By RODRICK DESURI 

Auki 

The struggling vendors in the Auki Central Market, Malaita Province, have voiced their disagreement at security officers of the market for chasing them away during the night. 

It was during a night, when Auki was experiencing heavy rain and strong winds.

At that time, security officers came and told the vendors to leave the market building. 

The vendors said that during times of heavy rain and strong winds, the market security should have the compassion to at least accommodate them in the market to rest for the next day. 

One of the vendors, John Basiori from West Kwaio, said the situation is challenging, especially for vendors coming from far away and who do not have relatives residing in Auki. 

He said that many of them have been using the front shops for sleeping at night, and it is getting worse during bad weather.

“Many of us depend on the front shops to rest for the next day’s marketing, and this is very challenging when we experience heavy rain and strong winds.

“The security should have some respect and a good heart to at least accommodate us in the market building,” he said.

Meanwhile, Basiori is calling on the Malaita Provincial Government to build a safe resting place for the vendors who travel from far places just to sell their produce, or else allow the vendors to sleep inside the market building.

Island Sun understands that Auki Central Market does not allow any vendors to sleep inside to avoid theft and the consumption of alcohol.

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BY ALICE T CAMPBELL

The Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) appeals to public to stop dumping waste at the eastern end of the Lungga bridge, by the AJ Mall.

MID expressed serious concern over the massive accumulation of rubbish near the eastern approach of Lungga bridge.

The dumpsite would be one of the first sights for visitors and residents arriving at AJ Mall in Honiara, a statement from MID on its Facebook page yesterday said.

The ministry currently has two active contractors engaged in cleaning the east Honiara highway from Honiara City Council (HCC) Roundabout to Henderson Court, MID said.

However, they face a losing battle against illegal dumping of household waste in public spaces and littering from vehicles.

“This is a pubic hazard and road safety concern.

“Our road assets and boundaries deserve respect. Let’s take pride in our city and keep it clean for everyone,” MID said.

MID urges public to be responsible to dispose waste at the allocated sites, to help and keep Honiara clean.

Photo credit: MID

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By RODRICK DESURI 

Auki 

The community members in Ward 14, in Lau Baelelea constituency, have expressed their appreciation to R-WASH for facilitating a sanitation training earlier this month.

The training was made possible for the communities through the efforts and plans of their Ward Development Committee and their MPA for Ward 14, David Solo Baerara. 

In an interview, the Ward Development Committee Chairman, Knoxley Atu said that the training is part of their development plan for Ward 14.

He said that they decided to undertake a sanitation project because they have not seen any changes when they spent their ward grant on agriculture, fisheries, and forestry projects. 

“This initiative is part of our plan with our MPA, David Solo Baerara. We are moving forward with this sanitation project because our ward grant is insufficient.

“Also, in previous years, we have spent the grant on agriculture, forestry, and fisheries projects, but there have been no changes at all,” he said.

He said that during their training, the facilitator practiced and showed the community representatives how to make toilet bowls and a small house to accommodate them.

“In this project, we have just brought a facilitator from R-WASH to teach us how to make the bowls and build blocks,” he said.

He said that the community members enjoyed the training and learned a lot of new knowledge about how to make the toilet bowls.

Meanwhile, Atu said that they have completed building sanitation facilities for the communities in two zones within Ward 14 and have yet to start in the last zone of their ward.

“Currently, we have completed building good sanitation for our communities in two zones and are left with one zone,” he said.

He added that not only did the community benefit from the initiative, but churches and schools within their ward also had access to this initiative.

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BY BEN BILUA

THE Isabel Provincial Government (IPG) acknowledges the efforts of BBC Media Action for organising a Digital Media Literacy training for leaders in Buala, Isabel Province.

Speaking during the opening of the training, Deputy Premier of Isabel Provincial Government, Tony Vahia, said the workshop is timely as it provides a significant step towards building knowledge and countering risks as the digital world continues to evolve.

He said the Digital Media Literacy training lays an important foundation for Isabel Province to address the growing threat of misinformation and disinformation that often undermines social harmony.

Vahia said the provincial government is pleased that the training is being conducted in Isabel to help community, provincial and youth leaders navigate the digital space responsibly by learning how to access and verify information before sharing it with wider audiences.

“Having such training for community leaders, provincial leaders and youth leaders helps guide communities and the province to engage in digital media constructively,” he said.

Vahia calls on participants to make full use of the training opportunity and acquire knowledge that can help promote unity rather than division in the digital space.

“You will be our digital media ambassadors for truthful communication in your respective roles,” he said.

Vahia acknowledged BBC Media Action and the British High Commission Honiara for supporting the workshop.

