BY CHARLES STENNETT
Fifteen Solomon Islands’ Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), are showcasing their locally made products in day 2 of the PNG-Solomon Islands Investment Conference currently underway in Honiara, proving that homegrown talents and innovations are central to shared economic growth.
The Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) on its social media said the products range from handicrafts to processed food and everything in between.
It said these represents the spirit, resilience and creativity of the people adding that they are not just products but are building brands, creating jobs and contributing to the national economy.
SICCI said they are inviting delegates, investors and visitors to explore the SME exhibition, connect with the local entrepreneurs and see firsthand the quality and the diversity of what Solomon Islands has to offer.
The two-day conference with themed “From Opportunity to Investment: Building the PNG-Solomon Islands Growth Corridor” brings together government leaders, investors and business representatives to explore opportunities in sectors including agriculture, fisheries, tourism, infrastructure, energy and financial services, with the aim to strengthen trade and investment ties between the two countries.
The Papua New Guinea-Solomon Islands Investment Conference organised by SICCI and the PNG-Solomon Islands Business Council ends today.
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By Aaron Bunch of AAP in Perth Elon Musk’s aerospace company SpaceX has retrieved a rocket that splashed down in...
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The Government has clarified that the company haus entry for the Solomon Islands Mineral Holdings Company was the result of an honest administrative mistake.
In a statement today, the Government said the registration process follows the normal procedure used for State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), including the Solomon Islands Tower Company Limited and other SOEs, where shares are held under ministerial titles rather than in the names of individual office holders.
The statement adds even the Prime Minister should not be included and will be rectified.
However, the Government acknowledged that the company registration should have been carefully completed to avoid confusion and said the errors identified will be corrected.
The Government further clarified that the early registration of the company was undertaken in preparation for proposed amendments to the Mineral Resources Bill.
It said the corporate structure, governance arrangements and other details of the company will be clearly outlined in regulations.
“At the moment, the Register shows that the Company will use model rules. That will be changed to show that the Company will use owned-developed rules,” the statement said.
The Government said the necessary corrections will be made to ensure the company’s registration accurately reflects its intended ownership, governance and corporate structure.
Ends//
– Government Statement
The post GOVERNMENT CLARIFIES MINERAL HOLDINGS COMPANY REGISTRATION first appeared on Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) .
Japanese Government officials have paid a courtesy call on the Minister for Police, National Security and Correctional Services, Hon. John Tuhaika Jr., reaffirming the longstanding friendship and cooperation between Japan and Solomon Islands.
The meeting provided an opportunity for both sides to exchange views on matters of mutual interest and discuss ways to further strengthen engagement between the two governments.
Discussions focused on cooperation in policing, national security and correctional services, as well as other areas of shared interest.
Minister Tuhaika welcomed the Japanese delegation and expressed appreciation for Japan’s longstanding friendship and support to Solomon Islands.
The courtesy call highlighted the importance of continued dialogue and collaboration between the two countries in promoting peace, stability and development.
The meeting also reaffirmed the commitment of Solomon Islands and Japan to maintaining constructive cooperation for the mutual benefit of their peoples.
PM Wale lauds PNG investments here which total $1.8 billion
Prime Minister Matthew Wale has welcomed the growing presence of Papua New Guinea businesses in Solomon Islands, saying their investments demonstrate that “Solomons is investable.”
More than 50 Papua New Guinea companies are currently operating successfully in Solomon Islands across sectors including banking and finance, telecommunications, transport, logistics, hospitality and agriculture.
PNG companies have invested more than SBD $1.8 billion in commercial activities in Solomon Islands.
The Prime Minister made the remarks at the inaugural Papua New Guinea–Solomon Islands Investment Conference in Honiara.
Read the full story on Page 2.
Also in today’s edition
PM Wale major shareholder in private companies set up under GREAT’s mining reform — Page 3
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韦尔总理赞扬巴新在此的投资总额达到18亿澳元
韦尔总理马修·韦尔(Matthew Wale)欢迎巴布亚新几内亚企业在所罗门群岛日益增长的存在,称其投资证明了“所罗门群岛是可投资的”。
目前,超过50家巴新公司在所罗门群岛成功运营,涉及银行与金融、电信、运输、物流、酒店和农业等多个领域。
巴新公司在所罗门群岛的商业活动中投资超过18亿所罗门元。
总理在霍尼亚拉举行的首届巴布亚新几内亚-所罗门群岛投资会议上发表了上述讲话。
请在第2页阅读完整故事。
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韦尔总理在GREAT矿业改革下设立的私营公司中是主要股东 — 第3页
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Island SunBusiness & Economy商业经济·2026-08-20Original ↗原文 ↗
Rafa Lea’i’s hat-trick sends Central Coast FC into historic OFC Champions League final after thrilling 3-2 extra-time win over Galaxy FC
BY RICHARD MENANOPO
Rafa Lea’i struck a dramatic 117th-minute winner as Central Coast FC edged Galaxy FC 3-2 after extra time yesterday to reach the OFC Men’s Champions League final in one of the tournament’s most thrilling semi-finals.
