BY RODRICK DESURI

Auki 

Communities in Langalanga Lagoon, Malaita Province, have been experiencing water shortage since last month.

The water shortage is a result of the current drought season affecting the lagoon and surrounding parts of Malaita’s mainland.

In an interview with one of the community leaders, Deadly Kaonibata, he said they are now taking water from wells and boreholes on the mainland.

He said the water sources may not be safe for consumption, but they are handling it selectively because their tanks had emptied a few weeks ago. 

“Our water tanks, which we depend on for water, have been emptied since last month.

“What we do now is paddle to the mainland to collect water from a well and borehole,” he said.

The water shortage was also observed on Sunday, June 21, during the Prime Minister’s visit to the Lalana community.

During the visit, the government officials brought almost 50 cartons of mineral water to the Lalana community, where the official programme for the Prime Minister’s visit took place.

A concerned Gwaedalo elder, John Reni, also shared the same sentiment, saying that each household is now saving the little water they have.

He said they fear once the dry spell will continue for much longer.

“We will be affected badly once this continues for another month.

“Right now, we have only very little reserved water, but all we have to do now is prepare and be ready, and seek where we will be collecting water once our little reserved water is gone,” he said.

Last week, the government issued an activation of the national contingency plan following the onset of conditions in Solomon Islands.

The National Disaster Management Office also said that they will be monitoring impacts of the El Niño/drought season.

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BY JOSES SAREN

​Prime Minister Matthew Wale has slammed high interest rates and unnecessary fees in the banking systems as ‘morally wrong’, given the significantly high excess liquidity in the sector, and calls on banks to reduce them.

Speaking at the Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) Golden Jubilee celebrations, Mr Wale said the high rates and fees affect businesses, households, individuals, and the productive capacity of the economy, a statement from the PM Press Secretariat yesterday said.

​In his address, Wale emphasised that weak monetary policy transmission “cannot be accepted as a permanent condition, nor explained as simply the nature of a small island economy”.

He adds that “it is a problem that demands active and determined solutions”.

​Wale said the Central Bank must be solution-oriented and willing to take considered risks in the public interest, adding that being anchored in a core mandate is not the same as being passive with it.

​“I call on the leadership of CBSI to ask, at every turn, whether their decisions are genuinely reaching the people they are meant to serve and if they are not, to act decisively to meet the needs of our people,” Wale said.

​The Prime Minister added that price stability, financial system soundness, and support for national development “are not boxes to be ticked”.

​But he also acknowledged that the Central Bank cannot do it alone.

​“That courage, however, cannot be exercised in a vacuum. It depends on something equally essential and that is partnership,” he said.

Photo credit: PM Press Secretariat

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BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

FISHERMEN in Gizo are facing a new and costly challenge as tuna stocks move farther away from the islands, forcing them to travel longer distances in search of the prized fish.

Veteran fisherman from Titiana Village, Ritang Bauro, told Island Sun that the situation is unlike anything he has experienced in recent years.

He said fishermen now have to leave their villages in the early hours of the morning to reach what they describe as the new “tuna zone.”

“We have to leave our village at 2am so that by daybreak we reach the place where tuna is feeding.

“Then we return around 2pm to Gizo to sell our catch,” Bauro said.

He said the shift in tuna distribution has significantly increased operating costs for local fishermen, particularly fuel expenses, while cutting into their profits.

Bauro said he normally purchases between 60 and 70 litres of fuel for a single fishing trip, costing close to SBD1,000.

“Before, we travelled a short distance from Gizo and returned with enough tuna for the market and our families. Now we have to go much farther and spend longer hours at sea,” he said.

Bauro said his catch yesterday was only enough to feed his family and sell a small portion to meet household expenses.

He said the situation is raising concerns among fishing communities that depend heavily on tuna as both a source of income and food security.

Another local fisherman said traditional tuna fishing grounds that once produced reliable catches have become increasingly difficult to find in recent months.

