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Police launch community policing strategy in West Kwaio

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By RODRICK DESURI 

Auki 

A community policing strategy was launched in Bona Community in West Kwaio, Malaita Province, yesterday. 

It is a shift from reactive to proactive law enforcement that focuses on building partnerships between officers and residents to solve problems and prevent crime. 

Malaita Provincial Police Commander, Superintendent Michael Ramosaea, said that they were glad that Bona Community reached out to the police to launch the strategy to help guide their community, especially for women and children. 

He said the police will now collaborate more with the community, can receive reports, and take a proactive approach to ensure the safety of everyone. 

He said the launched initiative covers four communities besides Bona Community in the Doria district. 

“This marks a milestone achievement for Bona Community and other communities nearby.

“I am glad that these communities have reached out for this very important strategy to help and empower them to assist in the community on behalf of our police,” he said.

He also said the policing strategy launched covered areas such as no consumption or selling of alcohol, no loud music, no selling or using drugs like marijuana and cocaine, and no human waste in inappropriate areas.

He said that the gap between the police and the Bona community has now been addressed, as they will act on behalf of the police in their community.

He also said that the police will only step in if there are cases that are beyond the community’s control.

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Call for urgent action to protect, promote human rights

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BY LORETTA B MANELE

Save The Children Solomon Islands (STCSI) and its partner, DSE, are calling for ‘urgent action to protect and promote human rights’.

There continues to be persistent gaps in national strategy and policy implementation, limited resourcing, and service delivery challenges that leave many children, particularly girls and those in rural and remote communities at risk, the two NGOs say.

STCSI and Development Services Exchange (DSE) made this call in a joint statement yesterday ahead of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) pre-session which is set to take place February 10-13.

The UPR pre-session is an advocacy forum usually held one month before a country’s official review by the United Nations. The UPR is held every four-and-half years.

STCSI said it will be participating at the UPR pre-sessions to raise strong, child rights-focused recommendations that ensures: Enforcement of laws to end child marriage and violence against children; and increased investment in child protection, education and health systems

“The Solomon Islands government has a great opportunity to dramatically improve the ability of children to grow up healthy, safe and educated by ending child marriage. Now is the moment for the government to follow through on its commitment to raise the legal age of marriage from 15 to 18,” Tory Clawson, country director for STCSI said.

While acknowledging progress in policy commitments and national strategies, the two organisations highlighted persistent gaps in implementation, limited resourcing, and service delivery challenges that leave many children, particularly girls and those in rural and remote communities at risk.

“DSE has contributed to previous UPR cycles and continues this commitment in the 4th cycle. We strongly support raising the minimum age of marriage to 18, as one in five girls in Solomon Islands are married before reaching adulthood. This reform reinforces the child rights commitments we have consistently advocated for through the UPR 4th Cycle,” Jennifer Wate, general secretary for DSE said.

Key concerns for the Solomon Islands’ UPR Pre-Session include child marriage, gender-based and other violence against children, limited access to early childhood education, and gaps in maternal, newborn, and adolescent health services, with girls and children in rural communities most affected, the statement said.

Save the Children Solomon Islands and DSE reaffirm their commitment to working with the government, CSOs, communities, and development partners to ensure UPR recommendations are implemented effectively, leading to measurable improvements in children’s lives.

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CAUSE Project staffs undergo First Aid Training

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BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

COMMUNITY Access and Urban Services Enhancement (CAUSE) project staffs in Gizo, Western Province, have successfully undergone a two-day First Aid training that aims to equip them with essential life-saving skills.

The training was conducted by the Solomon Islands Red Cross Society Gizo Branch at the Seventh Day Adventist Hall.

The training focused on basic first aid standard procedures relevant to workplace and community settings.

Speaking to Island Sun, one of the trainers, Ms. Samantha Ratu, said the training was designed to help participants respond effectively to emergencies that may occur in workplaces or homes.

She said participants were introduced to the DRABC first aid procedure, which stands for Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing and Circulation.

“First aid is very important in every walk of life as it can help save lives.

“A first aid practitioner can help resuscitate a patient who is not breathing and handle casualties properly before seeking medical attention,” Ratu said.

She said first aid knowledge and skills are also useful in households, as emergencies can happen at any time.

CAUSE Trainer, Ms. Rewlyn Malasa Pitisopa, described the training as timely and important, especially for workers involved in CAUSE projects who often operate in field environments.

“We normally provide training to our project participants before they go out to the field. This training helps ensure our workers are equipped with basic first aid knowledge and skills,” she said.

Pitisopa said emergencies are unpredictable, and CAUSE remains committed to ensuring the safety and preparedness of its workers.

“We do not know when an emergency might happen, so it is our responsibility to make sure our workers are properly equipped with first aid knowledge and skills,” she said.