The Solomon Islands forward completed a stunning hat-trick at 4R Stadium Govind Park in Ba, Fiji, sending Central Coast into their first-ever continental final after a pulsating encounter against their Melanesian rivals.
OFC Media, in its post-match report issued yesterday, described the semi-final as a “heart-stopping” and “pulsating” contest, with Central Coast eventually surviving Galaxy’s second-half comeback before Lea’i delivered the decisive blow in extra time.
Central Coast made the perfect start, taking the lead in the 15th minute after Hudyn Irodao’s effort came back off the crossbar before Bobby Leslie’s header was blocked, allowing Lea’i to react quickest and fire home.
Lea’i then doubled the advantage just before half-time, combining with Leslie and Barrie Limoki on a swift counter-attack before confidently drilling his second past Galaxy goalkeeper Michael Laulae.
Central Coast went into the break 2-0 ahead and appeared firmly in control.
But Galaxy, the tournament’s highest-scoring side, responded strongly after the interval.
Their Brazilian marksman Willian Dos Santos Medina, who had scored nine goals before the semi-final, finally found a way through in the 69th minute before drawing Galaxy level eight minutes later with his second of the evening.
The equaliser forced the contest into an additional 30 minutes, with both sides creating opportunities as fatigue began to set in.
Just when the match appeared destined for penalties, Lea’i struck again.
With only three minutes remaining, substitute Fordney Junior capitalised on a defensive mistake and supplied Lea’i, who unleashed a powerful finish high into the net to complete his treble and send Central Coast into the final.
The victory also underlined Central Coast’s defensive effort in limiting Medina for long periods before the Galaxy striker eventually found his range.
The semi-final carried an added Melanesian flavour, with Central Coast coached by Solomon Islands national Jacob Moli and Galaxy led by former Solomon Islands international Batram Suri.
But it was Moli’s side that prevailed in a contest that swung dramatically from a comfortable Central Coast lead to a Galaxy comeback before Lea’i settled the tie.
Central Coast will now face defending champions Auckland City FC in Saturday’s final, with the Solomon Islands side moving within one victory of claiming Oceania’s biggest club football prize.
Central Coast FC previously reached the OFC Champions League semi-finals on their competition debut in 2023. Their return to the final four this year has now gone a step further, with Lea’i’s treble securing the club a historic first appearance in the continental final.
Photo credit: OFC Media via Phototek
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BY ELTON LONARATHA JNR
In Hamilton, New Zealand
BELLONA Rugby Union Association (BRUA) is preparing to relaunch rugby activities on the island next month following its Annual General Meeting on 31 July at Suani Accommodation in Bellona.
Representatives from seven affiliated clubs attended the meeting, where a new executive committee was elected to lead the association for the next four years.
Newly elected president Nigel Soaika told SunSPORTS that the committee is planning a competition next month as part of a wider push to revive rugby in Bellona.
Soaika said BRUA also intends to work with school leaders and sports masters to introduce tag rugby in schools before launching an Under-16 competition.
“We thank every rugby club for their trust and for giving us the privilege to serve BRUA over the next four years,” Soaika said.
BRUA has also received a timely boost from the East Rennell Rugby Union Association (ERRUA), which donated five rugby balls to support the planned programme.
Soaika thanked ERRUA president Newton Moana for the donation and acknowledged outgoing BRUA president Nick Hatigeva, who had led the association since 2021.
The new BRUA executive committee is:
President: Nigel Soaika
Vice-president: Frank Paikea
Secretary: Sharon Tepai
Treasurer: Walter Baiabe
Women’s representative: Elisa Soaika
Ordinary members: Darley Tesu’Atai, Nick Na’amoana and Leslie Puia.
Photo: Supplied
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BY ELTON LONARATHA JNR
In Hamilton, NZ
FOOTBALLERS from Guadalcanal Province who are currently involved in any Solomon Islands Football Federation active leagues will not be eligible to play in next month’s Guadalcanal Cup (G-Cup) 2026 in Honiara.
The Guadalcanal Cup Championship 2026 is scheduled to kick off on Monday, 21 September, with team registration now open at a fee of $3,500 per team.
The tournament will bring together teams representing the province’s eight constituencies.
Guadalcanal Football Association Secretary Joshua Kera told SunSPORTS that each team must register 23 players, including three goalkeepers, and five team officials, including a team manager, head coach, assistant coach and other relevant officials.
Kera said players must either be from the Guadalcanal constituency they intend to represent or have lived there for at least the past six months.
“Players currently residing in Honiara or participating in HFA or other PFA competitions will be considered outside the GFA jurisdiction and are not eligible,” Kera said.
“Players from Guadalcanal or other provinces who participated in previous TSL seasons may participate, provided they do not have an active registration with a current S-League club and meet the other eligibility requirements,” he said.
