BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to strengthen the country’s maritime sector.

Speaking during the International Day of the Seafarer 2026 celebrations yesterday, Guest of Honour, Deputy Secretary (Corporate) of the MID, Andrew Houlia, highlighted five key priorities that aim to improve transport services, maritime safety, workforce development and connectivity across Solomon Islands.

Mr Houlia said the Ministry acknowledges the vital role seafarers play in supporting national development, economic growth and community connectivity throughout the country.

He said that the Government’s first priority is improving maritime investment and financing.

“Recent studies by the Solomon Islands Maritime Authority (SIMA) identified significant investment needs in the domestic shipping fleet and maritime workforce.

“The Government is supporting efforts to attract development partners, financial institutions, and private-sector investors to address the financing challenges faced by vessel owners and operators,” he said.

He said that maritime education and workforce development were identified as the second priority, with between 20,000 and 25,000 young Solomon Islanders entering the labour market each year.

“The Government sees the maritime industry as a key source of skilled employment opportunities. Continued support will be provided to the Solomon Islands Maritime College, including its university accreditation process and expansion of training opportunities.

“Fleet renewal and maritime connectivity form the third priority,” Mr Houlia said.

He said that the Government plans to support a long-term vessel replacement programme to improve safety, reliability and transport links, particularly for outer islands and remote communities.

“The fourth priority focuses on reviving traditional shipbuilding. The Government is backing SIMA’s initiative to document, certify and revitalise traditional vessel construction, recognising its cultural significance and potential to provide affordable transport solutions.

He said that improving small boat safety is the fifth priority, with support for skipper training, safety awareness programmes, vessel standards and access to life-saving equipment.

“Marking this year’s theme, ‘Carrying the World Trade, Carrying the Risk,’ the Government called on all maritime stakeholders to work together to promote safety, professionalism and respect across the industry while recognising the valuable contribution of seafarers to Solomon Islands and the global economy,” he said.

Photo credit: John Houanihau

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The Solomon Islands joined the international maritime community to celebrate the International Day of the Seafarer yesterday at the Solomon Islands Maritime College (SIMC), SINU Ranadi Campus.

The theme for this year was ‘Carrying the World Trade, Carrying the Risk’.

The Guest of Honour, Deputy Secretary (Corporate) of the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID), Andrew Houlia, said the theme highlights the important role seafarers play in the global economy.

“Today, we pause to acknowledge and thank all seafarers for their invaluable contribution to our societies, economies, and communities. We honour their professionalism, dedication, and perseverance in the face of adversity.”

Solomon Islands Maritime College (SIMC) Director, Capt. Dr Teorae Kabure welcomed everyone to the annual celebration.

He explained that ships are essential to transport food, goods, people, and animals between countries, but they cannot operate without seafarers.

“But these ships cannot move, and I repeat, these ships cannot move without seafarers. There is the deck, the engine crew, and a whole lot of hands-on deck.”

“Seafarers, please note that regardless whether you are working on the dock or wharf, or working with shipping business or companies ashore, or on board naval ships, fishing vessels, or on board any other merchant or cargo vessels, I strongly believe that at times like today, you must be praised, thanked, honored, remembered, and appreciated for all what you have done tirelessly and continue to do as seafarers.”

Associate Professor Eric Katovai, Pro Vice-Chancellor Academic at Solomon Islands National University (SINU), said the theme is both timely and meaningful because it reminds people of the hard work seafarers do.

“It reminds us that behind every product we purchase, every vehicle we drive, every item in our supermarkets, every piece of machinery used in our industries, and every essential commodity arriving in our islands, seafarers are working tirelessly at sea.”

Meanwhile, Thierry Nervale, Director of the Solomon Islands Maritime Authority (SIMA), said seafarers often work far from their families and under difficult conditions to keep global trade moving.

“So today it’s an opportunity to say a simple but important message. Thank you to all seafarers. We also would like to remember seafarers currently serving in areas affected by conflict and instability. Happy Day of the Seafarers to all our seafarers, cadets, and maritime students.”

