BY JOSES SAREN
Manufacturers are calling for targeted government relief and more predictable energy costs, warning that rising fuel expenses are threatening investment and the long-term competitiveness of local industries.
Qila Tuhanuku, representing Solbrew and the manufacturing sector, said electricity and fuel-related expenses had increased well beyond the levels businesses could reasonably absorb.
Speaking at a public accountability forum organised by the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) and the Media Association of Solomon Islands (MASI) at SINU’s Kukum Campus on Friday, Tuhanuku said the pressure extended across manufacturing supply chains.
She said the cost of electricity, diesel, freight, imported raw materials, packaging and machinery parts had all been affected by rising fuel prices.
Tuhanuku cited electricity costs as one example of the pressure facing manufacturers. She said the rate had risen from $5.55 in July 2025 to $7.83 in May 2026, an increase of about 45 per cent.
She also reported a 59 per cent increase in the cost of diesel for Solbrew’s backup generator between January and May this year.
Tuhanuku said annual cost increases of two to four percent were more manageable for businesses, but increases at the current level were difficult to sustain.
She warned that companies could remain open while cutting back on equipment upgrades, infrastructure and technology investment to meet immediate operating expenses.
This could undermine the future growth of manufacturing, even if businesses continued operating in the short term.
Tuhanuku said manufacturers need temporary measures to help them manage costs until the Tina River Hydropower Development Project and other energy reforms could ease pressure on electricity prices.
She proposed targeted tax relief or support for selected sectors, alongside a review of electricity tariffs and demand charges affecting productive industries.
She also called for incentives to encourage businesses to invest in renewable energy, including tax relief and faster approval processes for qualifying projects.
Tuhanuku said businesses need greater certainty over electricity costs to make long-term investment decisions, particularly when industrial machinery and infrastructure require substantial capital.
She warned that rising business costs could also reduce consumer spending, putting additional pressure on companies’ revenues.
When households spend more on transport, fuel, housing and food, they have less money available for other products, she said.
The forum brought together representatives from manufacturing, fisheries, maritime transport, delivery and logistics, and power generation to discuss the impact of rising fuel prices.
Tuhanuku said the response needs to go beyond short-term crisis management and include a plan to strengthen local industries, improve energy security and accelerate the shift towards renewable energy.
Photo credit: Joses Saren
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BY TONY IROGA
The Solomon Islands Meteorological Service (SIMS) has issued a strong wind warning for large parts of the country and is urging residents and sea travellers to take immediate precautionary measures.
In an alert released by SIMS at 4pm today, the warning is currently in effect for the waters of Temotu, Makira, Rennell and Bellona, Malaita, Guadalcanal, central and eastern Isabel, and the southern waters of the Western Province.
Forecasters attribute the hazardous weather conditions to a trough lying over the northeastern parts of the country, combined with a persistent general southeast trade wind flow.
Southerly winds are expected to reach speeds between 15 to 25 knots across the affected zones, bringing moderate to rough seas and moderate southeast swells ranging from 2.5 to 3.0 meters. Visibility is also anticipated to be poor in areas experiencing showers and thunderstorms.
In an official advisory, SIMS emphasised the potential danger to lives and property.
“People in those areas should take precautionary measures as such strong winds have the potential to impact lives and properties,” SIMS said.
Authorities have issued a strict alert for the maritime community, calling on small boat operators and sea travellers to exercise caution.
“Sea travellers are urged to consider safety actions as such winds can produce dangerous wave conditions which are hazardous to small boats,” the SIMS added.
SIMS has also urges community members and local authorities to ensure the advisory is shared widely, including people with disabilities.
The meteorological office will issue its next update and strong wind warning at 7am tomorrow.
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World Vision Solomon Islands provides two water tanks and seven bins to improve disaster preparedness and community wellbeing. World Vision Solomon Islands (WVSI) has strengthened disaster preparedness and community wellbeing in Burns Creek (Zone 2) through the handover of two 5000-litre rainwater tanks and seven trash bins. The support was provided under WVSI’s Community-Based Disaster [...]
The post WVSI Supports Burns Creek Community with Rainwater Tanks and Waste Management Facilities appeared first on Tavuli News (Solomon Islands) .
A joint government team assesses Bina Harbour in Malaita to guide plans for its proposed declaration as a port. A Joint Assessment Team has recently completed an assessment of Bina Harbour in West Kwaio, Malaita Province, on 25 September 2026 as part of the government’s preparations for the proposed declaration of Bina Harbour as a [...]
The post Joint Assessment Paves the Way for Bina Harbour Port Declaration appeared first on Tavuli News (Solomon Islands) .
– Passengers raise welfare concerns over Gizo overnight stops , operator defends generator shutdown
BY JOSES SAREN
Passengers travelling aboard MV Pelican 1 have raised concerns over conditions during the vessel’s overnight stops at Gizo, saying the shutdown of the generator leaves passengers without normal lighting, air-conditioning and adequate fresh-air circulation.
