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SI Community News and Issues, Honiara (2026)

13/08/2026

PARLIAMENT DEFERS CONSIDERATION OF SUPPLEMENTARY APPROPRIATION BILLS OVER OUTSTANDING REPORTS

Parliament has deferred consideration of the 2025 and 2026 Supplementary Appropriation Bills after the required reports were not tabled in the House on Thursday.

Finance and Treasury Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo had moved both Bills for their second reading before Speaker of the National Parliament John Patteson Oti informed the House that Parliament could not proceed until the reports were formally tabled.

The 2025 Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2026 seeks to regularise 109.7 million dollars in expenditure incurred during the 2025 financial year.

Mr Lilo said the expenditure included 2.5 million dollars incurred under contingency warrants and 107.3 million dollars under advance warrants.

Mr Lilo said the 109.7 million dollars in supplementary expenditure was distributed across several sectors.

Around 25.6 million dollars was spent in the social sector, supporting provincial and church health authorities, rural water, sanitation and hygiene projects, mass immunisation and provincial infrastructure projects.

The productive sector received approximately 18.8 million dollars, supporting agricultural investments, market and nutrition projects, cybersecurity, provincial airport upgrades and the Bina Harbour tuna processing plant project.

A further 21.7 million dollars was allocated to the resource sector as budget support for implementation of the Tina River Hydropower Development Project.

Mr Lilo commended the Public Accounts Committee for its scrutiny of the 2026 Supplementary Appropriation Bill, and thanked the committee secretariat, government officials and ministries that participated in the hearings.

He then commended the 2025 Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2026 to Parliament for consideration and debate.

However, following the Minister’s presentation, Speaker John Patteson Oti informed the House that the required reports had not yet been tabled.

Read more: https://www.sibconline.com.sb/parliament-defers-consideration-of-supplementary-appropriation-bills-over-outstanding-reports/

12/08/2026

SIFF ANNOUNCES 20-MAN BILIKIKI TRAINING SQUAD FOR TAHITI

The Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) has announced a 20-man training squad for the national beach soccer team, the Bilikiki, as preparations begin for the OFC Beach Soccer Men’s Nations Cup 2026.

The tournament will be held in Tahiti from October 22 to 31, with the Bilikiki now set to begin their preparations for the regional competition.

The 20 players selected for the training squad will compete for places in the final team that will represent Solomon Islands at the tournament.

The Bilikiki are expected to step up their training in the coming weeks as they work towards the OFC Beach Soccer Men’s Nations Cup.

The coaching team has called on the selected players to remain focused, work hard and make the most of the opportunity to represent Solomon Islands on the international stage.

Read more at Solomon Star News: https://www.solomonstarnews.com/siff-announces-20-man-bilikiki-training-squad-for-tahiti/

11/08/2026

AUKI POLICE FACE UNDERSTAFFING AFFECTING NORMAL OPERATIONS

The Malaita Provincial Police Force is facing a serious shortage of personnel and essential equipment, affecting its ability to respond effectively to emergencies and other serious matters across the province.

The understaffing issue was highlighted following a recent fire that engulfed a permanent house at Sikitae last week, raising concerns over the capacity of emergency services to respond promptly to incidents.

Speaking to the paper, Malaita Provincial Police Commander, Superintendent Michael Ramosaea said the province urgently needs more police officers across key departments, including traffic, fire and general response teams.

He said additional officers are needed to strengthen police operations and ensure communities, particularly those in rural areas, receive timely services during emergencies.

He said the Auki Police Station currently has only about 60 officers, which is not enough to effectively cover the growing needs of the province.

He said between 200 and 400 additional police officers will be required, along with at least two fire trucks and other essential equipment, to strengthen police operations.

“When we talk about full-service operations to serve our people, we need more officers here in Auki.

“If possible, we should have around 300 to 500 police officers and essential equipment,” he said.

He said emphasised that manpower, vehicles and equipment will significantly improve the Malaita Provincial Police Force’s ability to respond to emergencies and provide effective policing services to communities across the province.

Read more: https://theislandsun.com.sb/auki-police-face-understaffing-affecting-normal-operations/

10/08/2026

COURT AWARDS $62M OVER LOGGING DAMAGE

The High Court has awarded $62 million in damages to the Kolomola, Alualu and Tuseli communities of Hograno Highlands District, Isabel Province, for environmental and cultural damage caused by unlawful logging operations on Konide customary land.

