By RODRICK DESURI 

Auki 

Auki police in Malaita Province lauds Bona community of West Kwaio, Malaita Province for their trust and confidence, and for working together with the police. 

This appreciation comes after the successful launch of the police strategy to assist the Bona rural community and surrounding areas. 

In an interview with Island Sun yesterday, Malaita Provincial Police Commander, Superintendent Michael Ramosaea, said community members were very excited about the strategy, because this means their community will be safer for everyone.

He said the strategy will help solve problems, focus on building trust, prevent crime, and improve the quality of life, rather than just reacting to incidents.

Superintendent Ramosaea said this initiative involves collaboration between law enforcement, residents, and organizations, transforming police departments to support community engagement and problem-solving through key components like partnerships, organizational change, and proactive problem-solving.

“On behalf of the police, I was very glad that the Bona Community wanted to work with the police.

“It is one of the principles of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force that police must work closely with the communities,” he said.

Superintendent Ramosaea said the successful launch at Bona Community has brought back trust and confidence in the police and it will cover the gap between the police and the community itself.

At the same time, he appeals to other communities in West Kwaio and in other areas in Malaita Province to do the same.

He said community policing will help the police to maintain law and order, safety for women and children, and prevent social activities that young people are often involved in.

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 Solomon Islands hosts Fiji delegation on Fiji WWII war grave relocation

 BY ALICE T CAMPBELL

The Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade (MFAET), Collin Beck received a courtesy visit on Monday this week from the Government of Fiji as part of ongoing discussions on the proposed relocation of the Commonwealth War Grave of Fijian Servicemen who paid the ultimate sacrifice during the Second World War in Solomon Islands.

MFAET in its statement yesterday said Fiji’s government delegation was led by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs, Mr Mason Smith, accompanied by Fiji’s High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, H.E.  Jackson Evans, and other Fiji senior officials.

The Fijian delegation briefed the Solomon Islands government on planned relocation, following earlier bilateral discussions back in 2024.

MFAET said the current Commonwealth War Grave site at the Number Three area (near Vara Creek) is facing ongoing encroachment by settlers.

Permanent Secretary Collin Beck paid tribute to Fijian Military personnel who had served in Solomon Islands during the Second World War and to those who were called to duty in Solomon Islands under Commonwealth Flag, RAMSI and SIAF.

Beck expressed regret and disappointment over disrespect for the sanctity of cemetery in Honiara and that illegal settlement is worrying and has now impacted relations between the two Melanesian neighbours and nationals who have loved ones buried on site.

He stated that honouring resting places of our deceased in Honiara is a mark of respect to all who have served and contributed to Solomon Islands past and present.

MFAET said an agreed site for the relocation of the remains of both Fijian servicemen and civilians is currently being considered. 

Meanwhile, the visiting Fiji delegation will be holding consultations with relevant Solomon Islands authorities during the week.

The Permanent Secretary for MFAET wishes the Fijian government delegation a fruitful engagement in the country.

Photo credit: MFAET

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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Dala village in Sandfly Passage of Central Islands province celebrated their first-ever seaweed harvest, an achievement after almost a year into farming the sea plant gold.

A statement published on the Central Islands Forum (CIP – Ngella, Savo & Russell) page highlighted the challenges faced during the project and the perseverance that led to this success.

“The project began with many struggles. It started as a group initiative, and although there were challenges along the way, the community remained committed.

“The first planting was done in 2025, and today we have successfully completed our first harvest. This is an important milestone for our seaweed farming and processing project,” the statement said.

The community is said to have worked collectively through group and block-to-block planting, supporting one another throughout the process.

“One of the biggest challenges has been community funding, but despite this, the group found ways to overcome the difficulties and move forward.

“While seaweed farming is not new in other provinces, this is the first time our community has undertaken such a project. This achievement shows unity, resilience, and the potential for future development,” the statement said.

While the harvest brings good news for seaweed farmers in Sandfly and other parts of Central Islands province, it also represents a positive achievement for the seaweed industry nationwide.

It also reflects the steady growth of the industry and contributes towards the target of the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) to expand seaweed production to 10,000 metric tonnes by 2026.

To support this goal, the national government through MFMR continues to assist seaweed development across the country by providing training and farming materials to local farmers.

In recent years, significant progress has been recorded with increased seaweed production in several sites in the country, including Wagina in Choiseul province, Lau in Malaita province, Shortland in Western province, Ngella and Russell in Central Islands province, Marau in Guadalcanal province, and other locations nationwide.

MFMR encourages coastal communities to engage in seaweed farming, as it provides an alternative source of income for Solomon Islanders.

Currently, Wagina accounts for nearly 70 percent of the country’s seaweed production, with the remaining 30 percent produced by other provinces in the country.