A passenger, who asked not to be named, told Island Sun that the generator is routinely switched off at around 10pm while Pelican 1 remains berthed overnight.
The passenger said the shutdown creates uncomfortable conditions inside the vessel, with concerns also raised about bad odours and limited ventilation.
The situation, the passenger said, could be particularly difficult for children, elderly passengers and people who are unwell.
Passengers travelling to Choiseul who have relatives in Gizo can go ashore for the night.
But those without relatives or accommodation may have little choice but to remain onboard until the vessel departs the following morning.
The passenger also questioned why the main entrance could not be left open to improve air circulation.
With a fare of around $1,150 to Taro, the passenger said travellers should receive reasonable service throughout the journey.
However, the passenger stressed that Pelican 1 remains an important lifeline for Choiseul.
The passenger said the overall journey had been good and that the concern was specifically about the overnight conditions at Gizo.
In response, Pelican Shipping Limited said the overnight stop at Gizo is part of the vessel’s normal operating schedule and the generator shutdown is an operational decision.
The company said there is no requirement to keep the generator running continuously overnight when the vessel is not operating.
Pelican said the decision is largely linked to the vessel’s limited freshwater capacity.
Keeping the generator and toilets operating throughout the night would increase water consumption, while freshwater is also needed for engine cooling and normal vessel operations.
The company said excessive overnight consumption could affect the amount of water available for the following voyage.
Pelican also defended restricting toilet access overnight, saying management had previously experienced inappropriate use of the facilities, including incidents involving sexual activity.
The main entrance, it said, cannot be left permanently open because Gizo can experience wind and rain, creating potential safety, security and damage risks.
Passengers are permitted to remain onboard overnight, Pelican said.
Jonah Mitau, Manager at the Solomon Islands Maritime Authority (SIMA), said the 2025 Maritime Order provides for passenger safety and welfare on passenger vessels.
He said Order 13 requires owners and masters to provide adequate accommodation for passengers who remain onboard while berthed.
Mitau also said that when a vessel’s main power is switched off, emergency lighting should remain available.
Passengers, however, said they did not observe emergency lighting during the overnight stop.
Mitau said cooling conditions could improve naturally during the night as sea air moves around the vessel’s aluminium hull.
He also said bad odours could sometimes be associated with cargo and perishable goods carried onboard.
Mitau acknowledged the difficulties faced by Choiseul travellers because of limited and irregular transport services.
He encouraged passengers with concerns to raise them directly with Pelican Shipping, saying the operator is best placed to address operational issues.
He said Pelican’s service to remote communities should be supported, but safety, service quality and passenger welfare must also be maintained.
For passengers, the issue remains whether the overnight arrangements at Gizo provide an acceptable level of comfort and welfare while Pelican 1 continues to serve as a vital transport link to Choiseul.
[Photo: MV Pelican 1 berthed at the Point Cruz Jetty in Honiara. Photo credit: Pelican Shipping.]
BY DOUGLAS VAHIA
World Vision Solomon Islands (WVSI), through its highly active AHP Disaster READY Project, has officially handed over advanced photocopying and printing machinery to two key frontline institutions, the Makira/Ulawa Provincial Disaster Office and the Provincial Council of Women.
This strategic provision of office technology is designed to fundamentally strengthen local disaster preparedness, response capabilities, and provincial coordination efforts across the entire island province.
According to WVSI, the Provincial authorities emphasized that the new equipment will directly resolve long-standing operational bottlenecks. The machinery is expected to significantly improve local access to critical information, streamline situational reporting, and fast-track documentation during crises.
WVSI AHP Disaster READY Project Coordinator William Rikirongo hands over a photocopying and printing machine to MakiraUlawa Provincial Council of Women President Edith Kaoho. Photo Credit by WVSI.
Most importantly, it will enable local emergency teams to rapidly produce and distribute vital disaster preparedness guides, climate response updates, and safety awareness materials to remote and coastal communities that are highly vulnerable to natural disaster risks.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, WVSI AHP Disaster READY Project Coordinator, William Rikirongo, highlighted that the primary goal of the support is to empower frontline partners who handle community safety.
“The equipment will make your daily work far more convenient, especially when printing data and generating field reports. We deeply appreciate your continued, dedicated work in disaster preparedness and in raising awareness among children, families, and communities vulnerable to severe disaster risks,” he said.
The timely assistance was warmly welcomed by local leaders who manage provincial emergency networks. Makira/Ulawa Provincial Disaster Officer, Mr. McQueen Sauhonu, expressed deep gratitude for the donation, noting that the new machine will immediately ease severe operational challenges and heavily reinforce the office’s capacity to deploy disaster preparedness and response initiatives across provincial sectors.
The Provincial Council of Women President, Edith Kaoho, thanked WVSI for the essential resource. She described the printing equipment as a highly valuable asset that will strengthen the Council’s grass-roots work in supporting women, rural families, and vulnerable communities during both ordinary operations and emergency scenarios.