Kera confirmed that each team may register a maximum of five former TSL players, a measure aimed at creating more opportunities for young and emerging players from the eight constituencies.
“Players who are currently registered and participating with clubs in the current S-League season are not eligible to take part in the Guadalcanal Cup Championship 2026.
“Players currently participating in SIFF active competitions, including futsal, are also not eligible, in accordance with the applicable league regulations,” he said.
Kera urges teams to carefully check the eligibility of their players before submitting final registrations.
“Any players or team officials who are suspended or serving a ban imposed by SIFF from previous competitions are not eligible to participate in the G-Cup Championship 2026,” he said.
He also encourages teams to appoint coaches who hold MA Coaching certificates or OFC coaching certificates to manage their sides.
Meanwhile, this year’s tournament will introduce a women’s division, giving female footballers from across Guadalcanal the chance to represent their constituencies and showcase their talent.
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BY ELTON LONARATHA JNR
In Hamilton, NZ
BUALA Football Academy (BFA) has received recognition from the Solomon Islands Football Federation, with the national body donating eight soccer balls to support the academy’s grassroots football development programme.
The academy operates under Buala Football Club (BFC), one of the longest-established and most decorated football clubs in Buala, Isabel Province.
Founder, technical director and coach Ataban Sizah thanked SIFF’s youth development officer for acknowledging the work being done to develop young footballers in the province.
Sizah said the recognition follows a recent visit to Honiara by an Isabel sports delegation that included the provincial sports coordinator, the deputy premier and the Isabel Football Association vice-president.
“They highlighted my academy programme, and SIFF decided to support us with eight soccer balls.
“The academy is very thankful for the support. It shows we are on the right pathway in developing players from a very early age.
“We have a strategic plan to start producing quality players for Isabel Frigates and, in the future, the Solomon Islands national teams,” he said.
Sizah said Buala Football Academy looks forward to working with SIFF to achieve its goals of identifying and developing football talent from rural communities.
Photo: Supplied
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BY JOSES SAREN
The Provincial Governance Strengthening Programme (PGSP) says hundreds of millions of dollars in provincial grants and revenue have now been fully reported and audited, a turnaround from a period when most provincial spending went unaccounted for.
Between 1993 and 2007/08, the nine provincial governments produced only two financial statements out of 135 reports required under the Provincial Government Act 1997, the PGSP statement said.
Around SBD222 million in grants were provided to provinces during that period, but only about 14 percent was adequately accounted for, before PGSP and the Provincial Capacity Development Fund (PCDF) were established in 2008/9, it said.
Since then, about SBD405 million in PCDF donor and Solomon Islands Government grants have been fully reported and accounted for, according to the statement, delivering more than 1,700 projects and creating employment for over 11,000 young people in construction.
Every contracted project under that fund has gone to a local Solomon Islands contractor, the statement said.
It also reported about SBD918 million in recurrent grants transferred to provinces since 2008/9 has been fully reported and audited, alongside about SBD675 million in own-source revenue collected and accounted for by the nine provinces over the same period.
About 135 financial reports were produced and submitted for audit over the 15-year period, and all financial statements have been submitted to the OAG on time, though the statement said improvements are still needed in report quality.
The statement described PGSP as a Solomon Islands Government initiative within the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS), established with development partner support to break what it calls a cycle of “no capacity, no responsibility, no resources” that had trapped provincial governments for decades.
A RAMSI-funded Public Financial Management Improvement Programme survey had found extremely poor awareness of the Provincial Financial Management Ordinances among provincial staff, along with low morale, weak MPGIS supervision and significant political interference in provincial financial decisions at the time, it said.
The PCDF was introduced as a performance-based grant mechanism in response, tying provinces’ access to funding to minimum compliance and performance conditions, the statement said.
MPGIS, through PGSP, remains committed to working with provincial governments and donor partners, the World Bank and UNCDF towards unqualified audit opinions across all provinces, the statement said.
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BY JOSES SAREN
Central and Choiseul provinces have secured unqualified audit opinions for the 2022/23 financial year, the highest standard of financial reporting and accountability.
The results reflect more than a decade of reform, capacity building and institutional strengthening, according to the Provincial Governance Strengthening Programme (PGSP), under the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS).
An unqualified opinion means the financial statements are reliable, complete and comply with accounting standards, while a qualified opinion means the statements are generally reliable but carry significant weaknesses, the statement explained.
A disclaimer opinion, the most serious outcome after adverse, is issued when the auditor cannot obtain enough evidence to form a view at all, it said.
Central Province has now maintained an unqualified opinion for five straight years, from 2018/19 to 2022/23, the statement said, after a run of disclaimer opinions from 2012/13 to 2016/17 and its first qualified opinion in 2017/18.
Choiseul Province moved to an unqualified opinion for 2022/23 for the first time in its history, according to the statement, following more than a decade of qualified opinions dating back to 2012, and that 2023 opinion has since been tabled in Parliament.
