MPNSCS clarifies Police Academy site works, confirming geotechnical surveys and no immediate officer evictions Honiara, 28 July 2026: The Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services (MPNSCS) and the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) are clarifying recent media reports regarding the development of the Police Academy at Rove. The Ministry confirms that activities [...]
The post Ministry of police clarifies police academy site works at Rove appeared first on Tavuli News (Solomon Islands) .
BY JOSES SAREN
The crew of US Coast Guard Cutter Harriet Lane (WMEC 903) arrived in Honiara yesterday as part of their ongoing Operation Blue Pacific patrol, a multi-mission Coast Guard endeavor to promote regional security and stability throughout the Pacific.
According to a statement, the arrival of the Harriet Lane in the Solomon Islands marks a pivotal moment, reaffirming the US Coast Guard’s enduring and unwavering commitment as a steadfast and reliable Pacific partner.
While in the Solomon Islands, the statement said the Harriet Lane will host representatives from the governments of both the United States and the Solomon Islands for the signing of a bilateral maritime law enforcement agreement.
Bilateral maritime law enforcement agreements enable Pacific nations to protect their sovereignty and help ensure the safety and security of sailors and vessels of all nations conducting legal maritime operations within the nation’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
Through these agreements, the host nation makes determinations regarding targeting vessels for law enforcement boardings within its Exclusive Economic Zone, identifies violations, and determines penalties and follow-on procedures.
The statement noted that the Harriet Lane crew recently assisted Papua New Guinea security forces with bilateral maritime law enforcement operations to combat illicit maritime activity in the region.
Commissioned in 1984, the Harriet Lane is a 270-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in Honolulu to support Coast Guard missions in the Pacific region. The service’s medium endurance cutter fleet supports a variety of Coast Guard missions including search and rescue, law enforcement, maritime defense and protection of the marine environment.
Photo credit: US Coast Guard
For feedback, contact: josessaren@gmail.com
Editor: irwin3angiki@gmail.com
-PM Wale rejects Opposition claim shiprider agreement would surrender sovereignty
-Shiprider agreement enforces our sovereignty: PM Wale
BY JOSES SAREN
Prime Minister Matthew Wale has rejected claims that the proposed Shiprider Agreement with the United States will compromise Solomon Islands’ sovereignty, saying the country needs the arrangement more than the United States does.
Responding to a question on his arrival home yesterday afternoon on the Opposition Leader’s comments that government should not sign the agreement yet, Wale said Solomon Islands lacked enough patrol boats and fuel to police its own waters.
“This is not about giving up our sovereignty, do not mislead our country.
“It is about enforcing our sovereignty, enforcing our laws, and riding on, piggybacking on assets of our partners, that’s all it is,” Wale said.
He said the agreement treats Solomon Islands as a sovereign asset: when partner vessels — from the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Japan — operate inside the country’s 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone, local police can board alongside them to enforce Solomon Islands law, while fisheries officers can also board to act against illicit drug trafficking, poaching and unregulated and unreported fishing.
“There will always be boats in our EEZ, with law enforcement,” Wale said.
The Prime Minister said the agreement will sit within a broader comprehensive treaty with Australia, with negotiations having begun in Brisbane, where some government ministers remained to continue talks while he returned home.
During his Washington visit, Wale met Vice Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, Admiral Thomas G Allan Jr, where discussions touched on the forthcoming signing of the Shiprider Agreement and wider maritime security cooperation in the Pacific.
On Monday this week Opposition leader Manasseh Sogavare called on prime minister Wale and the GREAT government, cautioning them to reconsider signing the shiprider agreement with the US.
Mr Sogavare argued that signing the agreement is akin to selling Solomon Islands’ sovereignty.
He adds that the agreement will be one in which only the US will have the capacity to utilise it to its interest while Solomon Islands will become a spectator.
The shiprider agreement is a security deal between the US and a partner country, which allows local law enforcement officers of the partner countries ride onboard US Coast Guard patrol ships. The local officers use the Coast Guard ships as base to check boats, stop illegal acts and protect their own ocean zones.
Photo credit: Island Sun
For feedback, contact: josessaren@gmail.com
Editor: irwin3angiki@gmail.com
A United States Coast Guard vessel has arrived in Honiara ahead of the historic signing of a maritime security agreement...
The post US Coast Guard Cutter Arrives Ahead of Historic SI-US Shiprider Deal appeared first on In-depth Solomons .
US Coast Guard Cutter Harriet Lane arrives in Honiara for maritime agreement signing and Operation Blue Pacific HONIARA, Solomon Islands & The crew of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Harriet Lane& (WMEC 903) arrived in Honiara Monday as part of their ongoing Operation Blue& Pacific patrol – a multi-mission Coast Guard endeavor to promote regional security& [...]
The post U.S. COAST GUARD CUTTER ARRIVES IN SOLOMON ISLANDS appeared first on Tavuli News (Solomon Islands) .
Opposition Leader Manasseh Sogavare has launched a scathing attack on the Government’s planned maritime security agreement with the United States,...
The post Sogavare Slams US-SI Maritime Pact appeared first on In-depth Solomons .
Konofilia Secures Lawyer, Sentencing
Submissions - Aug 4
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
Moffat Konofilia has secured legal representation from the Public Solicitor's Office ahead of the next stage of his unlawful assembly case arising from the November 2021 Honiara riots.