This latest handover reflects World Vision Solomon Islands’ long-term commitment to strengthening local capacity, building rural resilience, and fostering strong, practical partnerships with provincial government bodies and community stakeholders to protect lives across the Solomon Islands.
[WVSI AHP Disaster READY Project Coordinator William Rikirongo hands over a photocopying and printing machine to MakiraUlawa Provincial Disaster Officer Mr. McQueen Sauhonu. Photo Credit by World Vision.]
BY TONY IROGA
Prime Minister Mr. Matthew Wale, has delivered a scathing rebuke to major global polluters, demanding immediate, deep economy-wide emissions cuts to save vulnerable Pacific nations from rising sea levels and climate destruction.
Speaking at the Pacific PreCOP31 plenary at the Sheraton Fiji Resort in Denarau this week, PM Wale warned that decades of global climate negotiations have failed to yield meaningful action, leaving Pacific communities on the frontlines of survival.
Sharing a deeply personal account of the climate crisis, Mr. Wale revealed how sea-level rise has repeatedly displaced his own family across generations.
“I have lost my house to sea level rise. My grandfather has lost his house to sea level rise. My daughter has lost her house to sea level rise,” Mr Wale said.
He said it’s very personal for me. My entire electorate, three quarters of it, will be under sea in perhaps 30 years.
Mr. Wale highlighted that despite 31 years of talks, the world remains on track to overshoot the critical 1.5°C global warming limit.
“He condemned major industrial nations for continuing to prioritize economic development over human life,” he said.
He said major emitters must make deep economy-wide cuts to their emissions, and they need to make them now.
“It is absurd, that the road to modernisation and industrialisation is that you have licence to ruin the atmosphere and kill people,” he declared. “Let’s face it, kill people. People die in cyclones in the Pacific.”
PM called on both G7 nations and emerging BRICS economies to lead emission reductions, pointing out the glaring moral failure of global fossil fuel subsidies, which the IMF estimates at US $7.43 trillion more than three times total global climate funding.
“In 2025, we are paying to fuel the overshoot. It’s criminal. It’s immoral,” he stated.
On climate finance Wale criticized the current global financial architecture for failing to reach those most in need.
He said out the stark disparity between global military spending nearly $3 trillion last year and global climate finance, noting that the world spends more on arms in just over two weeks than developed nations provide in climate assistance over an entire year.
“The shortfall in what reaches us is not because the world lacks money. It is because it lacks the political will,” Wale said.
urging development partners and international banks to adopt the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI) so finance follows actual vulnerability rather than standard economic formulas.
He stressed that climate support must be grant-based and flexible to prevent debt-laden island nations from carrying additional financial burdens.
“We must move away from delayed pledges that draw applause in meeting rooms and make headlines,” Mr. Wale said, calling for strict accountability, published disbursement timelines, and support for the Pacific Resilience Facility.
Touching on the draft Pacific leaders’ declaration ahead of COP31, the Prime Minister said that words of sympathy alone will not save the islands and urged for stronger, binding language before leaders sign off on the document.
“Words of sympathy will not save our islands. We face a patronising paradox, where the severity of our crisis is acknowledged, but the solutions are diluted, watered down,” Mr. Wale said.
Following the plenary session, Pacific leaders are expected to review the draft outcomes and consider adding their signatures to the Taku Pakasoa Declaration as the region prepares for COP31.
[PM Matthew Wale delivered his key note address at pre COP31 in Fiji-Tuvalu. Photo- OPMC]
BY CHARLES STENNETT
The Environment and Conservation Division (ECD) within the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology is currently conducting a workshop with law enforcement officers, provincial government officers and other stakeholders in Kirakira, Makira Ulawa Province.
The training is to enable law enforcement officers take proactive actions in carrying out the enforcement of the single plastic ban Regulation 2023.
A statement from the Makira Ulawa Provincial Government (MUPG), social media said awareness, compliance and enforcement training for all relevant enforcement agencies is to be part of the program.
The training is also to familiarize the enforcement agencies with the new established Environment (Single-Use Plastic Ban) Regulation 2023 and Standard Operating Procedures which is essential to foster an environment for cooperation among the enforcement agencies at the Provincial and National level.
It said since the regulation on Single-Use Plastics came into force, ECD in partnership with other Enforcement agencies have conducted series of Awareness and Enforcements Trainings, and field Monitoring in Provincial Centers including Honiara, Western Province, Choiseul Province and Isabel Province.
The training workshops this year will be conducted in Central Province, Makira-Ulawa Province and Malaita Province.
The Training Workshop pooled in representatives from the Royal Solomon Islands Police force in Kirakira, representatives from the Provincial government, Public/Environment Health Department of the Ministry of Health in the Makira Ulawa Province, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Fisheries, National Disaster Management Office in Kirakira and the Public Solicitors office.