“Your commitment to building digital capacity in Isabel Province is deeply valued,” he said.

Director of Isabel Health Authority who was also a participant, Martin Gavira, described the workshop as an eye-opener for many participants.

He said the lessons learnt will play a key role in helping leaders access and verify information before communicating it to wider audiences.

“Digital Media Literacy is a new concept to us. We have heard about digital media but did not fully understand what digital media literacy means or the risks of misinformation and disinformation within the wider world web.

“This workshop is timely and relevant, especially as our communities will soon have access to the internet in the future,” Gavira said.

Speaking on behalf of the provincial government participants during the closing of the workshop, Cynthia Vunagi also acknowledged BBC Media Action and its partners for choosing Isabel Province as the first province to undergo the training.

She said the two-day training was intense as participants were introduced to new knowledge about digital media.

“We can now verify information using the steps we learned to ensure our audience is well-informed.

“I have learned a lot, particularly how to verify information by using the ‘source’ principle. We hope there will be more training like this for us in the future,” Vunagi said.

Photo: Supplied

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BY BEN BILUA

West Maringe’s Kolosori community in Isabel Province, has stepped in to support a family who lost their home and belongings in a fire last Sunday.

Community members gathered and donated a number of personal items, including clothes, plates, spoons and cooking pots to assist the affected family.

The items were handed over yesterday by Parish Priest of West Maringe, Father Mesack Besa, and community chief, Fredick Kana during a brief gathering at Bohio settlement where the family currently resides.

Chief Kana said the assistance may be small, but it reflects the community’s willingness to help the family recover from the unfortunate incident.

“These items are very few, but we hope this kind gesture will play an important role in helping the family restart their lives,” Kana said.

Reports reaching Island Sun state that the fire was allegedly started by a mentally ill young man following an argument with his mother on Sunday.

Attempts by the mother and youths from Kolosori to put out the fire were unsuccessful, resulting in the house and all belongings being completely destroyed.

Police from Buala travelled to the settlement on Tuesday in an attempt to apprehend the young man for public safety.

However, they were unable to locate him as he had already fled and gone into hiding.

Community elder Reuben Dotho said the incident has caused fear and concern among villagers.

He said the young man reportedly became mentally ill last year and has since been involved in several incidents affecting community property and food gardens.

“The first incident happened last year when he damaged our water supply pipeline. Police were called and arrested the boy, but he was later released,” Dotho said.

He added that the young man allegedly continued causing trouble in nearby communities after his release, including burning down garden huts belonging to villagers.

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The Ministry of Finance and Treasury (MoFT) and the Government Legal Draftsperson appeared before the Bills and Legislation Committee (BLC) yesterday to commence inquiry into the Value Added Tax Bill 2025.

This bill is a key piece of legislation that aims to reform and modernise the country’s tax system, the National Parliament media unit confirmed yesterday.

The objective of the bill is to simplify and modernise the arrangements for the imposition and collection of tax on the consumption of goods and services in Solomon Islands, according to the media statement.

The proposed legislation seeks to repeal the current tax framework and introduce a Value Added Tax (VAT) system that aligns with tax regimes used across the Pacific region and internationally.

If enacted, the bill will repeal the Goods Tax Act (Cap.122), Sales Tax Act (Cap.125), and Stamp Duties Act (Cap.126), replacing them with the proposed VAT system, parliament media said.

The legislation forms part of Solomon Islands’ broader tax reform programme that began in 2007.

As part of related reforms through separate legislative processes, most import duties may be reduced except for those applied to motor vehicles, fuel, alcoholic beverages, sugary drinks, selected plastics and tobacco.

The current accommodation levy on tourist accommodation may also be removed, the media statement said.

However, following initial discussions, the committee adjourned the hearing to a later date, either Friday this week or another date that is yet to be confirmed.

The media statement said the adjournment will allow the ministry to provide additional technical information through a detailed presentation to assist the committee’s deliberations.

Officials from the ministry also informed the committee that they intend to conduct a workshop for all 50 Members of Parliament to ensure they fully understand the technical aspects of the proposed legislation before the committee resumes its hearings.

The committee will also invite a range of stakeholders to appear before it at a later date. These include the Central Bank of Solomon Islands, the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI), Our Telekom, commercial banks, the Chinese Association, the Solomon Islands Bar Association (SIBA), the Solomon Islands National Provident Fund (SINPF), the Economic Association of Solomon Islands (EASI), State Owned Enterprises, tourism operators, the Guadalcanal Provincial Government, and the Honiara City Council (HCC).

Photo credit: Supplied

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