“Tuna, both big and small, that used to be caught between the small islands are now gone,” he said.

Island Sun visited the Gizo Fish Market and found that tuna remains available for sale, although fishermen say the cost of bringing fish to market has risen sharply.

For generations, fishermen in Gizo have relied on the rich waters surrounding the islands to support their families and livelihoods.

However, the changing conditions have sparked concerns over the future availability of fresh tuna in local markets.

Many fishermen believe the phenomenon is linked to the ongoing El Niño weather pattern affecting countries across the Pacific, including Solomon Islands.

El Niño is known to influence ocean temperatures, rainfall patterns and marine ecosystems.

Scientists have previously warned that warmer sea temperatures can alter tuna migration routes and distribution, causing fish stocks to move away from their traditional habitats.

Despite the growing challenges, fishermen continue to venture farther into deeper waters in search of productive fishing grounds, exposing themselves to greater risks at sea and higher operating costs.

As the dry conditions associated with El Niño persist, fishing communities in Western Province are hoping tuna stocks will eventually return closer to their traditional fishing grounds, easing the burden on those who rely on the sea for their survival.

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Heavy downpour gives Gizo residents relief from spell of drought and water shortage

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

A heavy downpour yesterday afternoon brought much-needed relief and renewed hope to residents of Gizo who have been struggling with severe water shortages during the prolonged dry spell.

The rainfall, described by many as a blessing, is expected to replenish household water tanks across the township, providing enough water for the next two to three weeks if conditions remain favourable.

The rain arrived after weeks of little to no rainfall, forcing many families to search for alternative sources of water for drinking, cooking, bathing and other daily needs.

Interviews conducted yesterday morning revealed the extent of the hardship faced by residents.

Ten out of 15 people interviewed said their water tanks had completely dried up due to the extended dry season.

“We have been buying cartons of water for the last two weeks for drinking and cooking. We used well water for bathing, laundry and for the lavatory.

“It has been a challenge,” one resident said.

Another resident, a woman who requested anonymity, said the water shortage had placed a significant burden on women and children.

“We have to walk for more than 200 metres to collect water from a well. This has been going on for over three weeks now.

“From observation, women, girls and children are the ones who always carry water for household use,” she said.

For many residents, the rainfall was a welcoming sight after weeks of uncertainty and hardship.

People carrying buckets and containers along roads and footpaths in search of water have become a common sight throughout the town since last week as household water tanks continue to run dry.

With no reliable reticulated water supply serving the township, residents remain heavily dependent on rainwater harvesting systems for their daily water needs.

Gizo has been without a proper water supply system for more than two decades, leaving the community particularly vulnerable during extended dry periods.

“No rain means no water for the people of Gizo,” one resident said.

While the rainfall has temporarily eased the crisis, concerns remain about the weeks ahead as the country braces for the impacts of El Niño.

The Government has already activated its national drought contingency plan following the onset of El Niño conditions in the country.

Although there have been no reports of drought in Western Province so far, many residents remain cautious about what the coming months may bring.

For now, however, the sound of rain falling on rooftops and filling water tanks has provided a moment of relief for a community that has endured weeks of water scarcity.

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BY TONY IROGA

A Solomon Islands delegation has successfully completed a 14-day seminar on climate-resilient agriculture and fisheries in Wuxi, China.

The training, held from May 20 to June 5, brought together 25 participants from Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Tonga and the Federated States of Micronesia.

The Solomon Islands team included youth leaders from Malaita Province, a private sector representative and two officers from the Ministry of Rural Development (MRD), the statement from MRD said.

The statement said that the participants attended lectures, conferences and field visits focused on climate-smart agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture. They also visited research institutions in Wuxi and Hainan Province to learn about advanced farming technologies.

Professor Bing Xuwen of the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences said in a statement that the seminar provided an important platform for learning and cooperation.

“Such seminars create an open, inclusive and interactive platform for knowledge sharing and cooperation,” Professor Bing said.