– SIPPA mobile clinic to offer free, confidential HIV and syphilis screening three nights a week
BY JOSES SAREN
A nightly mobile clinic offering free HIV and syphilis testing is expected to begin operating in Honiara this Friday as the Solomon Islands Planned Parenthood Association (SIPPA) moves to make sexual health services more accessible to communities.
The new outreach service will operate three nights a week, taking HIV and STI testing directly into communities across Honiara.
SIPPA is inviting community-based organisations, including youth groups, community committees and women’s groups, to contact the organisation if they are interested in hosting the mobile clinic.
Specific testing locations will not be publicly disclosed because of privacy, safety and confidentiality considerations.
SIPPA Communications Coordinator Andrea Ma’ahanua said the initiative was designed to remove some of the barriers preventing people, particularly young people, from accessing sexual and reproductive health services during normal daytime hours.
The outreach team will comprise SIPPA volunteers and two dedicated nurses.
“Through the nightly mobile clinics, the team will provide essential information and raise awareness about HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs),” Ms Ma’ahanua said.
She said the main aim was to promote prevention, encourage safer health practices and provide free HIV and STI screening in a safe and confidential environment.
The initiative comes amid concern over the changing pattern of HIV transmission in Solomon Islands, with recent cases increasingly showing generalised transmission rather than being linked to known cases or specific clusters.
As of the end of May 2026, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services has recorded 25 new HIV cases in the Solomon Islands, bringing the country’s cumulative total to 104 confirmed cases.
The latest figures mark an increase from the 79 HIV cases announced by MHMS on December 1, 2025, during the country’s observance of World AIDS Day.
Ma’ahanua said stigma, discrimination and concerns about privacy could discourage people from seeking testing during normal operating hours.
“This is especially important as HIV can affect anyone, which is why it is important for all of us to know our status,” she said.
“Knowing your HIV status is an act of responsibility that helps protect both yourself and your loved ones.”
SIPPA said people who access the service will receive counselling and support throughout the testing process.
A reactive result from the initial rapid test will require a second confirmatory test through the laboratory services of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services.
Anyone with a confirmed positive result will be referred to the HIV/STI Unit for further assessment, treatment and support.
SIPPA will also continue providing counselling and referral services to help clients access appropriate care.
Ma’ahanua stressed that HIV treatment allows people living with the virus to live long and fulfilling lives when medication is taken consistently.
“Treatment is a lifelong commitment, because you have to take it every day,” she said.
“But when people living with HIV take treatment consistently as instructed by health officials, they can live long and fulfilling lives.”
SIPPA acknowledged the continued support of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, as well as the Australian Government through DFAT and the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF).
The new mobile clinic is expected to provide another avenue for people in Honiara to know their HIV status, access information and receive early referral and support where needed.
[HIV and Syphilis Rapid test kit. Photo Credit SIPPA]
BY CHARLES STENNETT
Minister for Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology, Wayne Ghemu has called for the strengthening of public financial management as being critical to ensuring climate resources are directed towards national priorities and communities most vulnerable to climate change.
A statement from the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (OPMC), Mr Ghemu was speaking at the Pre-COP31 side event in Nadi yesterday saying that Pacific countries must strengthen their systems for resilience while developed nations meet their climate finance responsibilities.
He said Pacific countries are taking greater ownership of how climate finance is managed, while international partners must continue to meet their responsibility to provide adequate and accessible climate finance.
He said the strengthening of public financial management is critical to ensuring climate resources are directed towards national priorities and communities most vulnerable to climate change.
“Financing our own resilience does not mean financing resilience on our own,” Minister Ghemu said.
The statement quoted Mr Ghemu as saying that reforms such as climate budget tagging can help governments identify and track climate-related expenditure and strengthen the link between national climate priorities, planning and budget decisions.
“This includes connecting climate budget tagging with integrated vulnerability assessments, helping bring greater visibility to the realities faced by vulnerable communities when national investment decisions are made,” he said.
Minister Ghemu said such efforts demonstrate Pacific leadership, ownership and agency.
But said it should not be interpreted as transferring responsibility for climate change to countries that have contributed least to the problem.
“The international community must continue to meet its responsibility to provide climate financing that is adequate, predictable and accessible for vulnerable countries like ours that are at the frontline of climate change,” he said.
The Minister also highlighted work towards a regional Pacific climate finance taxonomy.
He said this could establish a shared understanding of climate-related expenditure and investment while strengthening the region’s evidence base and collective advocacy.
Minister Ghemu said the goal is to put Pacific governments more firmly in the driver’s seat of their own resilience, while ensuring international climate finance can effectively support priorities identified by Pacific countries.
[Pre-COP31 side event Pacific representatives and minister Ghemu (centre) in Nadi, Fiji. Photo Credit: OPMC]
BY JOSES SAREN
The government has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining open communication with provincial authorities on the $75 million Cyclone Maila recovery program, following concerns raised by Western Province about its role in the process.
Speaking at a joint press conference yesterday, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Environment (MECDM) and Chairman of the National Disaster Council (NDC), David Hiriasia, said communication with provinces remains continuous.