When the case was called in the Honiara Magistrate's Court on Monday, Ruth Wairepo appeared for Public Solicitor lawyer Thompson Fiuga.
She told the court Fiuga was seeking an adjournment to Monday next week.
Fiuga could not appear because he is involved in another trial before the High Court.
The adjournment was sought to allow Fiuga, who has now taken over Konofilia's case, adequate time to prepare sentencing submissions and mitigation.
The court adjourned the matter to August 4 for sentencing submissions and mitigation.
Konofilia sought legal representation from the Public Solicitor's Office after his previous lawyer, Lily Ramo of JustLaw Attorneys, withdrew from acting for him.
At his previous court appearance, Konofilia told the court he had filed a notice of appeal against his unlawful assembly conviction. He said a lawyer from the Public Solicitor's Office had helped him file the appeal.
However, he had not yet been formally assigned legal representation.
He had asked the court for additional time to confirm that a lawyer would be appointed to his case.
The court granted the request and adjourned the matter to today to allow him to secure counsel.
Konofilia was convicted of one count of unlawful assembly, contrary to section 74(1) of the Penal Code, after the court found that he knowingly took part in an unlawful assembly during the civil unrest that erupted in Honiara on 24 November 2021.
The prosecution say Konofilia was among a group of people who assembled and engaged in conduct that disturbed the peace during the riots, which resulted in widespread destruction of properties, businesses and public infrastructure in Honiara.
While he was convicted of unlawful assembly, Konofilia was acquitted of a separate charge of sedition.
His sentencing was previously delayed after his former lawyer withdrew from the case, leaving him unrepresented while he considered appealing his conviction.
With legal representation now secured, the matter is expected to proceed to sentencing submissions and mitigation when it returns to the Honiara Magistrate's Court on August 4.
Special Prosecutor Mary Anne Zurenuoc from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) is prosecuting.
///Ends///
by Georgina Maka’a Police are now at the Gold Ridge mine site as reports emerge that at least 10 bodies...
The post At Least 10 Feared Dead in Gold Ridge Pit Collapse appeared first on In-depth Solomons .
BY BEN BILUA
Gizo
POLICE officers and their families living at the Police married quarters next to the Police Club are voicing their concerns over the RSIPF leadership over an incident on Thursday last week which has left their families terrified.
Thursday last week residents were shocked when a group of expats in military fatigues came with excavators and started digging near their homes telling people that they were beginning demolition work.
Argument sparked between police officers and workers who came to dig, it was reported.
All the houses between the police club and the road going up to Ngossi are earmarked to be demolished to give way for the new police college complex funded by Australia, proposed to be completed by July 2028. The new police academy is part of the AUD $190 million Australian support over four years to grow and strengthen the local police force.
Around 30 families living in the earmarked area have been put on notice to move out, either relocate to another police accommodation or rent out, a senior official in the police executive office told Island Sun yesterday under condition of anonymity.
The residents were given notice in January this year to move out by the ending of May, 2026, so that work could begin on the new college project, the official said.
However, to date, residents which include actively serving officers and retired ones continue to remain, the official said.
So, early last week, a notice was given out informing residents that survey work will commence last week before the surveyors were deployed on Thursday last week, the official said.
Meanwhile, a resident speaking to Island Sun on condition of anonymity said they had not received any notice prior to the arrival and digging of the workers.
The police officer said their families were scared by the presence of expats in military fatigues who accompanied the workers who came and dug near their homes.
He described the situation as unacceptable and said it reflected a lack of concern for the welfare of officers and their families.
“Our wives and children were traumatised because no one told us this was going to happen. We were completely unprepared,” the officer said.
“The administration should have respected us enough to give us notice and make arrangements before sending in machinery.”
It is understood since the directive early this year for police officers and their families to move out, many have remained for a number of reasons.
One is retired officers who are still occupying houses, blocking accommodation for serving officers. RSIPF admin has been struggling to have them leave the houses.
The senior police official told Island Sun a lot of the officers cannot move out because they have been struggling to find available houses for rent nearby.
“These officers have their children attending nearby schools like St John, Bishop Epalle, Tamlan, but the only houses available for them to afford to rent are as faraway as Mt Austen, Henderson, and other places at the outskirts of Honiara, which will be huge inconvenience for them. The houses available nearby are beyond how much these officers can afford,” the official said.
The official said they are working to resolve it amicably with the affected officers and residents, but that work on the new college project must begin soon this year in order to meet the July 2028 deadline.
Photo: Supplied
For feedback, contact: maetuana777@gmail.com
Editor: irwin3angiki@gmail.com
Opposition leader Sogavare warns Wale’s government to be careful with the planned shiprider agreement to be signed tomorrow – ‘surrendering Solomon Islands’ sovereign control over its own waters’
BY DOUGLAS VAHIA
Leader of Opposition Manasseh Sogavare warns that the Wale Government’s plan to sign a shiprider agreement with the United States amounts to surrendering Solomon Islands’ sovereign control over its own waters.
Mr Sogavare also questioned why PM Wale acted without cabinet approval on this risky deal, adding that Wale has been acting like a dictator since he came into power.
The deal ‘Agreement Concerning Counter Illicit Transnational Maritime Activity’ will be signed tomorrow at the US embassy.
Sogavare, who orchestrated the secretive security pact with China in 2022, also called on the Government to release the full text and table it in Parliament before taking any further step toward signature.