Guadalcanal Province graduated from a 2022 disclaimer of opinion, tabled in Parliament, to a qualified opinion for 2023 that the statement called one of its most significant achievements, crediting a growing number of qualified officers and ongoing PGSP and MPGIS mentoring.
Isabel Province, the first in Solomon Islands to reach an unqualified opinion, in 2017/18, slipped back to a qualified opinion for 2022/23 after five consecutive unqualified years, the statement said.
Western Province has held a qualified opinion continuously from 2017/18 through 2022/23, it said, having previously cycled through disclaimer, qualified and one adverse opinion.
Temotu Province moved off disclaimer opinions in 2019/20 and has held a qualified opinion for four consecutive years since, the statement said.
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The tribunal appointed to investigate allegations against suspended Police Commissioner Ian Vaevaso has yet to begin its work, more than...
The post Vaevaso Tribunal Delayed After 2 Members Withdraw appeared first on In-depth Solomons .
The first-ever PNG–Solomon Islands Investment Forum is underway in Honiara, bringing together investors, businesses, government officials and development partners from both countries. The two-day forum follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed in October 2025 between the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Papua New Guinea–Solomon Islands Business Council. The forum focuses on strengthening bilateral trade, reducing trade barriers and promoting private...-sector growth in key areas including agriculture, tourism and infrastructure. Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape and Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Cooper Wale are attending the forum, with discussions centred on shared opportunities, challenges and ways to strengthen economic cooperation. Speaking at the opening, Prime Minister Wale stressed the importance of practical solutions and creating new opportunities through cooperation between the two Melanesian countries. Watch Tavuli News_Current Affairs Program:https://youtu.be/dv5KitS7z88
SIWIBA LOOKS TO MAMA BANK MODEL TO BOOST WOMEN’S ACCESS TO FINANCE By ULUTAH GINA Solomon Star, Honolulu, Hawaii... The Solomon Islands Women in Business Association (SIWIBA) is exploring the possibility of adapting lessons from Papua New Guinea’s women-focused banking model to improve access to finance and financial services for women entrepreneurs in Solomon Islands. The move follows a strategic meeting between SIWIBA and the PNG Women’s Micro Bank Limited, popularly known as Mama Bank, in Papua New Guinea, where the two organisations discussed opportunities for collaboration, knowledge exchange and women’s economic empowerment. SIWIBA President Julie Gegeu Haro said the engagement was important as Solomon Islands continues to look for practical ways to help women establish, formalise and grow their businesses. “Access to appropriate financial services and financial education is critical for women entrepreneurs to establish, formalise, grow and sustain their businesses,” Mrs Haro said. The SIWIBA delegation, led by Mrs Haro, Vice President Dr Donna Marie Wate and Acting Chief Executive Officer Jessica Warahiru Rapeiasi, together with Government Officer Melinda Kii, met with the Chief Executive Officer [CEO] of Mama Bank and its Project Manager last week at Port Moresby. The Mama Bank team shared its experience in providing financial services, financial education and business support specifically targeted at women. Established in 2010 as the PNG Women in Business Microfinance Institute Limited, the institution received its banking licence from the Bank of Papua New Guinea in May 2014, becoming the first women-focused licensed microbank in Papua New Guinea and the Pacific region, according to SIWIBA. Mama Bank currently serves more than 95,000 clients and focuses on improving women's access to finance and financial literacy. For SIWIBA, the meeting provided an opportunity to examine how some elements of the Mama Bank model could potentially be relevant to Solomon Islands. Discussions covered women's access to finance, financial literacy, micro-enterprise development, savings and inclusive banking services. Mrs Haro said the purpose was not simply to learn from another financial institution but to identify practical approaches that could strengthen opportunities for Solomon Islands women. “We need to learn from models that are already working in the Pacific and identify what can be adapted to our own context,” she said. She said stronger partnerships between women's business organisations and financial institutions could help address barriers that prevent women from accessing finance and expanding their enterprises. The engagement also explored potential areas for future collaboration between SIWIBA and Mama Bank, including knowledge sharing, capacity building, financial inclusion and enterprise development. Mrs Haro expressed appreciation to Mama Bank for sharing its experience and said SIWIBA remained committed to building strategic partnerships that could create greater economic opportunities for women. “Our commitment is to strengthen opportunities for women entrepreneurs through strategic partnerships, capacity building and greater access to financial services,” she said. SIWIBA said it would continue discussions with Mama Bank and other relevant partners to explore opportunities for regional cooperation and women's economic empowerment. The association said lessons from the PNG experience could contribute to ongoing efforts to strengthen women's participation in the Solomon Islands economy, particularly through improved access to finance, financial knowledge and business support. The meeting forms part of SIWIBA's broader efforts to build regional partnerships and identify practical solutions to help women start, formalise, grow and sustain businesses. Ends///
Rafa Lea’i scores a hat-trick as Central Coast FC beats Galaxy FC 3-2 in extra time to reach the OFC Champions League Final. A hat-trick from Rafa Lea’i sent Central Coast FC into the OFC Champions League Final with a heart-stopping, pulsating 3-2 extra-time victory over Galaxy FC in a semi-final match for the ages [...]