The statement said the Malaita Youth Council President and team leader Philip Subu described the seminar as a valuable experience.

“We learned a great deal about climate-resilient agriculture and aquaculture, particularly in smart agriculture and smart fisheries,” Mr Subu said.

He said the youth leaders from Malaita will apply practical lessons from the training to support youth development and agriculture projects in their province.

At the closing ceremony, according to the statement, MRD Chief Communication and Public Relations Officer Andrew Fanasia thanked the Government and people of China for the opportunity.

“I encourage each of you to transform the ideas and strategies we have learned into practical actions in our respective countries,” Mr Fanasia said.

Photo credit: MRD

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Prime Minister Matthew Wale has pledged stronger government support for indigenous businesses and warns against the exploitation of the country’s natural resources, saying  Solomon Islands must change course to achieve its goal of becoming a middle-income nation.

Addressing members of the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) at a Meet and Greet cocktail event on Thursday last week at Heritage Park, Prime Minister Wale said both government and the private sector share responsibility for the country’s economic challenges, describing past practices in the forestry sector as damaging to national development.

“The last 40-some years, they’ve reaped and pillaged this country,” Wale said, referring to the exploitation of forest resources.

He said despite decades of logging, the country has little to show for the wealth extracted from its forests.

The Prime Minister also raised concerns about similar practices emerging in the mining sector and said the government is taking policy measures to ensure resource development benefits the nation.

“We are going to be a wealthy middle-income country if we manage the sector well,” he said.

Wale said the government’s vision is to create jobs that pay a living wage and improve opportunities for citizens to save, invest, and own homes.

He also announced plans to introduce policies that will give greater support to indigenous businesses in government procurement processes.

“We are going to introduce bias towards indigenous business. In government procurements, we are going to favour indigenous business,” he said.

Wale stressed that the policy will not discriminate against non-indigenous businesses, but instead seek to address existing inequalities faced by local entrepreneurs.

“The policy is to give a fair go because it’s not a level playing field with indigenous business,” he said.

He said that details of the policy are expected to be released in the coming days.

PM Wale expressed confidence in the country’s economic future, saying opportunities for growth remain strong if government, businesses, and other stakeholders work together.

“The future is bright. But of course, we all must collaborate,” Wale said.

Photo credit: SICCI

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Prime Minister Matthew Wale calls on businesses, state-owned enterprises and government agencies to reduce costs and profit margins.

Speaking at SICCI organised meet and great event at the Heritage Park Hotel on Thursday, PM Wale said that high prices are making life difficult for Solomon Islanders and slowing economic growth.

He said the rising cost of living remains one of the country’s biggest challenges and blamed excessive charges and high profit margins for placing unnecessary pressure on households and ordinary citizens.

He pointed out several major service providers, including Solomon Power, Our Telekom, banks and Solomon Airlines.

Wale urged them to review their pricing structures and put the interests of ordinary citizens first.

He questioned how some organisations could justify earning tens of millions of dollars in profits while many Solomon Islanders continue to struggle financially.

“Our government would look at reducing its own costs, including reviewing taxes and duties that contribute to the high cost of imported goods,” Wale said.

He described some government charges as unreasonable and said reforms will be considered to make business operations more affordable.

Mr Wale said that he recently met with Our Telekom and urged them to lower their charges.

He said that communication services remain too expensive for many people.

He also called on commercial banks to reduce interest rates to help more Solomon Islanders achieve home ownership and improve their standard of living.

Turning to tourism, Mr Wale said expensive airfares were discouraging visitors from travelling to Solomon Islands.

He challenged Solomon Airlines to make travel more affordable, arguing that lower fares are essential to grow the tourism sector and attract larger numbers of visitors.

Mr Wale said reducing the cost of living will require cooperation between government and the private sector to create a fairer and more prosperous economy for all Solomon Islanders.

Photo credit: SICCI

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