BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Prime Minister Matthew Wale calls on members of the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) and the wider business community to actively challenge poor decisions and practices that contribute to the country’s high cost of living and doing business.

Speaking at a SICCI event recently, Mr Wale urged business leaders to ‘agitate’ against inefficiencies and shortcomings, including those within their own sectors and government institutions.

“We accept too much rubbish in this country. We think it’s okay, but it’s not okay.

“Get up and agitate. Even when your members are part of the problem, because some of your members are part of the problem. Government too is part of the problem,” PM Wale said.

The Prime Minister was also particularly critical of the Tina River Hydropower Project, describing it as excessively expensive and questioning its value for money.

Mr Wale claimed the 15-megawatt hydro project would cost close to US$700 million by completion, making it one of the most expensive projects of its kind globally.

He compared the project with large-scale solar developments, which he said could deliver significantly higher power generation at a fraction of the cost.

“We will be left with high-cost electricity for 30 years while paying for Tina. It is not an acceptable situation,” he said.

Mr Wale said the government is exploring options to reduce electricity tariffs associated with the project, although he acknowledged that sovereign assurances previously provided could complicate efforts to renegotiate arrangements.

He argued that costly projects and poor policy decisions have negatively affected businesses, consumers and government finances, attributing the situation to what he described as poor leadership decisions made in the past.

He said addressing these issues is critical to improve the country’s economic competitiveness and reduce the burden on ordinary citizens, businesses and households.

Photo credit: SICCI

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Prime Minister (PM) Matthew Wale has raised concerns over rising poverty levels in Solomon Islands.

PM Wale made the statement when he spoke during the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce (SICCI) meet and greet event held at the Heritage Park Hotel on Thursday last week.

He calls for a shift towards more inclusive economic growth and a stronger partnership between government and the private sector to tackle inequality and corruption.

He questioned why economic growth reported in recent years has not translated into improved living standards for the majority of Solomon Islanders.

“The growth is in the top few in the past few years, and the masses have not seen that growth. It’s not inclusive growth,” Wale said.

He said that his government is committed to change the country’s economic direction, although significant results may take time.

He outlined a vision of transforming Solomon Islands into a middle-income country within the next decade through policies that promote broad-based prosperity and opportunity.

Wale said that the government alone cannot deliver national prosperity and described the private sector as a critical engine of growth and an indispensable partner in nation-building.

He called on SICCI and the business community to join his government in what he described as a “crusade for change,” emphasising that government should serve the public interest rather than enrich a selected few.

PM Wale also highlighted the need to streamline regulations, support honest businesses, and work jointly to reduce and eliminate corruption.

“The strongest economy is built not only on capital and commerce but also on trust, integrity, fairness, and confidence in public institutions,” he said.

Wale said that economic success should not be measured solely by growth figures but by whether prosperity improves lives, creates opportunities, strengthens communities, and enhances the wellbeing of the people.

Photo credit: SICCI

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BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

WESTERN Province Health Services is preparing to host its 2026 Provincial Health Conference, bringing together health professionals, support staff, development partners and stakeholders to review progress and set priorities for the remainder of the year.

Director of Western Province Health Services, Dr. Dickson Boara, told Island Sun that preparations for the conference are currently underway.

He said the conference will provide an important platform for doctors, supervising nurses, nurses, support staff and stakeholders to assess the implementation of the province’s 2026 health action plan and identify areas that require further attention.

According to Boara, the gathering will also assist health authorities to develop a revised action plan and allocate resources to support health programmes during the second half of the year.

“This conference is very important. We will again call on our partners, stakeholders and health officials to come together and review our existing plan.

“The outcome of the conference will be a new action plan for our health services towards the second half of the year and hopefully next year,” he said.

Boara said the conference will enable participants to evaluate achievements, challenges and emerging health priorities across the province, ensuring that services remain responsive to the needs of communities.

He said the event will strengthen collaboration among healthcare workers and development partners and help to improve planning and coordination within the provincial health system.

Boara said expected focus will be on key health indicators, service delivery performance, resource allocation and strategies to improve healthcare access for communities throughout Western Province.

He said the conference organising committee is currently working on arrangements to ensure the successful hosting of the event.

The conference is expected to attract health officials and stakeholders from across Western Province and serve as a roadmap for the continued improvement of healthcare services in the province.

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BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

THE Western Province Health Services will continue its disaster response efforts in communities affected by recent natural disasters, according to Director of Health Services Dr. Dickson Boara.

Boara said health authorities remain committed to support communities that continue to face challenges in accessing essential health and medical services.

He said health and medical teams will continue to be deployed to affected areas to provide much-needed services while also assessing the ongoing needs of communities.

“Our team will deploy to provide affected communities with basic health needs such as general clinical services as well as water and sanitation support.

“Health promotion teams will also deploy to carry out awareness programs on preventive actions as part of the recovery process,” he said.

Boara acknowledged that recovery efforts will take time and calls on community leaders to work closely with Western Province Health Services to address urgent health concerns and support affected families.

He said collaboration between health authorities and local leaders is crucial to ensure communities receive the assistance they need during the recovery period.