“We also received the Premier of Western Province last week, and he did a courtesy visit to the ministry,” PS Hiriasia said. “We informed him about the plans of government for rolling out this shelter strategy.”
He added that provincial officers are already on the ground as part of the disaster management structure.
“The ministry has provincial officers, disaster officers on the ground, which work as part of the provincial government support,” PS Hiriasia said. “So that linkage is there already, under the 2018 disaster arrangement.”
Director of the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO), Jonathan Tafiariki, explained that the National Disaster Council (NDC) structure includes Provincial Disaster Committees (PDCs), which serve as the implementing arm at the provincial level.
Director of the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO), Jonathan Tafiariki. Photo Joses Saren
“Whatever support is required, it still goes through the PDC on the ground,” Mr. Tafiariki said.
He clarified, however, that direct allocations to provincial governments are not permitted under the current legal framework.
“The Council has power to approve resources for targeted arrangements inside the committees,” Mr. Tafiariki said. “But the whole budget for provincial government executive management is not within the National Disaster Council.”
PS Hiriasia noted that the government is also addressing misinformation circulating on social media about the recovery process.
“Every time, one-sided information comes out,” he said. “We want time for people to hear from us too.”
He emphasized that the government is committed to transparency and ensuring the public understands the process.
“We don’t want to make people confused, and in that way, we don’t make them cross,” PS Hiriasia said. “That is one of the reasons why we are holding this press conference—to ensure that the message goes out to people that the government is there, we have not forgotten them, and although the process takes time, funding has not been misused.”
[Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Environment (MECDM) and Chairman of the National Disaster Council (NDC), David Hiriasia. Photo Joses Saren]
– NDC rejects claims of third-party control over $75 TC Maila recovery fund
BY JOSES SAREN
THE National Government has rejected claims that it is sidelining provincial authorities in the management of the $75 million Tropical Cyclone Maila recovery fund.
The government says there will be no middleman in the recovery programme and that provincial governments cannot receive direct cash allocations under the current disaster management framework.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM) and National Disaster Council (NDC) Chairman David Hiriasia made the clarification yesterday following Western Province Premier Billy Veo’s demand for provincial control of the recovery programme.
Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Environment (MECDM) and Chairman of the National Disaster Council (NDC), David Hiriasia. Photo Joses Saren
Speaking at a joint press conference at the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Hiriasia said the NDC had not approved any middleman to manage the recovery funds.
“To be very frank, the NDC deliberations do not approve any middleman. There is no middleman. The government is the implementer,” he said.
Hiriasia said legal advice from the Attorney General’s Office confirmed that the $75 million is housed in a Special Fund managed by the NDC.
He said direct distribution of the money to provincial executives would not be permitted under the National Disaster Council Act.
“Specific targeting of funds to provinces has to be approved by the Council under the Special Fund management,” Hiriasia said.
“If we give funds directly to the province outside of this arrangement, that is illegal.”
However, Hiriasia stressed that provincial governments are not being excluded from the recovery programme.
He said the implementation would follow the 2018 National Disaster Management Plan, under which Provincial Disaster Committees (PDCs) serve as the implementing arm on the ground.
“The province is part of the arrangement. We are not neglecting the province,” he said.
“We work together for implementation. From national, we go down to provincial.”
The government’s clarification follows Veo’s strong call for the $75 million recovery funding to be channelled directly to Western and Choiseul provinces.
Veo has argued that the provinces have the capacity to manage the funds and warned against the involvement of private companies or NGOs.
He has also questioned why the recovery money had not yet been released to the provinces.
But Hiriasia revealed yesterday that not a single cent of the $75 million has been spent.
He said the government is still awaiting the finalisation of the Special Fund account with the Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI).
The revelation means the recovery programme is yet to draw down any of the $75 million allocated for cyclone recovery.
Hiriasia maintained that the national government would work with provincial authorities through the established disaster management structure rather than transferring the money directly to provincial accounts.
The government’s position sets up a sharp divide over how the major recovery fund should be managed—with Western Province demanding greater control while the NDC insists the money must remain under the legally established national framework
[From left to right: Deputy SSPM Operations Barnabas Henson, NDMO Director Jonathan Tafiariki, MECDM Permanent Secretary David Hiriasia and Deputy Secretary (Fiscal) Coswal Nelson speaking to local media at yesterday’s joint press conference. Photo credit: Joses Saren.]
BY JOSES SAREN
Despite the urgent need for recovery in the wake of Cyclone Maila, the government has confirmed that the $75 million appropriation has not yet been utilized, as administrative processes to establish the Special Fund are still underway.
This was revealed at a joint press conference held this morning at 10 am, bringing together the Ministry of Environment, the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO), the Ministry of Finance, and the Prime Minister’s Office.
Deputy Secretary for the Ministry of Finance, Coswal Nelson, explained that while the Cabinet approved the funds earlier this year, the money is currently sitting in the Consolidated Fund. The government is currently working with the Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) to activate the specific account required by the National Disaster Act.