Photo: Central Islands Forum

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BY JUNELYN KELLY

Urgent repair works for the Tanaeba (Kohi) Bridge and multi-cell culverts on Northwest Guadalcanal Road is set to commence this week.

A statement from the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) on Monday, January 2, said these works are treated as an emergency in response to recent flooding that has impacted the bridge, people, schools and small businesses.

“These works are treated as an emergency in response to recent flooding that inundated the approach roads on both ends of the bridge, disrupting transportation and connectivity for farmers, small businesses, schools and students, and general road users on this sealed road section,” said MID.

The statement said MID’s Transport Infrastructure Management Services Division (TIMSD) with Guadalcanal Provincial Disaster Operations Committee (P-DOC) have carried out an initial assessment and damage scoping following last week’s persistent heavy rain and winds, which have also affected other parts of the country.

MID said now that the flood level has receded, a contractor will be mobilized soon to the site to carry out emergency repair works with the aim to reconnect the bridge.

The ministry said this reinstatement works will also address cell culverts identified during inspection as compromised by floodwaters, which pose long-term safety risks to road users.

“These urgent interventions are part of the government’s response to ensure the safety and resilience of infrastructure critical to the Guadalcanal Provinces’ development and disaster response mechanism,” said MID.

Photo: MID

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By RODRICK DESURI 

Auki 

Fiu and Kelakwai community members in Central Kwara’ae, Malaita Province stepped forward yesterday to conduct a cleaning session around veda road, which had deteriorated and been cut off by flooding.

This road was damaged due to bad weather last week, including heavy rain and strong winds.

Community elder, Levite Luciano Maesimae in an interview with the paper on Tuesday, January 30, said the clean-up session was supported by ward one provincial member, Benjamin.

He said the damage has impacted the community’s normal vital activities and services, including students and teachers who use the road daily, and has also created extra costs and challenges.

He said that the main idea behind the initiative is to seek any possible assistance from responsible authorities.

“The brushing and cleaning session was led by the provincial member for Ward One, Benjamin. 

“This idea was initiated so that any possible assistance from the responsible authorities can be provided afterwards.

“This road is the only access road that the Fiu and Kelakwai community members have depended on, especially rural farmers, who transport their produce every day to the market,” he said. 

He said damage to the road is a contributing factor caused by climate change currently affecting most parts of the country. 

He appeals to responsible authorities, stakeholders, and provincial and national governments to step in and fix the road. 

He said that discussions should now begin.

“Yes, I call on the stakeholders, provincial and national governments to start discussing possible ways to fix this road,” he said.

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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Only months remain before the completion of the first ever wharf for Kirakira – the provincial town of Makira Ulawa province.

This is the progress so far on this historic project, said Premier Stanley Siapu, even though it falls short of its initial schedule.

In a recent interview, he said there are lot of hindrances for the delay and major among them are weather and delay in mobilization of materials to the project site.

However, Siapu highlighted the smooth and progressive implementation of the project, noting its completion will be a boost to economic development in the province.

He also said the project will lay foundation for the cocoa processing plant project at Kirakira which is now halfway through implementation.

The premier noted that the project reached phase 1, which is the completion of the building to house the machineries for the factory.

He said his government is currently liaising with the national government through the Ministry of Commerce, Industries, Labour and Immigration (MCILI) and the Ministry of National Planning and Development Coordination (MNPDC) on the second phase of the project.

Siapu further highlighted that the completion of Kirakira wharf shipping service to the province is an issue that continues to remain a challenge for the province.

Generally, he said the project will support infrastructure development, enhance logistic and boost the productive sector in the province.

This SBD $21.9 million project is funded by the Asia Development Bank (ADB) through the national government and implemented by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).

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BY LORETTA B MANELE

Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has confirmed to local media that the “No jab, no job” policy during the Covid 19 era no longer applies today.

He made the confirmation at his press conference on Monday this week in response to local media questioning the appointment of the Director General for Solomon Islands Independent Commission Against Corruption (SIICAC).

Manele said this is a very important appointment thus it is also important that they take into account that there is procedural independence in some of these processes.

He told local media that SIICAC is an independent body and recruitment is not handled by politicians.

“SIICAC is an independent body and recruitment is handled by the justice and legal services commission and not politicians in terms of recruitment process,” said Manele.

He said the then Covid 19 policy on recruitment where applicants for public service postings had to get vaccinated, is no longer applicable today.

“In terms of the Covid Policy on recruitment, that no longer applies, that policy was revoked on 31st December 2023.

“That policy no longer applies in this case, it is the process we have to comply with,” he said.

Manele said now that covid is no longer around and the policy was rescinded on December 2023, there will be re-consideration of those who have applied.

“We are looking at different factors, what was then in terms of the Covid policy but now that covid is no longer around and the policy has been rescinded on December 2023, this will go into the re-consideration of those who have applied.

“So, we hope this can be done as soon as possible,” he said.

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