Unearthing stories that matters |
by Michael E. Miller (OCCRP) and Carmel N. Pilotti (OCCRP) A Pacific island’s president bypassed an official selection process when he chose an Indian company to reopen a multi-billion dollar mine. He told OCCRP the firm’s managing director offered to pay for his wife’s kidney transplant but insisted it had…
by Georgina Maka’a & Ronald Toito’ona Once called Solomon Islands’ least developed province, the logging industry was sold as the catalyst for change for Makira-Ulawa province. Instead, with 75% of loggable trees already harvested, the industry has left a legacy of unfulfilled promises. For decades, Makira-Ulawa has been forgotten by…
Internal documents reveal that prosecutors in Solomon Islands found “sufficient evidence” to suspend and charge Deputy Police Commissioner Ian Vaevaso for allegedly improperly disposing of drug evidence. But a bureaucratic impasse has frozen the case — and he’s in line to become commissioner. by Charley Piringi (In-depth Solomons) and Dan…
by Ednal Palmer and Ofani Eremae When former Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare launched the Mamara Township Development Project in May 2021, he invoked hope and national expectation. After more than 25 years of waiting for a transformative foreign investment, Sogavare told the nation its future city was finally arriving – a…
by Georgina Maka’a & Ofani Eremae At Korona Market, east of Honiara, controversial Bangladeshi retailers appear to have carved out a niche. They are doing it quietly and without fanfare. No promotion, no shop signage — just basic warehouse-style buildings packed with household goods, manned by imported Bangladeshi male workers.…
Fugitive Ponzi schemer Noah Musingku reigns over an armed “cargo cult” deep in the interior of one of the world’s most isolated islands. OCCRP went to investigate how he had attracted an international following at the fringes of conspiracy culture. Reported by Aubrey Belford (OCCRP), Torbjörn Wester Emerging from an…
Climate Change and Mining Threaten Livelihoods of Wagina villagers by Charley Piringi For the people of Wagina, a small Micronesian community at the eastern end of Choiseul Province, Solomon Islands, the ocean is not just a part of life; it’s a living. Villagers, of Kiribati descent, have parlayed their traditional…
Decking: When COVID-19 struck Solomon Islands in 2020, it sent shockwaves through an already fragile economy, cutting off trade, tourism, and jobs. In response, the Sogavare-led DCGA government turned to what it believed could drive a quick economic recovery: mining. Key Points– Siruka nickel mine approved under “fast-tracking policy,” sparking…
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…
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,…
You must be logged in to post a comment.