Boara also encouraged residents in affected communities to remain vigilant and practice preventive measures in their daily activities to protect themselves and their families from health risks.

He reaffirmed Western Province Health Services commitment to continue providing support until communities have fully recovered from the impacts of the disaster.

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BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

RESIDENTS of Gizo are beginning to feel the harsh impacts of a prolonged dry spell brought about by the developing El Niño weather phenomenon, which is threatening communities across the Solomon Islands.

For the past month, Gizo has experienced little to no rainfall, leaving many households struggling to access clean water for drinking, cooking, and other daily needs.

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, many residents are heavily dependent on rainwater harvesting systems.

The absence of rain has placed immense pressure on families, forcing them to travel long distances to find alternative water sources.

Some households are still relying on small wells for washing and other domestic purposes, but concerns are growing over how long underground water sources can continue to meet the increasing demand.

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

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

Island Sun understands that the Government has activated its national drought contingency plan following the onset of El Niño conditions in Solomon Islands.

National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) Director and Chairman of the National Disaster Operations Committee, Jonathan Tafiariki, said the National Emergency Operations Centre will continue to coordinate response efforts to Tropical Cyclone Maila and will also prepare for potential drought impacts throughout the country.

Speaking to the media, Tafiariki said authorities are closely monitoring the situation and working with relevant agencies to ensure preparedness measures are in place.

Climate agencies and forecasting centres have warned that El Niño conditions are expected to strengthen over the coming months.

As of June 2026, forecasts indicate that El Niño is developing and is very likely to persist through late 2026 and into early 2027.

The World Meteorological Organization estimates there is an 80 per cent chance of El Niño conditions during June to August 2026, with the probability rising to more than 90 per cent later in the year.

Most climate models suggest the event could reach moderate to strong intensity, while some forecasts indicate it may become exceptionally strong.

Several meteorological agencies have warned that the 2026 El Niño event could become one of the strongest experienced in decades, although uncertainty remains regarding its peak strength and the extent of its impacts across different regions.

For Gizo residents, however, the effects are already being felt, with water scarcity becoming an everyday challenge as the dry season intensifies and communities anxiously wait for rain.

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-Minister Kuma announces introduction of CEMA’s first two fleet of landing crafts under CEO Colin Yow’s plan to support farmers in all provinces

-This will cut the expenses of freight and transport for farmers

BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The Commodities Export Marketing Authority (CEMA) has proposed the introduction of its first two short-haul landing crafts to improve the collection and transportation of copra, cocoa and other rural commodities from communities across Solomon Islands.

This is a manifest CEMA CEO Colin Yow’s plans to empower farmers by removing high expenses of freighting copra, cocoa and other products to be brought over to Honiara to sell.

Harry Kuma, Minister for Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration (MCILI) and Minister responsible for CEMA, made the announcement in a statement on Saturday.

In the statement, Kuma said this is part of CEMA’s ‘Farmers First’ approach which aims to improve market access for rural farmers.

Farmers First is CEO Yow’s initiative which guides CEMA’s operations to ensure that farmers of Solomon Islands are empowered, treated fairly, receive conditions and prices which they truly deserve for their hard work.

Minister Kuma sais the short-haul landing crafts will initially be used to collect copra and cocoa beans from nearby islands, coastal communities and remote pickup points where transport services are limited or unavailable.

He said that the landing crafts intend to help all farmers, including those with only a few bags of produce to sell.

“The real purpose is to serve rural farmers, including those with only one, two, three or five bags. For many families, those few bags can make a real difference,” Minister Kuma said.

He said the landing crafts will operate as feeder vessels and will collect commodities from villages and transfer them to larger ships or consolidation centres for transportation to CEMA’s warehouse in Honiara for export.

He said the system will create a more practical and cost-effective transport chain from rural communities to export markets.

He said the two-landing crafts are only the beginning of a wider fleet development plan of CEMA, as it aims to have at least one short-haul landing craft operating in every province within the next 18 months, by 2027.

“These first two landing crafts are the start of a fleet of short-haul landing crafts that will support coastal trips within the provinces. CEMAs plan is to have at least one short-haul landing craft operating in each province within eighteen months, by 2027,” he said.

Kuma said that each province faces different geographical and transport challenges, and a provincial fleet will help CEMA provide services closer to farmers.

“A short-haul landing craft in each province will help CEMA move closer to farmers and provide a practical service where it is needed most. That is the heart of FARMERS FIRST,” he said.

The short-haul landing crafts are designed for short-distance operations and will be able to make multiple pickups in a single day.

Kuma said they will help solve transport problems that often prevent farmers from selling their produce.

“Guadalcanal for example, transporting 1,000 bags of copra from the Henderson area to CEMA’s warehouse by road can take up to a week because of traffic congestion and other logistical difficulties. Using a landing craft, the same volume could be moved by sea in about one day, depending on weather and loading conditions. This shows how effective these boats can be when used properly,” he said.

He said that many farmers currently wait two, three or even four months for transport to collect their copra or cocoa, while some remote communities are unable to sell their produce at all because transport services are unavailable.