“This Government wants Solomon Islanders to believe this is simply a security partnership,” Sogavare said in a statement by the Opposition office yesterday.
“It is not. Read closely. Agreements of this kind hand a foreign navy standing legal authority to act in our waters in exchange for a theoretical right Solomon Islands could never realistically exercise. That is not partnership between equals. That is our sovereignty being sold, one clause at a time.”
Solomon Islands is the last of the region’s long-standing holdouts on this agreement, the Opposition statement said.
Twelve Pacific Island countries—Cook Islands, Fiji, the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu—have already signed a shiprider agreement with the United States. Of those twelve, three—the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau and Samoa—have since been upgraded to an “enhanced” or “remote-authorisation” model, allowing US Coast Guard vessels to board and enforce on the host nation’s behalf even when no local officer is on board.
History across the Pacific shows these agreements rarely remain in their original, more limited form. That is why the terms Solomon Islands agrees to today will shape our sovereignty for years to come, the statement said.
Every version of this agreement signed elsewhere in the Pacific follows the same American template. In the near-identical text Vanuatu signed in 2016, United States vessels may act unilaterally, boarding, searching and pursuing suspect vessels in Vanuatu’s waters whenever a local shiprider is simply “not available”—a threshold the host country does not control.
In exchange, Vanuatu received only a mirror-image right to do the same in United States waters, a right no Pacific island maritime service the size of Solomon Islands could realistically exercise.
If Solomon Islands signs the same template, it should expect no different. Regional commentators have already identified this same imbalance in other Pacific agreements. That is not reciprocity. It is a one-way transfer of authority dressed up as an equal partnership.
The Wale Government will argue that the agreement is needed to combat drug traffickers, narco-submarines and illegal fishing. Those are genuine threats, and Solomon Islands has every right to seek assistance in addressing them, the Opposition statement said.
But genuine security concerns cannot justify granting standing enforcement powers in our territorial waters without full public scrutiny. The question is not whether we need help, but what legal authority we are being asked to surrender in return.
Other small states facing the same proposal negotiated stronger safeguards. Jamaica and Barbados both pushed back on the same American template and secured consent-based provisions requiring telephonic or written permission before any boarding operation rather than accepting automatic entry, the Opposition statement said.
Stephen Vasciannie, a Jamaican legal commentator, has publicly advanced the same sovereignty concerns. If Caribbean nations a fraction of our size could hold the line on their own waters, Solomon Islands can too. The Wale Government has not explained why it did not even try.
This is consistent with the position maintained by both the DCGA and GNUT Governments throughout their time in office: agreements affecting the sovereignty and security of our nation must be shaped on Solomon Islands’ terms, tested against regional frameworks and subjected to parliamentary scrutiny—not rushed through to satisfy a foreign timetable.
The Opposition has received information that, despite the Prime Minister’s announcement that the shiprider agreement will be signed in Honiara, no decision to enter into the agreement has in fact been made by Government Caucus or Cabinet.
If those reports are correct, the process raises equally serious questions about the Government’s own decision-making, the Opposition statement said.
Sogavare questioned why Prime Minister Matthew Wale would make such a significant commitment without first obtaining the endorsement of either Cabinet or Government Caucus.
“The Prime Minister has, since taking office, demonstrated a pattern of unilateral decision-making even though he knows he leads a coalition of six political parties. This is nothing short of dictatorial leadership,” Sogavare said.
“The Prime Minister must clarify to this nation why he bypassed Cabinet.”
Meanwhile, China has reacted by calling on all countries engaging with Pacific nations to respect their independence and ensure cooperation is not directed at any third party.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian made the remarks after being asked about Solomon Islands’ decision to sign a ship rider agreement with the United States that will allow the US Coast Guard to patrol the country’s waters with Solomon Islands police officers on board.
“China and the Solomon Islands are comprehensive strategic partners featuring mutual respect and common development for a new era.
“We stand ready to work with the new government of the Solomon Islands to expand practical cooperation in various fields and better benefit the people of both countries,” Lin said.
“China supports efforts by the international community to help Pacific Island countries realise sustainable development.
“At the same time, in developing relations with Pacific Island countries, all parties should respect their independence, put development first, and uphold openness and inclusiveness. Relevant cooperation should not be targeted at any third party.”
For feedback, contact: diivee56@gmail.com
Editor: irwin3angiki@gmail.com
Judge says Manslaughter sentences have been too low, welcomes COA new direction
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN Solomon Star, Honiara
High Court Judge John Keniapisia says manslaughter sentences in Solomon Islands have been too low for many years.
He welcomed a recent Court of Appeal (COA) decision that paves the way for tougher penalties in serious cases.
Judge Keniapsia made the remarks while sentencing the defendant Alfred Linga Gaeta to 14 years' imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of John Kasita Rurufoliota.
The court heard that Gaeta, who was intoxicated and armed with an iron spade handle, went to neighbouring Diuku Village looking for a man named Simita over a land dispute.
When Simita was not home, his younger brother confronted Gaeta and was fatally assaulted during the altercation.
While delivering his sentence recently, Judge Keniapisia devoted part of his judgment to discussing what he described as a significant shift in the sentencing of manslaughter cases following the Court of Appeal's decision in the case of Basikekero.
"For the first time in many years the appellate court has finally recognised the seriousness of manslaughter by setting a higher starting point sentence of 8 years in the recent Court of Appeal case of Basikekero."
