WESTERN provincial government and Gizo Town Council have been called to address the waste problems at Gizo market. Markets vendors and residents are calling for improved waste management solutions to maintain cleanliness and hygiene. They urged the local authorities to take immediate action, including increasing waste collection, providing more bins, and enforcing proper disposal measures.…
Last month, I was contacted by Martha and Timothy Matzke from the Summer Institute of Linguistics (Pacific-based), who sought my insights on the theme for this year’s International Mother Language Day: “Taking Our Languages into the Future.” At the time, I was preoccupied with preparations for my move to New Zealand, making it a particularly…
A day’s training to equip parliamentary officials in Solomon Islands on effective media relations was held this week. The objective was to equip parliamentary officers with strategies for effective media relations, enabling them to communicate clearly and accurately with the media on the activities of parliament. The focused workshop would also help parliament officials sharpen…
Piggery farmers in Malaita Province are complaining of the high costs of pig’s feeds in Auki. This came after a 40-kilogram bag of mill-run feed costs $200, while a 20-kilogram bag of copra meal costs $100. Franklyn Tiko, a local piggery farmer at Gelabu village in West Kwara’ae constituency, said the high cost of pig…
THE West Kwara’ae Constituency Office has assisted students attending 16 secondary schools and Rural Training Centres (RTC) with part of their tuition last week. This initiative is part of the constituency’s commitment not only to support parents and students but also to invest in school development activities. A parent from Laugwata Community High School, Severino…
The iconic Gizo seafront in Western province is rapidly eroding as rising tides continue to eat away the shoreline, causing increasing concerns for local residents and businesses.Coastal erosion has become more visible in recent months, with king tides flooding parts of the waterfront and damaging structures along the shoreline.Gizo community members said the situation is…
TSI: On the 11th of February, 2025, Transparency International launched the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) of 180 countries and territories around the world including Solomon Islands. The CPI score measures the perceived levels of public sector corruption (the Machinery of Government perceived corruption levels). The scores reflect the viewers of experts and surveys from businesspeople…
The “Helpem Smolwan Skul Gud” project aims to enhance literacy among primary school children in Western Province, providing a foundation for future literacy initiatives. Through reading clubs, the distribution of quality educational materials, and active engagement with parents and the community to support children’s reading activities, the project is empowering schools in Gizo and surrounding…
In a proactive push to address the ongoing plastic waste crisis and its detrimental effects on drainage systems, Chairlady Namoi Kaluae of The Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) is urging all relevant stakeholders to enforce the existing plastic ban with greater diligence and urgency. As urban areas continue to face significant drainage…
The Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology’s Environment and Conservation division (ECD) is taking the use of less than 1.5L plastic water bottles, an item banned under the Environment Single Use Plastic Ban Regulation 2023 at the recent Miss Pacific Islands Pageant (MPIP) seriously. This is after members of the public have…