Photo credit: John Houanihau

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BY DOUGLAS VAHIA

Australia funded a specialised healthcare waste management training for staff of the new Naha Birthing and Urban Health Centre as preparations continue for the facility’s opening.

A total of 22 healthcare workers from the Honiara City Council (HCC) and the Naha Birthing and Urban Health Centre recently completed a week-long practical workshop delivered by medical waste management experts from the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).

A statement from the Australian High Commission (AHC) said, the training forms part of Australia’s support to ensure the new health facility is ready to provide safe, environmentally responsible and professional healthcare services.

Head Nurse Ellen Jilini said the workshop provided valuable practical knowledge for staff who will manage medical waste at both the current Naha Clinic and the new centre.

“Waste management is a very important part of maintaining safe facility operations,” Ms Jilini said.

“The key takeaway from the workshop is how to identify and manage different types of waste correctly to prevent the spread of infectious diseases in the new facility.”

Participants received training on the safe handling of healthcare waste, including waste segregation, storage, transportation and disposal. They also took part in practical exercises designed to strengthen coordination between the new centre and HCC.

Australian High Commissioner Jeff Roach said the initiative highlights the importance of regional cooperation in strengthening Solomon Islands’ health sector.

“We’re incredibly grateful to benefit from SPREP’s strong regional leadership in medical waste management.

“It is a testament to how Pacific regional institutions are best-placed to deliver Pacific-led solutions to Pacific challenges,” Mr Roach said.

He said the project combines regional and local expertise to ensure the facility is fully prepared before opening.

“Together, we’re ensuring the right skills and systems are in place before opening to deliver the very best healthcare, safely, with dignity and with respect,” Mr Roach said.

The Naha Birthing and Urban Health Centre is expected to more than double the number of birthing suites available in Solomon Islands and will provide healthcare services directly within the community it serves.

Mr Roach said Australia continues to work closely with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS), Honiara City Council (HCC) and the National Referral Hospital (NRH) to address operational training requirements ahead of the centre’s opening.

“Waste management training is essential to protect frontline health workers, as well as assuring the safety of the surrounding community from infectious diseases,” he said.

The workshop brought together operations staff, midwives, supervisors and HCC health workers.

Training activities included practical walkthroughs tracing waste flow from wards to final disposal, demonstrations on safe waste handling and storage, and role-play exercises focused on managing placental and birthing waste in culturally appropriate ways.

SPREP Lead Trainer Soseala Tinilau said poor healthcare waste management could have serious consequences for public health.

“This training has equipped Honiara City Council and Naha Birthing and Urban Health Centre staff with the right tools to break the chain of infection, starting with correct waste segregation at the point of generation,” Mr Tinilau said.

The training was supported through the Australia-Solomon Islands Partnership, which aims to strengthen health systems, promote safer environments and enhance regional cooperation.

Photo credit: AHC

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BY JOSES SAREN

SHOPPERS at Honiara markets are finding less slippery cabbage as sellers and farmers say the prolonged dry season has significantly cut down harvests.

A seller at Central Market, Mark, told Island Sun that the lack of rain is directly affecting crop growth.

“The prolonged dry season, without rain, has affected the growth,” he said.

At Fisheries Market, vendor Margaret also pointed to the current El Niño weather pattern as the cause.

“It’s because of this El Niño, the dry season,” she said.

At White River Market, farmer Joyce said what was once a reliable harvest has visibly shrunk.

“Harvests are noticeably reduced because of suppressed growth,” she said.

Market buyer Dalcy said the shortage is also changing how slippery cabbage is being sold across Honiara’s markets.

She said demand for slippery cabbage is always high, but when farmers bring less to market, they make the bundles smaller to stretch what they have.

Dalcy added that it is not only everyday buyers competing for the limited supply — resellers are also purchasing stock, making it even harder for ordinary shoppers to find.