The damages were awarded to Sandra Thegna, the claimant in Civil Case No. 240 of 2025, who brought the case in her representative capacity on behalf of the three communities.

The defendants in the case were Isabel Timber Company Limited and King Solomon Development Limited.

In his ruling on the assessment of damages delivered this month, Judge Augustine Aulanga said, “The Court finalises and confirms the quantum of damages at $62,000,000.00.

“That sum is to be paid jointly and severally by the First and Second Defendants, consistent with their joint responsibility for the unlawful logging operations found to have caused the harm the subject of this assessment.”

The Court also found that their logging operations caused significant damage and nuisance to the three communities and unlawfully interfered with their customary riparian rights and prescriptive easements.

The case concerned logging activities on Konide customary land, where the affected communities rely on rivers, streams, forests and gardens for drinking water, fishing, gardening and other subsistence activities.

The waterways identified in the proceedings included the Khou Kolomola Stream, Pepegu Waterfalls, Kaipito River, Sirakura Stream, Labe Stream, Gonogano Stream and Qwara Stream.

The Court found evidence of pollution and sedimentation of waterways, logging and skidding within protected buffer zones, destruction of vegetation and damage to gardens.

The evidence also included allegations of damage to culturally significant sites, including graves and historical village and church sites at Gabusiro and Kukufi.

Judge Aulanga said the award was compensatory and not punitive, and was intended to restore the affected communities, as far as money could, to the position they would have been in had the unlawful logging not occurred.

He also rejected the argument that the amount was excessive simply because of its size, noting that large-scale logging operations could cause correspondingly large-scale environmental damage.

The Court said the destruction and desecration of burial and worship sites represented an intangible but real loss to the communities because of the deep ancestral, spiritual and communal significance of customary land.

The $62 million award will be paid to Sandra Thegna in her representative capacity for the benefit of the three communities.

The Court did not determine how the money should be distributed among the communities or their individual members.

Read more at Solomon Star News: https://www.solomonstarnews.com/court-awards-62m-over-logging-damage/

09/08/2026

GLASGOW LESSONS

Team Solomon has returned home from the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games without a medal, but the national team believes the experience has provided valuable lessons for the future development of Solomon Islands sport.

The team’s return brings an end to its campaign in Scotland, where Solomon Islands athletes competed against some of the Commonwealth’s leading competitors across their respective sporting disciplines.

In a statement issued through its official social media platform, Iumi Team Solomon said the Glasgow experience had given the country’s athletes valuable exposure to international competition while also highlighting areas that need further improvement.
“Although Team Solomon did not return with a medal, the Games provided invaluable experience competing against some of the world’s best athletes,” the statement said.

For several members of the team, Glasgow also provided an opportunity to test themselves on the Commonwealth stage for the first time, while others produced personal-best performances during their campaigns.

The performances are being viewed as an encouraging indication of progress, despite the absence of a podium finish.

Read more: https://theislandsun.com.sb/glasgow-lessons/

09/08/2026

"NO MORE SECRECY": PEOPLE MUST KNOW WHAT BINDS THE NATION: PM

Prime Minister Hon. Matthew Wale says there will be ‘no more secrecy’ on agreements that bind the nation.

At the same time, he announced a review of the security agreement with China has commenced, calling on the Leader of Opposition to support the review.

Prime Minister Wale said the review is grounded in a simple but critical principle and that is transparency to Parliament and accountability to the people of Solomon Islands.

He stressed that the issue goes beyond politics and speaks directly to national sovereignty.

The Prime Minister said sovereignty does not belong to the Government of the day.

He said it belongs to the people of Solomon Islands and it is expressed through this House.

The Prime Minister said the review will ensure that all security agreements are transparent, accountable and fully aligned with the national interest.

Read more: https://www.sibconline.com.sb/no-more-secrecy-people-must-know-what-binds-the-nation-pm/

07/08/2026

'FREE EDUCATION FOR ALL BEGINS IN 2027'

The Solomon Islands Government will roll out its long-awaited Free Education Policy nationwide in 2027, a major commitment from the government which aims to remove financial burden on families and ensure that every child has equal access to education.

Moving the motion in Parliament this week, Prime Minister Matthew Cooper Wale said free education is a national reform that has been discussed in Parliament for many years and is now becoming a reality.

“This policy did not begin with this government. The case for free education has been made in this house for many years, first under the Sikua-led Government,” Prime Minister Wale told Parliament.