Pitisopa acknowledges the Solomon Islands Red Cross Society Gizo Branch for accepting the request to facilitate the training programme.

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Mines ministry review of Gold Ridge agreements underway

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BY LORETTA B MANELE

The Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification (MMERE) is working on reviewing agreements pertaining to the Gold Ridge mining operation in Central Guadalcanal.

Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele shared this with local media at a press conference on Monday this week.

He was responding to a question on what the government is doing to ensure resource owners have the upper hand in relation to the recent incident at the Gold Ridge mining area.

Manele said Gold Ridge is an important national project but it is also important that key stakeholders like land and resource owners’ concerns are addressed.

He said on this note, the Ministry of Mines, the lead ministry in this sector (mining) have been working on reviewing agreements which are;

-Agreement between government and company

-Agreement between company and landowners

-Agreement between landowners and government

“These are three main agreements they are also subsidiary agreements that covers other communities downstream,” he said.

Manele said these are the key agreements that have to be in place and they have been informed by the Mines ministry that the agreements would be completed by the end of this month.

“Discussions have been underway between the landowner representatives and government and I do thank Guadalcanal Province for taking part in the dialogue on this particular matter,” he said.

The Prime Minister said the government through the Ministry of Mines will continue to remain engaged in terms of finding ways going forward to ensure that Gold Ridge is operating well.

“…..and that includes taking onboard and addressing the concerns of resource owners of Gold Ridge and other affected communities,” he said.

Photo: Supplied

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Statehood is not negotiable: Veo

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BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

PREMIER of Western Province, Billy Veo, has firmly rejected recent comments by Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele suggesting that provincial support for a federal system of government is fading, saying Western Province is not backing down on its long-standing ambition for statehood.

In an interview yesterday, he said Western Province remains fully committed to the federal system and its aspiration to become a state.

“We want to know which provinces are backing down on the federal system ambitions. To tell the truth, we are not one of them,” Veo said.

He said the pursuit of statehood has been a shared and historic commitment of Western Province, dating back to the efforts of the province’s founding leaders, and remains a key aspiration of the current leadership and people.

“Statehood for Western Province has been fought for by our founding fathers, and present leaders and our people will continue that fight,” Veo said.

He said his government will follow the path laid by past leaders and work collectively with current leaders and stakeholders to achieve statehood.

“We will continue to pursue statehood while we are leading the province,” Veo said.

He said Western Provincial Government has formulated a 10-year development strategic plan, with one of its key goals being the push towards statehood.

Veo said the strategic plan is expected to be endorsed by the Provincial Assembly next month, after which it will become a guiding document for the province’s development direction.

“I must say that Western Province is not backing down on its ambition to become a state of its own. We are not among those provinces that are backing down.

“Western Province will continue the fight, even if other provinces are opposed to the idea,” he said.

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SINBIP successfully commissions 3 towers in Western and Choiseul provinces

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BY ALICE T CAMPBELL

The Solomon Islands National Broadband Infrastructure Project (SINBIP) successfully launched 3 towers in Western and Choiseul Provinces.

SINBIP in a statement yesterday said these sites, Tuzu (R19) in Choiseul Province, and Boro (M23) and Karaka (R24) in Western Province, will significantly enhance internet connectivity for the Choiseul and Vella Lavella regions.

The statement said the new sites are utilizing RuralStar RAN technology, pure solar hybrid power systems, and microwave backhaul links; ensuring a reliable and sustainable operation.

With these three new sites now on-air, SINBIP’s network has expanded to a total of 68 operational sites, bringing reliable internet access to more communities across the country.

“The completion of these sites marks a significant step forward in SINBIP’s ongoing mission to bridge the digital divide, improve communication services, and create a brighter, more connected future for all Solomon Islanders,” said SINBIP.

Despite the challenging rainy season, SINBIP will continue to carry out commissioning work to connect more regions as quickly as possible.

SINBIP said China Harbour Engineering Company Limited (CHEC) and Huawei remain dedicated to delivering high-quality infrastructure that supports the nation’s development goals.

Photo credit: SINBIP

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Solomon Islands hands over presidency of OACPS Council of Ministers

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BY ALICE T CAMPBELL

Solomon Islands under the leadership of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade (MFAET), Peter Shanel Agovaka has come to the end of its tenure as President of the Council of Ministers of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), following a period marked by significant institutional, financial, and strategic engagement.

A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, (MFAET) yesterday, said a handover ceremony of the presidency took place through a virtual meeting on Monday, February 2, 2026.

Reflecting on the tenure, Agovaka said that the Presidency was guided by “a shared commitment to restoring predictability, strengthening governance, and ensuring that the OACPS remains a credible and effective platform for collective action.”

The statement also said that during Solomon Islands Presidency, the council advanced on key priorities that aim to strengthen the organisation’s institutional and financial foundations, including the adoption of the 2026 OACPS Secretariat Budget—the first such budget adopted in several years.

