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For the second time in a year, an abandoned narco-sub has washed ashore in the Solomon Islands, baffling authorities and residents alike. Reported byGina Maka’a, In-Depth SolomonsDan McGarry, OCCRP It has been three weeks since a narco-sub was spotted drifting in the turquoise waters off this remote Pacific nation, and…
Key findings: by Ronald Toito’ona Thousand Ships Bay, located on the southern coast of Isabel Province, was once a place of life, culture, and abundance. Its clear waters and rich marine life fed generations and connected communities. Now it stands on the brink of ecological collapse. At the heart of…
Snyder Rini, Solomon Islands’ shortest-serving Prime Minister and one of its longest-serving parliamentarians, has died at the age of 77. Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele officially announced Rini’s passing in Parliament this afternoon, describing him as a statesman who served with distinction and dedication throughout his career. In his obituary statement,…
Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has downplayed reports of a renewed plot to bring down the Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT), following media claims of a “Third Wave” motion of no confidence. According to the Solomon Star, the Solomon Islands People First Party (SIPFP) has been actively working on…
by Georgina Maka’a Five Years of Hope, Now Disappointment Five years ago, a wave of optimism swept through Malaita Province in the Solomon Islands. People gathered at street corners, market areas, and in villages, buzzing with anticipation about a transformative program backed by one of the world’s superpowers. The Strengthening Competitiveness,…
by Ronald Toito’ona Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has confirmed that the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) will take full command of security operations during the upcoming 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting, scheduled for 8–12 September in Honiara. He told Journalists, after witnessing a police capability demonstration at Rove…
Organised crime exploits island nations’ vulnerabilities Pacific nations must urgently strengthen maritime enforcement as criminal networks deliberately exploit geographic vulnerabilities, generating unprecedented trafficking of drugs across the region. The Oceania Customs Organisation (OCO) says detection rates remain critically low amongst its 24 member countries, with organised crime generating NZ$1.6 billion(bn) (approximately…
A viral video about Nice 1 Rice, distributed by Unique Enterprise Limited, has caused serious damage to the company—resulting in more than SBD $1 million in lost orders and the temporary closure of its warehouse in Honiara. Last week, a video circulated on social media showing staff repacking wet rice…
by Ronald Toito’ona The dream of seeing a Solomon Islands footballer play in current Australia’s elite A-League may soon become a reality, as momentum builds around new partnerships and development pathways between Solomon Islands and Football Australia. Speaking to local journalists in Canberra earlier this month, Heather Garriock, Interim Chief…
The Biosecurity Solomon Islands (BSI) has imposed an SBD$25,000 non-compliance penalty on a company that unlawfully imported 23 bottles of honey (500g each) and 17 boxes of salted eggs from China – a breach to the national biosecurity laws. A statement from the Ministry of Agriculture & Livestock (MAL) said,…