Deputy Secretary for the Ministry of Finance, Coswal Nelson. Photo Joses Saren
“The process is taking a bit of time,” Mr. Nelson admitted. “We are still working with CBSI to complete the account details. As soon as that account is created, funds will be transferred.”
Deputy Special Secretary to the Prime Minister (SSPM) Operations, Mr Barnabas Henson, added that the delay is necessary to ensure compliance with the Public Financial Management Act (PFMA).
“This is the first time we are using a Special Fund for disaster recovery,” Mr. Henson said. “The Attorney General advised that while it is a Special Fund, it must still comply with the PFMA.”
Addressing concerns about transparency—sparked by recent audits of other government funds—Mr. Henson assured the public that strict monitoring mechanisms are in place.
Deputy SSPM (Operations), Barnabas Henson. Photo Joses Saren
“There is an expectation that reporting goes back to Cabinet and eventually to Parliament,” Mr. Henson said. “We are very concerned about the recent court cases. This is a whole-of-government approach, and we will ensure the implementation is transparent.”
Mr. Henson also confirmed that the Auditor General will oversee the fund.
“The Auditor General will audit this fund,” he stated. “All procurement documents must be available and prepared. The Council management will ensure that the Permanent Secretary follows this process.”
Permanent Secretary Hiriasia reinforced this point, noting that the National Disaster Council is not just the Ministry of Environment, but a whole-of-government body that includes every Permanent Secretary, including the Office of the Prime Minister.
“This is a whole-of-government approach,” PS Hiriasia said. “We will use whatever resources are available to ensure that this shelter recovery implementation is successful.”
The government expects procurement to begin immediately once the CBSI account is activated, with shipments of materials expected to roll afterwards, weather permitting.
[Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Environment (MECDM) and Chairman of the National Disaster Council (NDC), David Hiriasia. Photo Joses Saren]
by Ednal Palmer The Government is preparing to begin the reconstruction of homes destroyed by Cyclone Maila in Western and Choiseul provinces, with about 1,300 houses expected to be rebuilt under a national shelter-recovery programme. Chairman of the National Disaster Council and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Climate...
The post Gov’t Sets to Rebuild Homes Destroyed by Cyclone Maila appeared first on In-depth Solomons .
BY TONY IROGA
A strong wind warning is now in place for seven provinces across the Solomon Islands waters today.
Solomon Islands Meteorological Service (SIMS) issued the warning at 7am today.
SIME said the Strong Wind Warning Number 238 is for waters of Temotu, Makira, Rennell/Bellona, Malaita, Russell Islands, and the southern waters of Western and Guadalcanal provinces.
SIMS said that a trough lies east of the country while a general southeast trade wind flow continues to blow over the islands.
Southeasterly winds are expected to reach 15 to 25 knots in the affected areas. Seas will be moderate to rough, with southeast swells reaching 2.5 to 3.0 meters, alongside poor visibility during showers and thunderstorms.
“People in those areas should take precautionary measures as such strong winds have the potential to impact lives and properties,” SIMS warned.
SIMS also advised coastal residents and boat owners to be careful and sea travellers are urged to consider safety actions as such winds can produce dangerous wave conditions hazardous to small boats.
Members of the public are requested to share this weather information with people with disabilities in their communities.
The next update will be issued by SIMS at 4pm today.
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BY DOUGLAS VAHIA
The Solomon Islands Meteorological Service (SIMS) has issued an Orange Alert for strong winds today, October 1, 2026, warning mariners and sea travellers that small boats are at high risk of capsizing in hazardous conditions.
According to SIMS, the Impact-Based Warning Number 236, was released at 7:00 am this morning following a persistent strong southeast wind flow across the region.
The Met Service has placed the following waters under an active Orange Alert; Temotu Province, Makira-Ulawa Province, Rennell and Bellona Province, Malaita Province, Southern waters of Western, Russell, and Guadalcanal Province.
From national meteorological hazard assessments, the likelihood of severe weather is “High” and the potential impact is “Significant”, placing the overall threat level at “High” (Take Action).
Coastal communities and sea travellers should anticipate the following hazards:
-Rough Seas-Ocean conditions will escalate to moderate-to-rough with moderate swells.
-Capsizing Risk- High swells present severe danger to small craft and OBMs (Outboard Motors), which are likely to capsize if operating in open waters.
-Reduced Visibility- Heavy rain showers and localised thunderstorms will severely limit sea visibility.
Members of the public, particularly banana-boat operators, fishermen, and inter-island travelers, are strongly advised to delay unnecessary sea voyages and take precautionary safety measures immediately.
Residents across affected provinces are urged to remain alert, monitor updates via the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC), and consult local media for ongoing emergency announcements.
The next impact-based weather warning from the Solomon Islands Meteorological Service is scheduled for release at 4:00pm this afternoon.
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BY JOSES SAREN
The Ministry of Communication and Aviation (MCA) officially opened its new US$5.77 million (about SBD$48 million) Aviation Complex Building today.