He noted that the Court of Appeal recognised "based on case law that manslaughter in this jurisdiction has had low starting points in the past."
According to the judge, the appellate court also recognised that "a higher starting point is needed, but do not want to make a 'quantum leap' to change the position of the law suddenly and significantly."
Reflecting on previous sentencing practices, Judge Keniapisia said, "Prior to Basikekero, as a Judge, I felt that my hands were tied."
He explained, “Starting points for manslaughter were very low. The final head sentence ranged from 4, 6, 7, 8 or 10 years, being the highest."
The judge said he often questioned why an offence carrying a maximum penalty of life imprisonment was attracting comparatively short prison terms.
"I used to wonder why a serious crime of 'death' with a maximum life time penalty was having low and very lenient sentence terms, even in the Court of Appeal cases..."
He referred to the Court of Appeal decisions in Tapa'amae and Poepoe, noting that the High Court had originally sentenced the offender in Poepoe to 10 years before the sentence was reduced on appeal to six years.
"How could a crime that takes away life with a maximum punishment of life imprisonment have a head sentence of 6 years only?"
He also disclosed that in another manslaughter case he had sentenced an offender to 13 years' imprisonment, only for the Court of Appeal to reduce the sentence to eight years.
"In one case I sentenced a manslaughter offender to 13 years and the Court of Appeal reduced it to 8 years."
The judge said the decision in Basikekero now signals that sentencing for manslaughter should move to a higher level.
"But now with a higher starting point of 8 years, the appellate Court in my respectful view is saying that, there ought to be an increase in the sentencing range for this type of crime, after all it is one of the most serious crimes under the Penal Code, which carries the maximum penalty of life-imprisonment."
"The sentence imposed by the Court must sufficiently reflect the seriousness of the crime or must have a strong element of deterrence,” he added.
Judge Keniapisia said the Court of Appeal's guidance had changed the position for sentencing judges.
"Now I feel that my hands are not tied, although the Court of Appeal said, they are mindful there should not be a 'quantum leap.'
The general trend now is to have a leap. One way to achieve this is for judges to take a considered approach with mitigation in their exercise of discretion."
"In my considered view, Basikekero has opened the way for a flexible approach to address the different levels of severity that are possible in manslaughter cases, to ensure a final head sentence must reflect the most serious crimes under the Penal Code."
In sentencing Gaeta, Judge Keniapisia adopted the eight-year starting point endorsed in Basikekero before considering the aggravating and mitigating factors in the case.
Gaeta was ultimately sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment, with the sentence backdated to 2 May 2025, the date he was first remanded in custody.
////Ends///
Judge warns against Alcohol-fuelled Violence, Jails man for 14yrs
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN Solomon Star, Honiara
The High Court sitting at Auki, Malaita recently has sentenced a man to 14 years' imprisonment after he admitted to the manslaughter of a fellow villager during a drunken confrontation linked to a land dispute.
Alfred Linga Gaeta was sentenced after pleading guilty to one count of Manslaughter.
He was originally charged with murder following the death of John Kasita Rurufoliota on 1 May 2025.
However, after negotiations between the prosecution and the defence, the Crown substituted the charge with one of manslaughter. Gaeta entered an early guilty plea.
According to the agreed facts presented to the court, Gaeta left his home at Ruakao Village while intoxicated and carrying an iron spade handle.
He travelled to nearby Diuku Village shouting threats that he intended to kill a man identified as Simita over an unresolved land dispute.
When Gaeta reached Simita's home, Simita was absent.
Instead, Simita's younger brother, John Kasita Rurufoliota, confronted Gaeta after hearing the threats and the two became involved in a fight.
During the altercation, Gaeta struck the deceased with the iron spade handle, causing fatal injuries.
A post-mortem examination found that the deceased sustained multiple injuries, including wounds to the head, shoulder and abdomen.
The medical report concluded that he probably died from complications of coronary heart disease triggered by the acute stress of the assault.
In sentencing, Judge Keniapisia described manslaughter as one of the most serious offences under the Penal Code, noting that it carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
“The seriousness of this crime is the taking away of a human life. “Every individual person is endowed with a fundamental right to life in the constitution (Section 3 (a) of the Constitution).
“No one should take away the life of another person because he or she has land disputes issues with the person or tribe.”
Judge Keniapisia said dispute have lawful ways to be resolved.
He further added that the court must impose sentences that properly reflect the loss of human life and provide a strong deterrent against violent offending.
The judge also referred to the Court of Appeal's recent decision in Basikekero, which established an eight-year starting point for sentencing in manslaughter cases.
He said the decision marked an important development in sentencing practice, recognising that previous sentences for manslaughter had often been too low.
Judge Keniapisia identified several aggravating factors, including Gaeta's decision to arm himself before the confrontation, the premeditated nature of his actions, the repeated assault on the victim, the vulnerability of the deceased, the offender's voluntary intoxication, and his role as the aggressor.
These factors increased the starting point before the court considered mitigating circumstances.
The court then reduced the sentence to reflect Gaeta's status as a first-time offender, his cooperation with police, his personal circumstances and prospects of rehabilitation.
While acknowledging the guilty plea, the judge observed that the prosecution's case was supported by strong eyewitness evidence.
Judge Keniapisia also express concern about increasing alcohol-related violence in villages throughout Solomon Islands.
“Young people should not consume alcohol and cause nuisance in our villages.”
