid solar systems, improving healthcare services—especially at night.

Ever Exceed Company has installed 5kW hybrid solar systems at the clinics under a project funded by Peak International and supported by UNICEF Solomon Islands.

An electrician with Ever Exceed, Devincia Mamupio, said the project covers seven clinics across the province.

He said the clinics include Lesiala, Kwadinari, Sinamauri, Rafufu, Malu’u Area Health Centre, Kwailabesi and Ata’a.

“So far, we have completed installations at three clinics—Sinamauri, Rafufu and Malu’u—and we are yet to complete the remaining four,” he said.

Mamupio said the solar system installed at Sinamauri Clinic in West Kwaio will provide reliable lighting, particularly at night.

“This solar system will help provide lights at the clinic for sick patients,” he said.

Chairman of the Sinamauri Clinic Board, Tom Siru, thanked partners for supporting the project.

“I would like to thank Peak International for funding this project, UNICEF for selecting our clinic, and Ever Exceed staff for successfully installing the system,” he said.

He added that the solar system will greatly improve services for patients and surrounding communities.

Mamupio also acknowledged local communities for their support and cooperation during the installation work.

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[Published on Saturday, March 28, 2026]

BY JUNELYN KELLY

A significant step towards inclusive democracy has been taken in Honiara with a one-day workshop to establish the Disability Election Accessibility Working Group (EDAWG).

The initiative is a collaboration between the Pacific Community (SPC) and the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC).

The workshop’s objective is to ensure that persons with disabilities can fully and meaningfully participate in the nation’s electoral process, according to a press statement posted on the Electoral Commission’s Facebook page on Friday.

The statement said participants engaged in discussions and shared their lived experiences, identifying key barriers and agreeing on priority actions to improve accessibility in future elections.

The establishment of the working group marks a crucial milestone in empowering every voice in Solomon Islands’ democracy, the statement added.

Photo credit: SIEC

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