The post LEA’I HAT-TRICK SENDS CENTRAL COAST FC TO FINAL appeared first on Tavuli News (Solomon Islands) .
TSI Calls for Transparency and Accountability in Political Appointments Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI) has called on the GREAT-led Executive Government to ensure greater transparency, integrity and accountability in the appointment and management of political appointees. TSI said while it recognizes that political appointments are a standard practice intended to help governments implement their policy agendas, the reported scale of the current appointments and the lack of... publicly available information about the positions are concerning. The organisation said the Government has an urgent obligation to explain the roles, responsibilities and costs associated with its Political Appointees (PAs). TSI said reports indicate that there are currently 58 political appointees, with many reportedly appointed at the “superscale” level, raising concerns about the impact of the appointments on limited public finances. The organisation's concerns come against the backdrop of the World Bank’s August 2026 Solomon Islands Economic Update, which it said warned of an uneven economic recovery, rising inflation and cash reserves covering less than one month of government spending. TSI said the public sector wage bill has also nearly doubled compared with the pre-pandemic period, arguing that the Government must carefully consider any expansion of its political payroll. It further raised concerns that some political appointments could be perceived as being influenced by political considerations among the six parties forming the GREAT Coalition rather than being based primarily on professional expertise and the capacity to deliver government priorities. However, TSI stressed that it is not calling for the abolition of political appointments, but instead for the immediate professionalisation and strengthening of the system. The organisation has called on the Government to introduce clear job descriptions and measurable performance outcomes for every political appointee. It also wants the Government to clarify how political appointments complement, rather than duplicate or undermine, the established machinery of government and the responsibilities of career public servants. TSI said appointments should be based on professional competence and the ability to deliver national priorities, rather than political, church or family affiliations. The organisation is also calling for public disclosure of the total remuneration costs associated with political offices and the establishment of a performance monitoring framework to assess productivity, performance and results. TSI calls for disclosure TSI said growing public concern over the number of political appointees could be addressed through greater transparency. It is therefore calling on the GREAT-led Government to: 1. Publish the official number and names of all current political appointees. 2. Disclose the Terms of Reference, reporting lines and remuneration packages for each position. 3. Demonstrate the necessity of each position and how it contributes to specific and measurable national development objectives. TSI said withholding official information allows speculation to grow and urged the Government to provide the public with clear and verifiable information about the appointments. “Public money must yield public results,” TSI said, stressing that transparency and accountability are essential to maintaining public trust. The organisation said a government that demonstrates clear plans, professional execution and measurable results can turn public hope into trust. However, it warned that expanding government structures at the expense of taxpayers, without demonstrating clear results, risks undermining public confidence. TSI urged the GREAT-led Executive Government to act openly and demonstrate that political appointments are public, accountable and results-oriented. “Transparency is not a critique—it is a requirement for good governance,” TSI said.
PLAN International has deployed a team to Ranonga with emergency supplies and support for some of the island’s most isolated communities affected by Tropical Cyclone Maila. The team, which includes officers from the social and livelihood sectors, arrived safely at Mondo yesterday and began programmes and activities there this morning. Emergency Response Manager for TC Maila, Henson Makoani, said the team will visit five communities to conduct awareness activities and distribu...te essential supplies. He said the assistance includes an agriculture toolkit for every household, dignity kits and basic hygiene supplies for girls aged between 13 and 19, as well as school kits for children aged between five and 11. “These communities are badly affected by the cyclone but they are isolated and hard to reach. “Plan International with the support of partners are happy to lend a hand,” Makoani said. He said the supplies are part of Plan International’s recovery programmes and activities aimed at supporting communities affected by the cyclone. Makoani said the communities were identified following assessments conducted by Plan International after Cyclone Maila, with the needs of each community determined through the assessment process. He acknowledged the Australian Government and the Asia Pacific Humanitarian Fund for supporting the response activity.
BY NED GAGAHE
The people of Thathaje are known for their hard work, resilience and strength.
Surrounded by fertile land and the sea, the community has for decades relied on fishing, farming and other small-scale activities to sustain family life.
What began as a small settlement in Gao/Bugotu, Isabel province, Thathaje has grown into a community of more than 200 people.
But beneath that growth lies a troubling reality.
For many families in Thathaje, opportunities remain limited. Education is difficult to access, health services are far away and government assistance is often described as inadequate.
During a recent visit to the community last month, the Island Sun found a people determined to improve their lives, but struggling with many of the basic services and opportunities that communities elsewhere take for granted.
Education remains a major challenge
Community elder and women’s leader Agnes Tafo said education remains one of the biggest challenges facing women and children in Thathaje.
“Many women in this community have no formal education because there is no school here,” Tafo said.
She said only a small number of women had received formal education, while most remained in the community.
The lack of access to education has also affected the next generation.
Many children are unable to progress beyond basic schooling, while only a few go on to tertiary education.