He said drunken disorder and violent behaviour among young people had become increasingly common and warned that courts would continue to impose severe penalties on offenders whose actions threaten the peace and safety of rural communities.
"The main purpose of the punishment I give here is to condemn your action and to protect the public from the commission of such crimes," the judge said during sentencing.
Gaeta was sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment, with the sentence backdated to 2 May 2025, the date he was first remanded in custody.
He was informed of his right to appeal the sentence.
Bobby Harunari of Public Solicitor’s Office (PSO) represented Gaeta while Public Prosecutors Jonathan Auga and Collin Rohoana appeared for the Crown.
///Ends//
Magistrate: Attack on Police was 'Cowardice’
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN Solomon Star, Honiara
A 14-year-old juvenile has been sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for damaging a police vehicle conducting patrol duties on New Year’s Day in West Honiara.
However, the defendant identified as ‘MP’ was released at the rising of the court because he had already spent around four months in custody whilst on remand.
He was convicted for one count of Malicious Damage following the incident on 1 January 2026.
In delivering the sentence, Principal Magistrate Felix Hollison strongly condemned the defendant’s actions.
“The police needs immense support from the community and all stakeholders in order to execute their statutory and constitutional duties of protecting all of us,” Magistrate Hollison said.
He added that the action of the defendant’s is cowardice and must be condemned with a custodial sentence irrespective of the fact that he is a juvenile pursuant to section 16(j) of the Juvenile Offenders Act [Cap 14].
He said the safety and lives of police officers were placed at risk during the incident and such conduct must be condemned.
The defendant had pleaded guilty early last week.
His co-defendant, another juvenile identified as HG, remains at large and is subject to a warrant of arrest.
The court heard that MP was 14 years old at the time of the offending.
The complainants were four officers of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF)
The incident occurred at about 1am on 1 January 2026, when police officers were conducting normal patrol operations in west Honiara using three police vehicles.
The patrol was planned to travel from Tasahe A through Tasahe B and towards White River.
Upon reaching the junction of Tasahe A and Kongulai Road, the police convoy was forced to stop by a roadblock, and stones were thrown at the vehicles from a dark area beside the road. Police called for reinforcements before continuing.
However, while travelling along Kongulai Road, a stone struck the rear glass of police vehicle G-4954.
As officers attempted to retreat towards the Tasahe Green Tank area, more stones were thrown at the vehicle.
The court heard that MP and his co-defendant were identified as the perpetrators.
MP instructed the other juvenile to shoot the police vehicle, resulting in the rear glass being smashed and disrupting police operations in west Honiara.
In considering sentence, Magistrate Hollison said imprisonment should normally be the last resort when dealing with juvenile offenders under the Juvenile Offenders Act [Cap 14].
However, he found that the seriousness of the offence, the danger faced by police officers, and the disruption of police operations justified an immediate custodial sentence.
The court adopted a starting point of 12 months’ imprisonment and then added two months after considering aggravating features of the offence, bringing the sentence to 14 months.
The sentence was then reduced by eight months after the court considered mitigating factors, including the defendant’s early guilty plea, remorse, first-time offender status, personal circumstances, and the circumstances surrounding the offending.
The final sentence imposed was six months’ imprisonment. The court was informed that MP was first remanded on 10 January 2026 and released on bail on 24 February 2026.
He was later remanded again on 27 April 2026 after intentionally breaching his bail conditions and remained in custody until sentencing.
Taking into account the approximately four months already spent in custody and remission under the Correctional Services Act 2007, Magistrate Hollison found that MP had effectively served his sentence.
The court ordered that he be released at the rising of the court. The Magistrate also directed police to execute the outstanding warrant of arrest for MP’s co-defendant, whose matter remains pending before the court.
James Tetea of Public Solicitor’s Office represented MP while Public Prosecutor Gabriel Maefiri appeared for the Crown.
///Ends///
File photo of police vehicle being stoned.
Search Ends in Tragedy as Diver Found Dead
By GEHAZI SEKO Solomon Star, Choiseul
A search and rescue operation near Supizae Island, Choiseul province, ended in tragedy Saturday afternoon after a man who went diving on a nearby reef was found dead.
The deceased, who was believed to be from Western province, was out diving with his wife when the incident occurred at around 2:00pm.
Reports indicate that the man submerged beneath the water while diving on the reef but failed to return to the surface, prompting an immediate search and rescue operation involving nearby individuals and Taro police.
The search operation concluded at around 5pm after his body was located by a passing boat in waters near Butubuturu Island.
The occupants of the boat immediately alerted Taro police officers, who responded to the report and attended the scene.
A medical doctor who examined the deceased said preliminary findings indicated that the man had drowned.
The tragic incident has left the Supizae community shocked and saddened, with residents extending their condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased during this difficult time.
//Ends//
Photo caption: Police officers who attended the scene where the body of the deceased was found
BY JOSES SAREN
Under the shade of a large rain tree, in the strip of land between Kon Street and the National Archives compound where a stream flows through, a man sits with a hand-rolled cigarette between his fingers. Silver rings crowd his knuckles, dark bangles stack up his wrist, and grey dreadlocks fall past a beard streaked white with age.
His name is Jack. He says he is from East Guadalcanal. What he keeps returning to, unprompted, is a number: 27 years living on the street.
Island Sun cannot verify that figure, or much of Jack’s account of how he came to be here. His answers shift, and at times his train of thought is difficult to follow. But the number has come up more than once, in the same words — a fixed point in an otherwise uncertain story.