He said that the new crafts will provide both scheduled and responsive collection services from major commodity-producing areas as well as smaller and more remote locations.

“This is an enormous breakthrough for farmers. It means CEMA can begin to provide more regular pickup services, not only from busy areas but also from remote sites where farmers have been waiting too long for transport,” he said.

The proposed short-haul landing craft are 11-metre open-sea landing craft with a four-metre beam and a draft of 0.5 metres. Each craft will have an estimated carrying capacity of between five and six tonnes.

The boats design includes a V-bottom hulls, 800-litre fuel tanks, deck self-drain holes, navigation lights, handrails, bollards, outboard protection rails and hand winches. They will be powered by twin 300-horsepower Yamaha outboard engines.

Construction of the first vessel is expected to be completed within three months, while the second is expected to be completed within four months. Delivery to Honiara is expected to take an additional one to two months, with arrival anticipated between November and December this year.

Minister Kuma said the short-haul design is intentional and that the vessels are not intended to replace larger ships.

“Their strength is in reaching shorter routes more frequently, collecting smaller volumes from farmers and feeding those commodities into the larger transport system,” he said.

He added that transport remains one of the biggest challenges facing rural producers and must be addressed if farmers are to increase production and participate more fully in the cash economy.

“If we want farmers to produce more, we must help solve the transport problem. Farmers cannot fully participate in the cash economy if they have no affordable way to move their products,” he said.

Kuma said that CEMA, led by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Colin Yow and his management team, will work with farmers, agents, provincial governments, communities and transport operators to ensure the vessels are deployed where they can provide the greatest benefit.

He said that the introduction of the first two landing crafts is a step towards restoring the commodity collection services that CEMA provided to rural communities during the 1990s.

He said the initiative demonstrates the government’s commitment to help farmers improve market access, increase sales and earn more income.

“Farmers First is not just a slogan. It is a commitment to reach farmers, collect their commodities, improve market access and support rural income. These landing crafts are part of that commitment,” he said.

Photo: Supplied

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BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

THE weeklong Provincial Health Summit in Gizo, Western Province, concluded on high note last week, with participants describing the event as informative, inspiring and instrumental in shaping a collective approach towards improving primary health care services across the province.

The summit brought together nurses, clinic supervisors, doctors, community leaders, education officials, representatives of the Western Provincial Government and development partners to discuss challenges and opportunities within the health sector.

Participants praised the summit for introducing new ideas, innovations and practical approaches that could strengthen primary health care services at both community and institutional levels.

Community representative from the Shortland Islands, James Lafuia, said the summit had broadened his understanding of the important role communities play in supporting health services.

He said one of the key lessons learned was that community leaders and communities themselves have a responsibility to support health workers and ensure health programs are successfully implemented.

“This week I learned a lot, especially how we as community leaders can support nurses and doctors at the community level.

“We normally put blame on health workers, but now I realise that we as community leaders also have an important role to ensure health best practices are implemented in our communities,” Lafuia said.

He said improving community settings and strengthening local leadership involvement in decision-making processes would help ensure health initiatives are effectively carried out.

Western Province Principal Education Officer, Derick Gasa, acknowledged the partners who made the summit possible.

He acknowledged the Provincial Health Adviser Najib Ullah Baig of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services for facilitating the sessions throughout the week.

Gasa described the summit as an eye-opener for many stakeholders and said it highlighted areas where schools could contribute to improving primary health care.

“I’ve learned a lot over the five days.

“I will go back to my team and look at ways we can factor primary health care into schools and support the efforts to improve health outcomes in Western Province,” he said.

Zone Four Supervisor Stephen Majupala also welcomed the opportunity to participate in the summit, saying it had generated practical ideas for addressing primary health care challenges.

He said discussions throughout the week have identified several issues affecting rural clinics and hospitals that require further dialogue and collaboration.

“We have identified some of the issues and, going forward, we need to sit down and discuss how we are going to address them,” Majupala said.

In his speech, Director of Western Province Health Services, Dr Dickson Boara, acknowledged Mr Baig and his team for delivering the weeklong sessions.

He also thanked Western Health Service leaders for supporting the hosting of the summit and acknowledged the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS), the Australian Government and other partners for their support.

Boara further recognised the contributions of Area Health Supervisors, the Principal Education Officer, representatives from the Western Provincial Government, supervising doctors from Helena Goldie Hospital and community leaders who attended the summit.

He said the strong participation of community leaders reflected an important transition towards a more integrated approach to addressing health issues in Solomon Islands.

Boara said the presence of community leaders reinforces the move towards an integrated approach where communities, health workers, education authorities and government agencies work together to improve health services.

“Throughout the summit, participants discussed a wide range of health issues and identified locally driven solutions aimed at strengthening service delivery,” he said.

Boara said investing in community-based approaches would help bridge primary and secondary health care services and improve overall health outcomes.

He said collective efforts from all stakeholders would be essential in addressing the challenges facing the province’s health system.

The summit ended with renewed commitment from participants to work together to strengthen primary health care services and improve the wellbeing of communities throughout Western Province.

Photo credit: Ben Bilua

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