The complex, funded through the World Bank-supported Solomon Islands Roads and Aviation Project (SIRAP2), was constructed by China Railway Construction Engineering Group (CRCEG) over 652 days, beginning in December 2024.
Guests at the entrance of the new Aviation Complex after the handover ceremony photo credit- Joses Saren
The total contract value was US$5,771,547.68.
Minister for Communication and Aviation Frederick Kologeto said the new facility will end years of reliance on rented offices and allow government funds to be redirected to other services and programmes.
“Yearly, we spend about 2 million dollars on office rental.
“With the completion of this facility, these funds can now be redirected towards other critical services, strengthening our operations, and supporting further programs and projects within our country,” Kologeto said.
He said the investment will improve the use of public resources.
The new complex will bring several government agencies and divisions under one facility, including the Civil Aviation Authority of Solomon Islands (CAASI), National Computer Emergency Response Team, Digital Transformation Division and Communication Policy Division.
One of the new executive offices in the new building, photo credit- Joses Saren
Workstations inside the new complex, photo credit-Joses Saren
It will also provide dedicated space for Immigration, Customs and Biosecurity officers.
Kologeto said bringing the services together will improve coordination and the delivery of services in the aviation and communications sectors.
“Bringing these essential services together will strengthen coordination and improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and responsiveness of services required within the industry.
“The Aviation Complex is more than just a new office building; it is critical national infrastructure, ”he said.
World Bank Country Representative Bernard Harborne said the successful completion of the project demonstrates the government’s ability to deliver major infrastructure projects.
Harborne also said the World Bank is preparing to provide an additional US$40 million under SIRAP2.
“We’re just about to put an additional $40 million into that project given the way in which the Solomon Islands government and the project team are working so well,” he said.
Harborne said the new complex represents part of the country’s future development.
Kologeto also called on other ministries without permanent offices to consider investing in their own facilities to reduce long-term rental costs.
“I would like to take this opportunity to call on ministries that are yet to have permanent homes to seriously consider investment in their own office complexes,” he said.
“Acting Prime Minister... he got his own office complex. So do I. Why not the other ministries?”
The ceremony ended with a prayer, ribbon-cutting and a tour of the new facility for invited guests.
Photo credit: Joses Saren
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BY BEN BILUA
Gizo
WESTERN Province Premier Billy Veo has called on the Prime Minister to transfer a portion of the SBD75 million recovery allocation directly to the Western Provincial Government for immediate implementation.
In a letter to Prime Minister dated September 23, Veo said the Western Provincial Government (WPG) is the constitutionally established authority representing the people and communities of Western Province and with the capacity to deliver needed support.
He said the provincial government is also an important implementing partner of the National Government and has direct responsibility for the welfare and development of people in the province.
Veo said the SBD75 million recovery allocation should not be transferred to non-government organisations, private companies or other external implementing agencies without the direct involvement and oversight of the provincial government.
“External organisations may have an important supporting role where specialised technical expertise is requested and not to displace the role of the Provincial Government in planning, coordination, prioritising and overseeing recovery activities within its jurisdiction,” he said.
Veo said WPG has established administrative and financial systems necessary to receive, manage, implement and account for public funds.
He also pointed to the province’s Provincial Disaster Operations Management Committee and related provincial disaster management structures as existing mechanisms to coordinate recovery activities among affected communities, national agencies, development partners and other stakeholders.
Veo said direct provincial implementation will allow recovery activities to be coordinated more closely with the needs identified by affected communities.
He stressed that WPG is not seeking to bypass the National Government’s accountability requirements.
“On the contrary, the province is prepared to provide full financial and programme accountability for all funds received,” Veo said.
He said accountability measures could include detailed recovery implementation plans, approved budgets and work programmes, regular financial acquittals, procurement documentation, progress reports, monitoring and evaluation reports, and reports to the National Government and other relevant authorities.
Veo said people of Western Province should have clear information on who is responsible for the recovery programme, how much funding is available, where the funds are being spent and whether the intended results are being achieved.
The SBD75 million recovery allocation follows the impacts of recent disasters in Western Province and is intended to support recovery activities in affected communities.
Veo’s call now places emphasis on greater provincial involvement in the planning, coordination, implementation and oversight of the recovery programme.
Photo credit: Ben Bilua
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BY TONY IROGA
Coastal communities and sea travellers across multiple provinces are urged to take immediate safety precautions as strong winds and rough seas impact parts of the country.
The Solomon Islands Meteorological Service (SIMS) issued Strong Wind Warning Number 231 at 4pm today, highlighting hazardous maritime conditions driven by a persistent weather system.
According SIMS, the strong wind warning covers the waters of Temotu, Makira, Rennell/Bellona, East Malaita, and South Guadalcanal province.
“A trough lies northeast of the Solomon Islands while a general southeasterly trade wind flow persists over the country,” SIMS said.