Mrs Tafo fears that pathway is becoming increasingly difficult for young people today, particularly women.
For many families, children and young people are also an important part of household labour. Fishing, gardening and other income-generating activities often depend on their contribution.
Two young kids fishing at the seafront of the village, Photo by Ned Gagahe
This creates a difficult choice for families already struggling to meet school fees and other household expenses.
Women turn to the mining camps for markets
Small-scale fishing and farming remain the main sources of cash income for many families.
The nearby mining operations at Havihua and Suma have also created some opportunities for women to sell garden produce and other food.
Some women and mothers in Thathaje sit down for a meeting, Photo by Ned Gagahe
Mrs Tafo said women sometimes take vegetables and other produce to the mining camps to sell.
But opportunities remain limited.
“We have opportunities to sell our market produce at the mining camps,” she said. “But often the only opportunity available to us is selling market goods in the village.”
She said access to seeds and other agricultural inputs was also a challenge.
“There are no seeds to plant. We just collect what we have — pawpaw, eggplant, beans and other things.”
For a community surrounded by fertile land, Tafo believes there is greater potential for agriculture if people receive the necessary support.
Health services a burden for women
Access to health care, particularly for women and mothers, remains another major concern.
Mrs Tafo said people from Thathaje have traditionally travelled to health facilities at Vulavu or Kalenga when they need medical attention.
But transport is not always available.
“When there is no OBM and no petrol, we don’t go,” she said.
The distance and cost of transport can become particularly serious when women are pregnant or when someone is seriously ill.
At times, Mrs Tafo said, mothers have been forced to deliver their babies in the village because they cannot reach a health facility.
Thathaje women leader Agnes Tafo, Photo by Ned Gagahe
“If there is someone sick, we have to find a way to access health and medical services,” she said.
Government services remain limited
Mrs Tafo said the community has received some assistance from the provincial government.
The Provincial Member has assisted with the construction of a new school, while sanitation support has included Sato Pan toilets. Gardening tools and other equipment have also recently been provided.
Sad state of water supply in Thathaje, Photo by Ned Gagahe
But she believes more needs to be done.
“We are a small village, but nobody seems to notice us,” Tafo said.
“We need our MPs and the government to look at our community and support us.”
She said national MPs had not provided the level of assistance the community needed.
“In recent years, there has never been a single MP who visited us. No teams from the government or NGOs have ever visited us. This is sad.”
She appeals to leaders to visit the community, listen to its concerns and support its development.
An elder’s view of a changing community
Chris Vahia, one of Thathaje’s elders, belongs to a generation that helped build the community and its history.
Vahia served for eight years as Constituency Development Officer under former Gao/Bugotu MP Samuel Manetoali.
Village elder Chris Vahia, Photo by Ned Gagahe
His career has also taken him through various institutions, including the provincial government, keeping him away from the community for much of his working life.
Returning home, however, has given him a different perspective on the challenges facing Thathaje.
“There are a lot of challenges I see since I returned home,” he said.
Vahia recalled that life in the community was once much simpler.
“Life was very simple and easy.”
Family, culture and community were at the centre of everyday life, he said, providing children with a strong sense of belonging and security.
Today, he sees a community facing a different set of pressures.
“I see life in the village as a big challenge, especially establishing the new school. It is a big challenge.”
A school in need of more than classrooms
The new school has become one of the community’s most important priorities.
Vahia said establishing the school was difficult, but completing the classrooms alone would not solve all of the community’s education needs.
“Life in the village needs a lot of things. The school itself will need a small clinic, a library, maybe dormitories and staff houses. I see it that way.”
He also believes stronger cooperation within the community is needed.
“Continuing with these challenges, I see there is a lack of people working together. I don’t know whether they have differences, but the chiefs have struggled hard to unite us together.”
For Vahia, development is not simply about infrastructure. It also requires people to work together and find common ground.
Sanitation remains a concern
Sanitation is another issue confronting the community.
Vahia said rubbish and pollution are affecting the river and sea, which are important sources of food and water for villagers.
“Sanitation is very important because the village needs sanitation. People pollute the river and pollute the sea.”
The provincial government has provided some sanitation assistance, including Sato Pan toilets.
But Vahia said the facilities are still insufficient.
“Only a few people use these. Most do not have them yet. They are also shared between houses. It is not really set up.”
Housing and living standards
The standard of housing also reflects the economic challenges facing Thathaje.
A traditional leaf house in Thathaje, Photo by Ned Gagahe
Vahia said only a small number of households have permanent roofing, while most families continue to live in traditional leaf houses.
A semi-permanent building in the community, Photo by Ned Gagahe
The gradual transition to permanent housing is another sign of the economic limitations facing families.
Fishing, farming and small markets
When asked about income, Vahia identified fishing and market activities as the main sources of cash for individuals.
“It is the market that individuals can make money from in the community, also fishing.”
But he said earning an income remains difficult.
“It’s very hard, how I see it. The source of income is hard.”
