BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

For 75-year-old Chief Stephen Kunia of Mbebe Village in North Guadalcanal Constituency, the transformation of his community through improved sanitation and access to clean water is one of the greatest achievements of his lifetime.

This support was provided by UNICEF WASH program.

Chief Kunia said the construction of household toilets in the village began in November 2023 and has since brought significant improvements to the health and wellbeing of residents.

Mbebe Village, which is 99 per cent Open Defecation Free (ODF), is home to more than 18 people living in several households. Today, the community has 18 toilets, with many already completed and in use while a few are still under construction.

“Having toilets and proper sanitation is very important because it helps prevent sickness. We do not want to dispose of our waste carelessly. In the past, when we did not have toilets, people used the surrounding bushes, and sickness was common in the community,” Chief Kunia said.

He said villagers have noticed a positive change since the introduction of the sanitation facilities.

“After the toilets were established, we saw that sickness started to reduce. People are now familiar with using toilets and no longer use the bush for sanitation purposes,” he said.

Chief Kunia expressed his gratitude for the support that enabled the community to improve its sanitation facilities.

“I am very happy that my community received this support. Now we also have access to water, which makes me even happier,” he said.

Before the installation of the new water system, villagers relied mainly on wells for their drinking water.

“In the past, we did not have a proper water supply. We depended on wells for water. Even though we were close to large companies such as Gold Ridge Mining, we did not have access to proper water services,” Chief Kunia said.

As the traditional leader of the village, Chief Kunia said he is committed to preparing his people for a healthier and more sustainable future.

“As a chief, I want to ensure my community is well prepared before God calls me. I want my people to understand modern ways of living while continuing to protect and care for the environment,” he said.

He said he constantly encourages community members to maintain the positive changes that have been achieved.

“I always urge my people to continue the good work we have done so far. They must keep these practices alive for the benefit of everyone,” Kunia said.

Chief Kunia said maintaining proper sanitation and environmental cleanliness will help create a healthier future for men, women, children and the elderly.

“Our goal is for everyone in the community to live in a clean and healthy environment. That is the legacy I want to leave behind,” he said.

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The Director of Culture at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Dennis Marita, says the National Panpipe Festival (NATPAN) is designed not only to celebrate culture but also to ensure that benefits from the event are shared among local communities.

Mr Marita made the remarks when responding to questions about accommodation arrangements for visiting panpipe groups from the provinces who will participate in the upcoming festival, scheduled to take place from July 1 to 5.

“We want to ensure that the benefits are distributed to communities. That is why, during previous festivals, we used schools as accommodation venues because schools are community infrastructure, and whatever support we provide goes back to the school,” said Mr Marita, who is also Chair of the NATPAN organising committee.

He said the Culture Division has adopted a different approach this year by arranging for visiting performers to stay with relatives and host families in Honiara.

“This time, we are helping individual families and community members to accommodate the groups. We will assist with utilities such as water, electricity and food. It is a way of sharing the benefits of the festival with the community,” he said.

Mr Marita noted that it would be beneficial in the future to establish a dedicated accommodation facility for festival participants if suitable land becomes available in Honiara.

“However, for now, we would like the benefits from the event to flow directly to communities through accommodation arrangements,” he added.

The director said this year’s event will be the third National Panpipe Festival to be held in Solomon Islands.

He explained that NATPAN was first launched in 2017 and held again in 2019 before being suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic and preparations for the Pacific Games.

According to Mr Marita, the festival aims to celebrate the country’s rich cultural diversity while promoting the preservation of traditional bamboo music practices across the provinces.

The Ministry expects around 40 performing groups to participate, including traditional panpipe ensembles, cultural dance groups, solo artists and contemporary bands that incorporate panpipe music into their performances.

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BY RODRICK DESURI 

Auki 

The Solomon Islands Knowledge-Action-Sustainability for Resilient Villages (SOLKAS) initiative has made significant steps in empowering youth in rural communities of Malaita Province. 

The initiative which was designed mainly to help young people transition from subsistence farming into climate-resilient business opportunities, provides practical training, mentorship and market linkages. 

According to the Save The Children newsletter, the SOLKAS programme also launched the Youth Climate-Resilient Livelihoods Incubation Programme last month. 

It aims to create lasting sustainable livelihood pathways that enable rural youth across the Solomon Islands to thrive. 

“This has marked a significant milestone in empowering rural youth through sustainable agriculture and entrepreneurship,” the newsletter said.

It added that the program also delivered a one-week training program at the Faiafa’laa community, which showed that women were dominating the training.

“A total of 21 youths successfully completed the one-week training, which 48 percent were women and 14 percent had some form of disability, reflecting SOLKAS’s commitment to inclusive and gender-responsive programming,” the newsletter said.

The SOLKAS team was led by Youth Entrepreneur Business Incubator Adviser Ritesh Prasad and Project Coordinator Katherine Sanga.

The pilot programme will roll out across selected wards in Malaita Province this month.

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BY RODRICK DESURI 

Auki 

The Trades Transportation Company (TTC) began the construction of the five-kilometre tar-sealed road from Kwaibala to Oibola. 

The company kicked off the work last week after they completed the rehabilitation of the 33-kilometer road from Maoa to Hauhui (West Are’are). 

A source within the company, said they have started the cleaning and drainage work since last week. 

He said they started with road cleaning, re-gravelling, and compaction before the application of the tar-sealing. 

“We started last week. So, now we will continue with cleaning and drainage work. After that, we will do re-gravelling and compaction before applying the tar-seal,” he said.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID), the Kwaibala to Oibola road section will focus on tar-sealing the initial 5 km of the route, with preparation works executed to create a lasting, high-quality surface.