Southeasterly winds are forecasted to reach 15 to 25 knots over the affected sea areas. Seas are expected to be moderate to rough, accompanied by moderate southeasterly swells ranging from 2.5 to 3.0 meters.
Visibility is also expected to drop significantly in areas experiencing heavy showers and thunderstorms.
SIMS warn that the anticipated conditions pose real risks to residents and boat operators in the target provinces.
“People in those areas should take precautionary measures as such strong winds have the potential to impact lives and properties,” SIMS advised.
SIMS said that sea travellers are urged to consider safety actions as such winds can produce dangerous wave conditions, hazardous to small boats.
SIMS also appeals to the public to ensure weather updates and safety warnings are shared with people living with disabilities in vulnerable coastal communities.
The next strong wind warning update will be issued at 7am tomorrow.
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BY TONY IROGA
An undersea earthquake with a magnitude of 4.9 that had struck near Vella Lavella Island in Western Province this morning has no tsunami threat to the Solomon Islands.
The Solomon Islands Meteorological Service (SIMS) confirmed this in a statement today.
“The tremor occurred at 9:47 am at a depth near Latitude 7.58 Degrees South and Longitude 156.14 Degrees East, positioning the epicentre roughly 40 kilometres west of Vella Lavella,” SIMS said.
SIMS officially issued a “No Tsunami Threat Statement” at 10:18 am today, reassuring the public that coastal areas are safe.
According to SIMS, no further updates will be released unless there is a significant change in the situation.
Photo credit: SIMS
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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
Western Province Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) and Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Eddie Ngava, has expressed deep gratitude following a SBD$25,000 charity donation from the Point Cruz Yacht Club (PCYC).
The funding is part of a larger SBD$65,000 package raised by PCYC during its annual fishing competition.
While the Tenaru Care Centre and Auki Care Centre each received SBD$20,000, the remaining SBD$25,000 was officially handed over to support communities devastated by Tropical Cyclone Maila.
Speaking in an exclusive interview, Mr. Ngava confirmed that the funds have been wired directly into the Western Province Government’s account.
“Because it originates from a charitable group, the money will be held in a special account. We are so happy. The Money will go towards certain areas in the Western Province that are really affected by the tropical cyclone Maila. The provincial government will sit and discuss how it should be dealt with,” Ngava said.
Responding to widespread public complaints regarding delayed relief from the national government and its stakeholders, Mr. Ngava acknowledged that public impatience and a lack of information are growing challenges.
“People are now impatient because it takes a long time, and things do not happen, or they happen at a smaller scale. Because of ignorance about what happens and when money will come, of course, people have to speak out,” Mr. Ngava explained.
However, he defended ongoing relief processes, explaining that official government procedures are inherently slow.
He urged affected communities to remain patient as local leaders work to manage the situation.
“If it is a government support, it will slow or take time, not fast as we might expect. We leaders are also trying to help our people understand how money is transacted and things worked out in such a situation,” he concluded.
[Photo: Western Province Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) and Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Eddie Ngava.]
作者:约翰·霍阿尼哈乌(JOHN HOUANIHAU)
西部省省议会成员(MPA)及公共账户委员会主席埃迪·恩伽瓦(Eddie Ngava)对来自点克鲁兹游艇俱乐部(PCYC)的25000澳元慈善捐款表示深深的感谢。
这笔资金是PCYC在其年度钓鱼比赛中筹集的65000澳元的一部分。
虽然特纳鲁关怀中心(Tenaru Care Centre)和奥基关怀中心(Auki Care Centre)各获得了20000澳元,但剩余的25000澳元则正式交给了支持受到热带气旋梅拉(Tropical Cyclone Maila)破坏的社区。
在一次独家采访中,恩伽瓦确认这笔资金已直接汇入西部省政府的账户。
“由于这笔资金来自一个慈善团体,因此将保存在一个特殊账户中。我们非常高兴。这笔钱将用于西部省受热带气旋梅拉严重影响的特定地区。省政府将召开会议讨论如何处理这笔资金,”恩伽瓦说。
针对公众对国家政府及其利益相关者救助延迟的广泛投诉,恩伽瓦承认公众的不耐烦和缺乏信息是日益增长的挑战。
“人们现在变得不耐烦,因为需要很长时间,事情没有发生,或者发生的规模较小。由于对发生的事情和资金何时到位的无知,人们当然会发声,”恩伽瓦解释道。
然而,他为持续的救助过程辩护,解释说官方政府程序本质上是缓慢的。
他呼吁受影响的社区保持耐心,因为地方领导正在努力管理这一情况。
“如果是政府支持,速度会慢或需要时间,而不是我们可能期望的那样快。我们领导者也在努力帮助我们的人民理解资金是如何交易的,以及在这种情况下事情是如何处理的,”他总结道。
[照片:西部省省议会成员(MPA)及公共账户委员会主席埃迪·恩伽瓦。]
Island SunDisasters & Weather灾害与天气·2026-09-27Original ↗原文 ↗