A life on the compound wall
Jack’s shelter is built from tarpaulin, cardboard and salvaged wire mesh, set in the narrow strip of land between Kon Street and the brick perimeter wall of the National Archives, where a stream runs through. It is in that stream that Jack washes. For drinking water, he relies on the Archives compound itself: he passes his bottles through to the security guards on duty, who fill them from a tap inside and hand them back.
It is survival built into the seams of the city — a stream for bathing, a government wall at his back, and the goodwill of the guards next door for something as basic as clean water.
For food, Jack says he relies on what he can find in the rubbish bins at the Central Market.
Small kindnesses, unpredictable income
Jack has no fixed income. He says people passing by sometimes stop and give him money — on the day Island Sun visited, one passer-by left him SBD $5. He also says he sometimes goes to stand outside a bank in town, where people have given him $10, $20, even $50 at a time. There is no pattern to it, no regular support — just whatever a stranger decides to hand over on a given day.
A question no one has answered
Spending time with him, it becomes clear Jack’s thinking does not always hold together. He repeats himself. He loses the thread of what he is saying. Whether that is the toll of decades on the street, an underlying condition, or something else entirely is not for this reporter — or anyone without the relevant training — to say. But it raises a question bigger than Jack alone: what happens to people living rough in Honiara whose grip on their own story is no longer steady, and who has any responsibility to check on them?
A city growing around him
Jack’s situation sits uneasily next to the government’s own language about urban growth. Solomon Islands’ Minister of Lands and Housing told the United Nations in July that rapid urban growth is putting pressure on housing, roads and water supplies in Honiara and the provincial centres. Jack is what that pressure looks like at street level — not a line in a ministerial address, but a man living against a government wall, washing in the stream below it, and passing his water bottles through to whoever is on duty that day.
Whether Honiara owes him anything more than the coins passers-by leave behind is a question the city has not yet answered.
Photo credit: Joses Saren
For feedback, contact: josessaren@gmail.com
Editor: irwin3angiki@gmail.com
The Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA Core) has officially launched its first-ever national data system, marking a significant milestone in strengthening mine action efforts in Solomon Islands.
The new system is expected to enhance the Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services' ability—particularly through the Explosive Ordnance Department—to collect, manage and analyse information relating to unexploded ordnance.
The initiative is aimed at improving data management, supporting informed decision-making, and strengthening public safety through more effective mine action operations.
Watch Tavuli News_Current Affairs Program:https://youtu.be/xX7RX7KoE8A
Navigating Deposits at Vegasnow: A Guide for Australian Players For Australian online gaming enthusiasts, the ease and security of funding their accounts are paramount to a stellar casino experience. Vegasnow emerges as a prominent platform, offering a versatile suite of deposit options tailored to the modern Aussie player. Understanding these methods is the first step [...]
The post Vegasnow Casino Deposit Methods For Australian Players appeared first on Tavuli News (Solomon Islands) .
RSIPF OFFICERS PROTECT TUVALU COMMUNITIES | Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) explosive experts are supporting a regional mission in Tuvalu to help protect communities from unexploded ordnance (UXO) left behind from World War Two.
Read More Here: https://sundayisles.islesmedia.net/rsipf-officers-support-.../
Personnel from the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Department are helping make Tuvalu safer through their contribution to Operation RENDER SAFE, supporting efforts to identify, document and assess the threat posed by unexploded ordnance (UXO) in Nanumea Lagoon.
RSIPF EOD operators Sergeant Patterson Filiga and Constable Barnabas Talo recently visited the Nanumea community and met with the Tuvalu Police Service as part of ongoing reconnaissance activities focused on locating and documenting UXO remaining from the Second World War.
Royal Solomon Islands Police Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal Department, Tuvalu Police Service and Royal Australian Navy personnel pose for a photo following unexploded ordnance awareness training in Nanumea, Tuvalu, as part of Operation Render Safe.
As a result of World War Two, numerous UXO remain within the lagoon and surrounding areas. These explosive remnants of war continue to pose a potential threat to local communities, fishers and visitors.
Working alongside their Australian Defence Force (ADF) colleagues, Sergeant Filiga and Constable Talo supported reconnaissance activities to identify and record the location of UXO, contributing specialist advice to determine the nature of hazards and inform planning for future disposal.
In addition to their technical EOD responsibilities, the officers engaged with members of the Nanumea community to raise awareness of the dangers posed by UXO and provide practical guidance on how to recognise potential hazards and respond safely if suspicious items are discovered.
The community engagement activities complemented the broader mission by helping ensure local residents understand the risks associated with explosive remnants of war and the importance of reporting discoveries to authorities.
Australian Army soldier Sergeant Ryan Roach from 20th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Squadron speaks with Royal Solomon Islands Police Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal Department Sergeant Patterson Filiga during a survey of Nanumea Lagoon shoreline as part of Operation Render Safe.
(L-R) Royal Solomon Islands Police Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal Department personnel, Police Constable Barnabas Talo, Sergeant Patterson Filiga, Commander Australian Contingent Operation Render Safe, Royal Australian Navy Officer Commander Nicholas Lee, RAN and Australian Army Sergeant Ryan Roach in a Zodiac watercraft during diving operations in Nanumea Lagoon, Tuvalu, during Operation Render Safe.