For many Honiara families, slippery cabbage is a daily fixture on the dinner table. It is cooked in soups or served alongside rice and fish, and is widely grown in home gardens across the island.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has warned that El Niño “may also bring drier weather in some of the Pacific islands, threatening food and water shortages.”

The FAO also noted that when harvests are reduced, supply decreases, which then leads to price increases and an imbalance between supply and demand.

The United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has similarly noted that Pacific islands rely on fresh rainwater for drinking and watering crops, and that severe droughts linked to El Niño can negatively impact food security and the economy.

If the dry weather continues, market shelves could get even emptier and prices may rise further in the weeks ahead.

Experts warn that slippery cabbage may only be the beginning. A food security study on Solomon Islands found that El Niño-induced drought has previously affected taro gardens across the country. Separate research found that a 50 percent drop in sweet potato productivity caused by El Niño drought could result in a 75 percent increase in sweet potato prices — a significant blow for ordinary families.

With Solomon Islands already heavily dependent on imported food, any further drop in locally grown produce could put serious pressure on household food budgets across Honiara.

Photo credit: Joses Saren

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BY CHARLES STENNETT

Various road works being carried out in various sections of the Honiara main road between the Hot Bread Roundabout and Honiara City Council’s headquarters are progressing well.

A statement from the Land and Maritime Connectivity Project, (LMCP), said construction works on the Hotbread Roundabout have commenced and will see works on the seaside section of the roundabout starting soon.

Construction works include subgrade and subbase preparation, backfilling, and compaction to stabilise the foundation of the roundabout structure. Concrete works have also commenced as part of the ongoing construction programme.

Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID), Mike Qaqara, said the roundabout forms a key component of the broader road improvement works currently being undertaken in Central Honiara.

“The Hotbread Roundabout is a critical infrastructure investment that will improve traffic circulation, enhance road safety, and support the growing transport demands of Honiara City. We acknowledge the patience and cooperation of the public during this construction period and assure road users that every effort is being made to complete the works efficiently while maintaining access and safety,” Mr. Qaqara said.

Mr. Qaqara added that the completed road improvements will significantly enhance connectivity, reduce traffic congestion, and contribute to the long-term development of Honiara’s transport network.

The statement said, as a result of the current works, members of the public, including drivers and pedestrians, are advised to exercise caution when travelling through the construction zones.

Road users are encouraged to follow all traffic signs, comply with traffic management instructions, and remain mindful of construction workers operating within the area.

The statement said because of the limited alternative route options around the site, some traffic congestion may be unavoidable during the construction period but traffic management measures will remain in place to minimise disruptions and facilitate the safe movement of vehicles and pedestrians during the construction period.

The contractor, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, CCECC, has installed warning signs and implemented traffic management measures around the construction site to safely guide motorists and pedestrians.

Meanwhile, sealing works on the road section between the Central Market and the Honiara City Council, HCC, area have been completed and the road will soon be opened to the public.

Construction activities along the seaside road section from the Hotbread Roundabout to the Central Market are also progressing well. Once these works are completed, the contractor will shift operations to the landside section between the Hotbread Roundabout and the HCC area.

The various road constructions are being implemented under LMCP, jointly funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Solomon Islands Government (SIG).

Photo credit: LMCP

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BY RODRICK DESURI 

Auki 

China has supported four communities in East Are’are, Malaita Province, with water supply materials and tanks. 

The support was made possible through the Rural Sustainable Development Programme, a partnership initiative between the Ministry of Rural Development (MRD) and the People’s Republic of China, PRC. 

According to a statement from MRD, the support aims to provide the four communities with access to clean running water at their doorsteps to improve health standards. 

It said the project will have a positive impact on the lives of individuals, families, schools, churches, and vulnerable groups such as women, children, and persons with disabilities in the communities. 

East Are’are Constituency Development Officer, Daniel Manata, has expressed gratitude to the People’s Republic of China for their support to the communities.

He said this is the first time that their communities received such support from the People’s Republic of China.

“On behalf of the East Are’are Constituency office and our people, I wish to express our profound gratitude to the PRC for the generous assistance.