Progress was also achieved on governance reforms, internal audit arrangements, and the successful transition to the new OACPS Headquarters.

On the political and strategic front, the Presidency supported preparations for the 11th OACPS Summit of Heads of State and Government, promoted inclusive engagement among member states, and contributed to effective implementation of the Samoa Agreement, including the establishment of procedures for joint institutions and partnership dialogue.

The successful convening of the 120th Session of the OACPS Council of Ministers further reflected the Organisation’s commitment to consensus-building and collective decision-making.

Agovaka formally handed over the Presidency to Honourable Seedy K. M. Keita, Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs of the Republic of The Gambia during the virtual meeting.

The statement said Solomon Islands reaffirms its continued commitment to the principles, objectives, and unity of the OACPS.

Photo credit: MFAET

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SIG scholarship list delay

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BY SYLVANA TEKUMAHA

The Solomon Islands Government (SIG) Scholarship list for 2026 was expected to be released last week but was unsuccessful.

From the latest follow-up with the Solomon Islands Tertiary Education and Skills Authority (SITESA) yesterday, the endorsement should be done today.

Island Sun reached out for comments from the Permanent Secretary of MEHRD Franco Rodie concerning the delay but there was no response on the matter.

On Monday and Tuesday, the SITESA team held meetings regarding the Scholarship listing but could not provide Island Sun with further details. 

It is usually after the endorsement of the final scholarship listing for the pre-service and in-service sector that the scholarship list is released to the public. 

Since Tertiary Institutions will be commencing soon, applicants and the public are eagerly waiting to see the Scholarship list for 2026.

It was in an email last week to Mr Rodie that the information about the SIG Scholarship release date for last week was disclosed. 

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Two suspects arrested for OBM engine theft in Choiseul Province

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BY SYLVANA TEKUMAHA

Taro police in Choiseul Province have arrested two young male suspects for the theft incident of a 40-horsepower Outboard Motor (OBM) engine at Supizae in Choiseul Province on January 28, 2026.

Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) in a statement yesterday said it was alleged that the two suspects removed the engine from the boat which was anchored in front of the owner’s residence in the early hours of January 28.

Supervising Provincial Police Commander (PPC) for Choiseul Province, Inspector Ronald Chite said the arrests were made after a case was launched with Taro police on the that same day.

PPC Chite said the engine was successfully recovered at a nearby river leading towards the Choiseul Bay waterfall.

The suspects were charged with simple larceny and were later released on bail and are expected to appear in court on a later date.

The statement said Taro police remain committed to addressing property-related offenses within Choiseul Province and will continue to work to ensure that safety and security of the community is provided.

The police urges the public to quickly report any criminal activities or suspicious behavior in communities.

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RSIPF responds to incident at Gold Ridge with focus on safety

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BY SYLVANA TEKUMAHA

The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) reaffirms its role to maintain public safety and prevent escalation following a recent incident at the Gold Ridge Mine in Guadalcanal.

RSIPF in a statement yesterday said on the night of January 20, 2026, an arson was carried out on heavy machinery at the mine site, resulting in damage to a number of company assets.

From this incident some police officers and a civilian, working for the company sustained injuries.

In response, the police acted promptly, secured the area, and ensured that the incident did not escalate or pose further risk to surrounding communities.

RSIPF has commenced an investigation to identify those responsible and continues to gather information.

Meanwhile, the police are also engaging with local leaders and relevant stakeholders to support calm and lawful responses following the incident.

Supervising Assistant Commissioner (AC) of Police for the National Operations, Chief Superintendent Francis Ramoni said the priority for police is the safety of people and to prevent further unrest.

“RSIPF recognises that there are strong concerns within surrounding communities. Our role is to ensure those concerns do not result in harm to people or property and that issues are addressed peacefully and through appropriate channels,” he said.

RSIPF said police have supported discussions between community representatives and other parties to help reduce tension and prevent misinformation.

The Guadalcanal Provincial Government also joined calls for calmness and restraint.

RSIPF wants to assure the community that all valuable seized items and materials confiscated from Gold Ridge have been secured in safe storage, photographed, and recorded for transparency and ongoing inquiries into the seized items are continuing.

“RSIPF continues to take seriously any allegations toward officers after allegations in October 2025 that some officers were involved in illegal mining activities. These officers have been suspended pending the results of Professional Standards and Internal Investigations (PSII).

“RSIPF reiterated that matters relating to mining operations, royalties, or policy decisions sit outside the role of policing,” said the statement.

Chief Superintendent, Ramoni said RSIPF does not make commercial or government decisions.

“Our responsibility is to uphold the law impartially, protect lives, and maintain stability within our communities,” he said.

RSIPF said the police will continue to maintain a visible presence in the area to support safety, encourage peaceful engagement, and prevent further incidents while investigations continue.

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