Australian Defence Adviser to Solomon Islands, Captain Emma Griffiths said the contribution of RSIPF personnel had been vital to the success of the operation.
“The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force brings extensive experience and expertise in dealing with UXO from World War Two, making them an invaluable partner in Operation RENDER SAFE,” CAPT Griffiths said.
“Sergeant Filiga and Constable Talo have played an important role in the mission, demonstrating the Solomon Islands’ status as a regional leader in this space.
“They have also demonstrated exceptional skill in engaging with the local community, building awareness of UXO risks and promoting safe behaviours when suspicious items are encountered.”
Operation RENDER SAFE is the ADF-led multinational commitment to removing the danger posed by World War II-era explosive remnants of war (ERW) in Pacific countries.
A total of twenty-four officers of the Royal Solomon Island Police Force (RSIPF) were promoted to the rank of inspector on 23 July 2025 at Rove Police Headquarters in Honiara.
Four female officers were among those twenty-four officers promoted to the rank of inspector. The promotion is for the middle management level of the RSIPF organisation here in Honiara and the provinces.
Some of the female officers promoted to the rank of inspector posed for a photo after the promotion ceremony.
The promotion process has been thorough and transparent, ensuring that each candidate was evaluated fairly based on merit, experience, and their contributions to the RSIPF organisation.
Inspector Marion Ava Tuhenua, operation manager, Central Province, received her letter of promotion from the acting commissioner of the RSIPF, Mr James Aitorea.
Those who promoted officially endorsed following careful recommendations and approval made by our distinguished panel, who conducted consultations with the Ministry of Public Service to ensure adherence to the highest standards of professionalism and governance.
Acting Commissioner of RSIPF Mr James Aitorea, in his brief remarks during the promotion ceremony, said this promotion is not a privilege, but it is a great duty you must have, dedicated to you by the nation to manage and lead officers under your supervision according to the standing orders of the RSIPF organisation and the expectations of the people of this country.
Centre Inspector Mark Arimana posed for a photo after his promotion.
Commissioner Aitorea said this promotion is a great obligation that you must carry, which is entrusted to you from your performances during your work in the RSIPF organisation. It is not something that you will enjoy as a privilege.
Mr Aitorea said you are promoted because you can lead, manage and strengthen this RSIPF organisation. So, I ask you to stand by the standing orders of this organisation and serve your people with integrity and honesty.
A maritime officer receives his letter of promotion from RSIPF Commissioner Mr James Aitorea during the promotion ceremony.
The representative spokesperson of the newly promoted officers, Inspector Oliver Buira, during the promotion ceremony, said it is our duty when we are called anywhere at any time; we take those responsibilities.
Newly promoted Inspector Buira said the responsibilities vested in us are not easy, but we have to unite so that we can carry on our duties effectively. So, on behalf of the newly promoted officers, we thank you for entrusting us to carry out our duties.
Inspector Brian TAMOL I – Police Maritime – received his letter of promotion from the acting commissioner of the RSIPF. Mr James Aitorea
Inspector Harry Brown, FITITEI coordinator, Traffic Centre, received his letter of promotion from the acting commissioner of the RSIPF Mr James Aitorea
List of RSIPF officers promoted to the rank of inspector:
Inspector Clera QILAPALUSU-Provincial Coordinator
Inspector Marion Ava Tuhenua- Operation Manager, Central Province
Inspector Timothy TEMAPI-Coordinator-Western Province
Inspector Kevin KUATA- Operation Manager, Makira Province
Inspector Duddley SURUAU- Chief Engineer, Maritime
Inspector Lawrence ISA- Choiseul Province
Inspector Harry Brown FITITEI- Coordinator-Traffic Centre
Inspector Mark ARIMANA-Coordinator -RSIPF FIRE Service
Inspector Desmond F RAVE- Supervisor -RSIPF Media
Inspector Brian TAMOLI- Police Maritime
Inspector Joshua PUTE-Coordinator Training
Inspector Zachariah Salopuka- Coordinator Honiara City
Inspector Leonard ROKOTO- Western Province
Inspector Casper Junior NIUI- Executive Officer (XO) Second Captain -Maritime
Inspector Jefferson Tony Volaka- Interpol -Officer In-Charge
Inspector Tony To’oga- Officer In-Charge Malu’u Police Station
Inspector Ellen Kinita- Deputy Director -Logistics
Inspector Geoffrey Angi-Coordinator, Malaita Province
Inspector Oliver BUIRA- National Criminal Investigation Department (NCID)
Inspector Susan MALA- Staff Officer, Deputy Commissioner National Security and Operation Support
Inspector Brian KAURA- Officer-In charge- Workshop
Inspector Audrey SUHATA- Makira Province
Inspector Robin Mepirke- Temotu Province
Inspector Samantha KIKONI- Shift Supervisor
BY CHARLES STENNETT
China says it is ready to deepen cooperation with the Solomon Islands while calling on all countries engaging with Pacific Island nations to respect their independence and ensure cooperation is not directed at any third party.
A report from Pacnews said, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian made the remarks after being asked about Solomon Islands’’ decision to sign a ship rider agreement with the United States that will allow the U.S Coast Guard to patrol the country’s waters with Solomon Islands police officers on board.
“China and the Solomon Islands are comprehensive strategic partners featuring mutual respect and common development for a new era.
“We stand ready to work with the new government of the Solomon Islands to expand practical cooperation in various fields and better benefit the people of both countries,” Lin said.