“We all know the burden parents carry. Some pay several times their annual income to keep one child in school. Many must choose which of their children will be educated. That is the injustice this policy ends,” he said.

Wale stressed that free education is not a stand-alone initiative but forms part of the government’s long-term economic transformation agenda.

Read more: https://theislandsun.com.sb/free-education-for-all-begins-in-2027/

06/08/2026

EVERY SOLOMON ISLANDER TO GET NATIONAL ID CARD AS GOVT INTRODUCES NEW BIRTH, DEATH REGISTRATION LAW

The Minister for Home Affairs Rev Manasseh Maelanga said every Solomon Islander will get a national ID card.

He made the announcement whilst responding to the Governor-General’s Speech from the Throne on Tuesday in parliament.

Maelanga said the government will introduce a Civil Registration Bill to support the new identification system.

He said the bill will create a legal framework that will cater to the registration of births, deaths and other vital life events.

Maelanga said the framework reflects international best practice and will meet the unique needs of Solomon Islands.

He said a trusted national identity system is a cornerstone of modern governance and should improve access to government services and strengthen electoral integrity and also enhance national security and support financial inclusion.

The minister added that areas there will also be improvement in areas like disaster response and service delivery.

He said the ministry will work with development partners, provincial governments and other stakeholders on this initiative.

Maelanga said this is to ensure the rollout is inclusive, secure and accessible to all citizens.

Read: https://theislandsun.com.sb/every-solomon-islander-to-get-national-id-card-as-govt-introduces-new-birth-death-registration-law/

05/08/2026

BOOST FOR COAST

Central Coast FC will head into next week’s OFC Men’s Champions League in Fiji with renewed confidence after bolstering their squad with nine players from Solomon Kings FC, despite having only limited time to prepare for the Oceania’s premier club football tournament.

According to an official team profile released recently by OFC Media, the reigning Telekom S-League champions have significantly strengthened their squad with players who featured for Solomon Kings FC during the inaugural OFC Pro League season earlier this year.

Among the notable additions are Solomon Islands internationals Rafa Lea’i, Bobby Leslie, Javin Wae and Junior David, whose professional experience is expected to provide a major lift as Central Coast target a deep run in the regional competition.

However, head coach Jacob Moli admitted that the side enters the tournament with little competitive preparation after the domestic Telekom S-League only recently got underway.

“The S-League has only just started, and we’ve had only one match to see where we are at the moment,” Moli said.

One player expected to play a key role is star forward Rafa Lea’i, who returns to the OFC Men’s Champions League after spending recent seasons playing professionally overseas before joining Solomon Kings in the OFC Pro League.

Although he scored just once during the Pro League season, the 22-year-old remains one of the country’s most dangerous attackers, having netted 14 goals in 26 appearances for the Solomon Islands national team.

Read more: https://theislandsun.com.sb/boost-for-coast/

04/08/2026

RSIPF ARRESTS LIFETIME MURDER CONVICT FOLLOWING NEARLY THREE YEARS ON THE RUN

The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) has successfully arrested lifetime murder convict and prison escapee Hency Bosalia, who had been unlawfully at large since escaping from custody on 2 November 2023.

Following his escape, the RSIPF conducted multiple operations to locate and apprehend the accused.

Despite extensive efforts over an extended period, the breakthrough came through effective intelligence gathering, careful operational planning, strong inter-departmental cooperation, and disciplined ex*****on.

These combined efforts resulted in his successful apprehension and arrest on 20 July 2026.

Following his arrest, Bosalia has been returned to lawful custody and will continue serving his life sentence at the Correctional Service of Solomon Islands (CSSI) facility at Rove, Honiara.

The successful arrest highlights the effectiveness of intelligence-led policing and demonstrates the importance of coordinated operational planning, strong inter-unit collaboration, and disciplined ex*****on under challenging circumstances.

The RSIPF acknowledges the dedication and professionalism of all officers and community members involved in the operation, whose commitment ensured the successful apprehension of the escapee and reinforced public confidence in law enforcement.

Read more: https://www.sibconline.com.sb/rsipf-arrests-lifetime-murder-convict-following-nearly-three-years-on-the-run/

SI Community News and Issues

13/08/2026

12/08/2026

11/08/2026

10/08/2026

09/08/2026

09/08/2026

07/08/2026

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05/08/2026

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