Thathaje’s fertile land offers potential for greater agricultural production, but residents say they lack the resources and support needed to fully develop that potential.
Mining brings new opportunities
Thathaje’s location near major mining operations has also changed the economic landscape.
The community lies close to Thousand Ships Bay, an area of considerable historical and cultural significance.
The bay is associated with Spanish explorer Álvaro de Mendaña, who encountered the harbour during his 1568 voyage.
Today, three mining companies have established camps in the wider area — Pacific Nickel Mines Kolosori Limited (PNMKL) at Havihua, Solomon Islands Resources Company Limited (SIRCL) at Suma, and Far East Resources Company Limited on San Jorge Island.
PNMKL and SIRCL are currently operating, while the mining activities have created employment and market opportunities for some communities living nearby.
Vahia said some men from Thathaje are now working at the nearby mining camps.
The workers operate on a rotational basis.
“Every two weeks they return to see their families,” Vahia said, explaining that some workers remain away for extended periods depending on their work rotations.
Around 6 to 7 men may be away working at a time.
For families, the income provides an important source of support.
For women, the mining camps have also become potential markets for garden produce.
But residents say mining-related opportunities alone cannot address the broader development needs of the community.
Distance makes basic services difficult
Health and other government services remain a challenge because of the community’s location.
Vahia said there are two clinics in the wider area, but reaching them requires transport.
People can sometimes walk to Sepi, but bad weather makes travel difficult.
“When the weather is bad, it is hard,” he said.
Transport is therefore central to access to health care, education, markets and government services.
At the national level, Vahia said the current MP had only recently begun supporting the constituency, including assistance with boats.
But he believes national leaders need to spend more time at the grassroots.
“They should come down to the grassroots level and hear us.”
The community also faces difficulties completing its new church building, adding another need to its long list of priorities.
A community with potential
Despite the challenges, Vahia remains convinced that Thathaje has considerable potential.
The fertile land could support more farming. The surrounding sea provides opportunities for fishing. Nearby mining operations have opened some employment and market opportunities.
But residents need the means to turn those opportunities into sustainable livelihoods.
They need better access to education, health care, transport, sanitation, agricultural support and government services.
Thathaje’s story is therefore not simply one of hardship.
It is a story of resilience.
For Thathaje, the next chapter will depend on whether government, communities and other stakeholders can help turn its natural resources, hardworking population and fertile land into lasting opportunities.
As Mrs Tafo put it: “I appeal to our leaders to assist us with our work and help uplift our community.”
For the people of Thathaje, that support cannot come soon enough.
*Reporting for this story was supported by Pacific Media Assistance Scheme (PACMAS).
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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
The Solomon Islands Government’s planned shelter recovery programme for communities affected by Tropical Cyclone Maila could cost about a million with implementation projected to begin next year, subject to proper planning, costing, design and eligibility assessments.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM), David Hiriasia, said the above at a press conference today.
He said the government is still working on the details of the recovery programme.
He said the programme will provide shelter assistance to families in Western and Choiseul provinces whose homes were completely destroyed by the cyclone.
Hiriasia said the government is considering several housing options as part of the recovery programme, including standard two-bedroom houses and three FAB houses.
He said the options were still being assessed as the government works with relevant ministries to determine the most affordable and practical housing solution.
He said the shelter recovery initiative is significant because the government had not undertaken a similar programme on this scale since Tropical Cyclone Namu.
“This is the first time where government will be going shelter recovery,” he said.
He said the programme will take time because the government needs to ensure the proposed housing solution is affordable and can be delivered within approved budget.
“We are currently working with relevant ministries, particularly the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID), to develop house designs, bills of quantities and construction costs. We are also considering whether to directly construct the houses or provide building materials to affected households as part of the recovery programme,” he said.
He said the proposed standard two-bedroom houses will be designed to allow recipients to expand them in the future.
Hiriasia acknowledged concerns from affected communities over delays but said careful planning was necessary to ensure the programme is properly implemented.
He said accurate and verified assessment data will also be used to determine which households qualify for shelter assistance.
“We need valid data to make sure the house inside the data deserves it,” Hiriasia said.
He appeals to affected residents in Western and Choiseul provinces to remain patient while the government finalises the design, costing, eligibility and delivery arrangements.
Hiriasia said the priority is to ensure assistance reaches people whose homes had been genuinely destroyed or rendered uninhabitable by Cyclone Maila.
He said the recovery programme will also focus on essential community infrastructure, including schools and health clinics damaged by the cyclone.
He said discussions are continuing with the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development and the Ministry of Health and Medical Services to determine recovery needs in the affected areas.
“Assessments have already been conducted with government agencies, provincial authorities and development partners to identify damaged schools and clinics and determine priorities for allocating recovery resources,” he said.
Hiriasia said the shelter and infrastructure programmes forms part of the government’s transition from the immediate response to the longer-term recovery phase following Cyclone Maila.