Lin said China supported international efforts to assist Pacific Island countries.
“China supports efforts by the international community to help Pacific Island countries realise sustainable development.
“At the same time, in developing relations with Pacific Island countries, all parties should respect their independence, put development first, and uphold openness and inclusiveness. Relevant cooperation should not be targeted at any third party,” he said.
The comments follow an announcement Prime Minister Matthew Wale during a visit to Washington that his government will sign a ship rider agreement with the U.S Coast Guard next week.
According to a Solomon Islands government statement, the agreement will strengthen joint maritime enforcement and surveillance.
The statement said Wale highlighted “the urgent need to enhance security across the Pacific region,” citing increasing threats from drug trafficking, human trafficking, and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
The Solomon Islands became China’s closest security partner in the Pacific after signing a security agreement with Beijing in 2022.
For feedback, contact: charsstennett@gmail.com
Editor: irwin3angiki@gmail.com
BY CHARLES STENNETT
Solomon Islands will sign the “Ship Rider Agreement” for the US Coast Guard to patrol its waters with local police aboard.
This is one of the issues discussed in Washington when Prime Minister Matthew Wale met with the US Coast Guard Vice Commandant Admiral Thomas Allan when visiting the United States.
He also met with US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau on deepening bilateral ties, said a State Department readout.
A Pacnews report said the “Ship Rider agreement” will be signed in Honiara next week to strengthen joint maritime enforcement and surveillance.
“Prime Minister Wale highlighted the urgent need to enhance security across the Pacific region, noting the increasing threats of drug trafficking, human trafficking, and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing,” the report added.
The US Coast Guard has expanded patrols of the South Pacific in recent years, assisting “ship riders” — local Pacific police — to cover millions of kilometers of ocean to inspect for illegal fishing fleets.
The agreement is expected to strengthen joint maritime enforcement and surveillance efforts.
PM Wale emphasized that the Pacific has become a growing transit route for illicit activities, highlighting the importance of improved maritime domain awareness and coordinated regional responses.
Admiral Allan briefed the Prime Minister on the United States Coast Guard’s ongoing and planned initiatives in the Pacific, including efforts to bolster maritime security and capacity-building across island nations.
He reaffirmed the importance of partnerships with Pacific Island countries, particularly through the Pacific Islands Forum to address shared security challenges.
Under this arrangement, 12 Pacific Island countries have signed the Ship Rider Agreement, with Cook Islands signing the first Agreement in 2008.
For feedback, contact: charsstennett@gmail.com
Editor: irwin3angiki@gmail.com
Scholarship Fraud Case Adjourned to August 6
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
The court case involving a man accused of obtaining money from university students through false promises of government scholarships has been adjourned to August 6.
The matter of the defendant Donald Keso came before the Honiara Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday and was adjourn to August 6.
The matter is awaiting trial dates to be fixed after the previous trial dates were vacated.
Keso is yet to be summon to appear in court.
The case is now awaiting new trial dates, which will be fixed once the accused appears before the court.
Keso is facing three counts of False Pretences over allegations that he dishonestly obtained a total of SI$4,000 from three students of the Solomon Islands National University (SINU).
It is alleged that on separate occasions in March and April 2023, Keso falsely represented himself as an agent of the National Training Unit (NTU), now known as the Solomon Islands Tertiary Education and Skills Authority (SITESA).
The prosecution alleges he told the students that if they submitted the required documents and paid him SI$1,000 each, he would arrange for their names to be included in the Solomon Islands Government scholarship list.
Two of the students allegedly paid SI$1,000 each, while a third student allegedly paid SI$2,000 to cover both himself and his sister.
The students allegedly never received scholarship offer letters or any further communication regarding the promised scholarships and later reported the matter to police.
The matter will return to court on August 6 for further mention.
///Ends///
quartership fraud case adjourned to august 6
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
涉及一名男子因虚假承诺政府奖学金而从大学生手中获取资金的案件已延期至8月6日。
被告唐纳德·凯索(Donald Keso)的案件于周三在霍尼亚拉(Honiara)治安法庭审理,并被延期至8月6日。
该案件在之前的审判日期被撤销后,正在等待新的审判日期确定。
凯索尚未被传唤出庭。
案件现在等待新的审判日期,一旦被告出庭,将会确定。
凯索面临三项虚假陈述的指控,涉嫌不诚实地从所罗门群岛国立大学(SINU)的三名学生那里获取总计4,000所罗门元(SI$4,000)。
据称,在2023年3月和4月的不同场合,凯索虚假地自称为国家培训单位(NTU)的代理人,该单位现称为所罗门群岛高等教育与技能管理局(SITESA)。
检方指控他告诉学生,如果他们提交所需文件并支付每人1,000所罗门元(SI$1,000),他将安排他们的名字列入所罗门群岛政府奖学金名单。
两名学生据称各支付了1,000所罗门元,而第三名学生则据称支付了2,000所罗门元,以涵盖他自己和他的妹妹。
这些学生据称从未收到奖学金的录取信或关于承诺奖学金的进一步沟通,后来向警方报告了此事。
该案件将于8月6日再次回到法庭进行进一步审理。
///结束///
Pacific island nations are facing a security challenge in responding to China’s recent missile launch near Tuvalu and keeping their...
The post China’s Missile Test Exposes Lack of Unity Among Pacific Island Nations appeared first on In-depth Solomons .