“Indeed, it was a landmark achievement for rural communities. This is the first of its kind, not only because of the delivery but because it marks a significant accomplishment for both the constituency and the PRC partnership,” he said.

He said accessibility to clean and safe water is not just a luxury, but a fundamental human right that is essential for the health and well-being of their communities.

The four communities in East Are’are that have the opportunity to access clean and safe water include Potaniu, Maniaha/Hauharii, Hatakau, and Raroasi.

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BY NED GAGAHE

Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development (MALD) Franklyn Derek Wasi says Solomon Islands can learn valuable lessons from China as Solomon Islands prepares to graduate from its Least Developed Country (LDC) status and pursue greater economic growth through agriculture.

Speaking during a formal ceremony between the Ministry and a visiting delegation from Jiangsu Province of China in Honiara yesterday, Minister Wasi highlighted China’s achievements in poverty reduction and agricultural development.

“All these are very vital as we are expected to graduate from LDC status next year and there is no better country to learn from than China, the only nation on earth to have eradicated 800 million people out of poverty since the 1970s,” Wasi said.

The minister made the remarks as Solomon Islands and Jiangsu Province strengthened agricultural cooperation through the handover of farm equipment, the inauguration of a rice demonstration base, and the signing of a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding between Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences (JAAS), the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) and MALD.

Wasi said agriculture remains the most important economic backbone of Solomon Islands and that stronger cooperation with China will help improve agricultural productivity, research, innovation and food security.

He said the initiatives launched during the ceremony align with the policy priorities of the GREAT government’s agriculture sector and are expected to support domestic food production while creating new opportunities for farmers.

“It will promote inclusivity, strengthen extension and research and innovation, thereby increase domestic production and achieve food security for Solomon Islands,” he said.

The minister acknowledged the growing partnership between Solomon Islands and China since diplomatic relations were established in 2019, noting that cooperation has expanded into sectors including education, health, infrastructure, rural development, fisheries and agriculture.

He also praised the contribution of the Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, which has deployed agricultural experts to Solomon Islands since 2024 and helped establish rice and vegetable demonstration farms.

Vice Governor Zhao Yan of Jiangsu Province said agricultural cooperation remains a cornerstone of relations between China and Solomon Islands.

He said Jiangsu is committed to sharing agricultural technology, research expertise and innovation with Solomon Islands to support the country’s agricultural transformation and food security goals.

The ceremony was attended by government officials, representatives of the Chinese Embassy in Honiara, SINU officials and agricultural stakeholders from both countries.

Photo credit: Ned Gagahe

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

A deliberately lit fire at Bloody Ridge National Historical Park on Wednesday, 24 June, has destroyed nearly 90 per cent of a reforestation project, wiping out thousands of young trees and two years of restoration work, park management says.

According to the park official, the blaze started at multiple locations within the site during very dry and windy conditions, rapidly spreading across the plantation area. The fire also came close to reaching a nearby village west of the park before being contained.

He said the destroyed reforestation area had been developed over two years through the efforts of Solomon Islands National University (SINU) students, park rangers, and local women’s groups.

He described the incident as a deliberate act of arson and said it is part of a pattern of repeated attempts to set fires in the same area.

He said earlier incidents in early June were also successfully contained by rangers working with limited manpower and no dedicated firefighting equipment.

“No one has been identified. The fires appear to have been started simultaneously at multiple points. We will report the matter to the police, and surveillance at the site will be increased,” he said.

The official suggested that tensions may be linked to restrictions on activities inside the protected area, including bans on alcohol and commercial traffic.

He adds that most surrounding communities support the park’s conservation efforts.

“Despite the destruction, rangers have vowed to continue restoration work. We will replant. We will restore what has been lost. The park will not be deterred from its conservation goals,” the officer said.

Bloody Ridge National Historical Park, a key heritage and conservation site in Solomon Islands, has faced ongoing challenges balancing environmental protection with local community pressures.

Photo: Supplied

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