He acknowledged the support of the World Bank, United Nations agencies, Papua New Guinea Red Cross, Asian Development Bank, Australian and New Zealand governments, government ministries, provincial governments, businesses and individuals.
He said continued cooperation among the government, provinces and development partners is critical as the country moves into the recovery and rebuilding phase.
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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
Response to Tropical Cyclone Maila is gradually moving into the recovery phase, with most major emergency operations completed in the worst-affected areas of Western and Choiseul provinces.
Director of the National Disaster Council (NDC) and Chairman of the National Disaster Operations Centre (N-DOC), Jonathan Tafiariki, made the statement during a press conference at the National Disaster Management Office today (NDMO).
Tafiariki said the government activated its national disaster management arrangements following Cyclone Maila, triggering a whole-of-government response to support affected communities.
“Following the declaration of a disaster in Western and Choiseul provinces, the NDC assumed overall responsibility, while the National Disaster Operations Committee (N-DOC) and Provincial Disaster Operations Committees (P-DOCs) coordinated emergency response activities,” he said.
He said the response was guided by the Government-approved National Response and Early Recovery Plan of Action.
Tafiariki said significant progress has been made in restoring essential services, particularly health, education and livelihoods.
He said the health sector has stabilised its services and scaled down its large emergency response component.
“Importantly, no disease outbreaks have been detected in either affected province. We were fortunate that there was no outbreak detected from the two provinces, the disaster had not resulted in a secondary health crisis,” Tafiariki said.
“The education sector has also completed much of its emergency response, allowing children to continue their education and schools to return towards normal operations. Some recovery measures will require continued maintenance and assistance.
“In terms of emergency food and non-food assistance, Choiseul has completed a large portion of its relief distributions. Western Province has also made substantial progress, although some communities are still awaiting final distributions,” he said.
Tafiariki said most government agencies had completed major emergency activities and are now transitioning into longer-term recovery.
Meanwhile, the disaster order remains under review. N-DOC and P-DOCs are assessing the response and will advise the NDC on recommendations for revoking the order.
Tafiariki stressed that outstanding relief activities will continue while the government shifts its focus towards recovery and rebuilding affected communities.
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BY RODRICK DESURI
Auki
The Buma Parish Women’s Coordinator, Seno Nauta, has encouraged Catholic mothers to become bridges of peace and unity in their families, communities and parishes.
She made the call during the closing of the Assumption of Mary celebration held over the weekend at Buma Parish in West Kwaio, Malaita.
She said the Blessed Virgin Mary had shown mothers a pathway of faith, peace and unity, urging them to follow her example in their daily lives.
“As Catholic mothers, we should be bridges of peace, like our Blessed Virgin Mary,” she said.
Nauta also encourages zone coordinators, village coordinators and women leaders to work collaboratively with their members in organising and participating in parish programmes.
“Therefore, as your parish coordinator, I encourage you zone coordinators, village coordinators and women leaders to work collaboratively with our members to organise and participate in organised programmes,” she said.
She said it is her faith and prayer that Catholic mothers will remain united in one faith, continuing to testify to the truth about the Blessed Virgin Mary and serving as ambassadors of Christ.
Nauta said the formation and discussion sessions conducted during the celebration had helped mothers address and overcome challenges they faced through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
She encourages the mothers to continue relying on their faith and prayers, saying Mary should remain a source of strength and inspiration as they serve their families, communities and the Church.
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BY RODRICK DESURI
Auki
The China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) has called on the public, motorists and people under the influence of alcohol to stop destroying or damaging construction signs along the Auki Road project.
The call follows observations by CCECC of incidents involving drunken individuals, careless motorists and members of the public damaging or ignoring construction signs placed to warn people of ongoing road works.
Speaking during a community awareness programme at the Auki Community High School this morning, CCECC Liaison officer, George Foubata said such behaviour is unacceptable, particularly as the Auki Road project has entered its final phase.
He said the actions of a few individuals could disrupt construction work and increase costs, despite the project being intended to benefit the people of Malaita.
“From our experience and observation, we have witnessed construction signs being destroyed by drunk people and vehicle drivers,” Foubata said.
He said similar incidents occurred during the tar-sealing phase several weeks ago, when some motorists drove into areas marked with construction signs, disrupting ongoing works.
“Even during the tar-sealing phase, we witnessed vehicles entering areas where we had placed construction signs to show that construction was ongoing. It is sad that some drivers continued to disrupt the construction,” he said.
Foubata urges the public to change such attitudes as CCECC has now commenced the final asphalt surfacing phase of the road project.
“This is the final phase, and the materials we will be using are very expensive. So, I encourage you to keep out of the construction areas to avoid disruption and unnecessary costs when materials are wasted,” he said.
He also warns members of the public, students and motorists to stay away from construction sites and machinery.
Foubata said CCECC will not be responsible for injuries or damages resulting from people entering restricted construction areas, as public access to such areas is not part of the agreed project arrangements.
“I call upon our people, students and vehicle drivers to stay away from the road construction sites and areas,” he said.
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