The project is supported by the National Transport Fund and is actively monitored by the MID to generate local employment and benefit customary landowners.

These Malaita Road improvements represent an investment of nearly SBD 40 million, fully funded by the Australian Government through the National Transport Fund (NTF), with another SBD 20 million allocated for upgrade works in Honiara.

This complements the government’s 2017-2035 National Transport Plan (NTP), which aims to improve transport infrastructure by emphasising accessibility, safety, and efficiency to foster social and economic development.

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BY NED GAGAHE

Prime Minister Matthew Wale says the government will not target legitimate investors in the logging and mining sectors, but warns that companies deliberately breaking the law will face strong action.

Speaking to journalists on Wednesday upon his arrival, Wale said the government welcomes genuine investment into the country, especially from credible and ethical companies.

“As far as loggers and miners are concerned, we’re not going to come down hard on anybody,” Wale said.

“We need investment in this country, but good investment by credible and ethical corporate citizens is key.”

However, the Prime Minister stressed that the government will not tolerate investors involved in illegal activities or exploitation of the country’s natural resources.

“We’re not coming hard on anybody, but anybody who wilfully, deliberately and by design wants to break the law of the country and steal resources from people, we will come hard on them,” he said.

“That is for sure.”

Wale described the government’s position as a firm commitment to protect the country’s natural wealth and ensure resources benefit Solomon Islanders.

“That is a promise I make to the people of Solomon Islands, and it is a promise I intend to keep,” he said.

The Prime Minister said all Cabinet ministers support the government’s position on strengthening oversight and accountability within the resource sector.

“And all Cabinet members agree on this one,” he added.

Despite the warning, Wale said the government hopes companies operating in the country will comply with laws and operate responsibly.

“But we hope that does not happen,” he said.

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BY NED GAGAHE

The Solomon Islands Government will establish a Sovereign Wealth Fund that aims to secure long-term benefits from the country’s mineral resources for future generations.

Prime Minister Matthew Wale revealed the plan while outlining ongoing reforms in the country’s mineral sector.

Speaking to media upon return from his official visit to Australia and New Zealand on Wednesday, Prime Minister Wale said the government is determined to avoid repeating the mistakes experienced in the logging industry, where the country failed to fully benefit from its natural resources.

“Reforms in the mineral sector will continue and there are more reforms coming in this sector,” Wale said.

“What we all want in the mineral sector — we all do not want to see a repeat of what is happening in the logging sector. They robbed us, and we do not want that happening in the mineral sector.”

The Prime Minister said the Finance Minister is expected to table legislation in Parliament towards the end of next year to formally establish the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF).

“Towards the end of next year, the Finance Minister will take a bill to Parliament to set up a Sovereign Wealth Fund where all the revenue from mining will go into it,” he said.

According to Wale, the fund will invest mining revenues both locally and overseas to generate strong financial returns for the country.

“It will be invested where the highest returns are, not necessarily here. It will be overseas as well,” he said.

“And dividends will come back to the budget to finance health and education.”

Wale described the initiative as a “generational policy” designed to ensure the country’s mineral wealth remains sustainable for future Solomon Islanders.

“As you know, we have some big mining assets and some world-class mineral reserves,” he said.

The Prime Minister added that part of the government’s reforms will ensure the state secures larger shares in mining projects while also guaranteeing benefits for landowners and provincial governments.

“So, part of these reforms is to ensure that the government holds big shares in it,” he said.

“Also, these shares ensure landowners and provinces benefit and raise revenue from it.”

Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Solomon Islands has strongly advocated for the creation of a Sovereign Wealth Fund, describing it as an important mechanism to secure long-term macroeconomic stability.

CBSI Governor Dr Luke Forau earlier said the fund will help the country better manage revenue from natural resources while building resilience against future economic and climate-related shocks.

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BY NED GAGAHE

Prime Minister Matthew Wale says Solomon Islands will continue to play a neutral and balanced role regarding the Bougainville issue.

Speaking to media following his return from Australia and New Zealand, Wale acknowledged Bougainville’s independence aspirations while stressing the importance of respecting Papua New Guinea’s sovereignty.

“I recognise Bougainville’s independence aspirations and the overwhelming result that came out of the referendum,” Wale said.

“But at the same time, of course, recognise that they are still part of Papua New Guinea, and therefore we must respect that fact also.”

Wale said Solomon Islands has consistently maintained a balanced approach on the issue over many years.

“Solomon Islands’ position has always consistently been not to anger PNG, but to help facilitate whatever the two of them agree on,” he said.

The Prime Minister was responding to questions on whether the Bougainville issue would be placed on the agenda during the upcoming Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Palau where Solomon Islands currently holds the Chairmanship role.

He revealed that he has already been communicating with Papua New Guinea (PNG) Prime Minister James Marape on Bougainville and other regional matters.

“I’ve just been communicating with Prime Minister James Marape on that and other regional matters,” Wale said.

“We’re trying to work out some dates, so I will be going to Moresby over the next two weeks to further those discussions and then have a much clearer idea.”

Wale said he was not fully aware of the discussions behind last year’s decision not to place Bougainville on the Pacific Islands Forum agenda under the previous Solomon Islands Government.

“I’m not privy to all the discussions that led to that particular decision, so I’m unable to pass judgement on it,” he said.

“But I certainly will be wanting to find out more from Prime Minister James Marape to have a better understanding.”

The Prime Minister reiterated that Solomon Islands will continue its traditional role of helping facilitate dialogue between Papua New Guinea and Bougainville.

“We will play that kind of supportive, facilitating role,” he said.

“It’s been a very healthy role that Solomon Islands has played for many, many years.” Wale said.

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