SHORTLAND ISLANDS CONSTITUENCY CLOSES 2025 DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION WITH RECORD DELIVERY 

The Shortland Islands Constituency Office, under the leadership of its Member of Parliament Honourable Isikeli Vave Jnr, concludes the delivery of its 2025 Constituency Development programme, marking the single largest distribution the constituency has ever received.

The delivery, which began early this month, is the third and final shipment following two earlier deliveries in the final quarter of 2025 and in early 2026.

This brings to completion the constituency’s full 2025 CDF allocation of $5 million, comprising $3.2 million under the CDF Preferred Supplier Arrangement (PSA) component and $1.8 million as grant, in line with the CDF Act 2023.

Project delivery is being overseen by Constituency Project Officer Jonathan Levo and Constituency Development Committee (CDC) Secretary Killian Pule.

Constituency Development Officer (CDO) Bernard Vave said the shipment covers projects across the four categories required under the CDF Act 2023: Productive and Resource Sector, Essential Services, Cross-Sectoral, and Social and Cultural.

Items include building and hardware materials for households and community projects, along with 57 boats and 57 outboard motor engines (OBMs) to support local transport, fishing, and economic activity across the constituency. Of these 57 boats and engines, 16 boats and OBMs were funded at $1.5 million by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) under the Rural Sustainable Development Programme (RSDP), implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development (MRD).

Key items in the delivery include:

• 30 x 60hp outboard motor engines (OBMs); 11 x 40hp OBMs; 16 x 15hp OBMs
• 12 x 19ft, 12 x 23ft, and 12 x 12ft ray boats; 2 x 23ft and 4 x 16ft open boats; 170 glass canoes
• 40 water tanks; 15 solar freezers; 1 solar-powered walk-in cool room (10 solar panels)
• 2,606 bags of cement; 3,268 pieces of 12mm x 14ft steel rod; 1,980 pieces of 6mm x 14ft steel rod
• 1,500 sheets of plywood; 500 rolls (100m) of PPC/poly pipe; 300 gold pans; 20,000 poly bags
• 5 grass cutters; 24 wild boar traps; 1 electric cattle fence system (1 hectare)
• 500 frames / 1,500 cartons of louvre frames and glass; 5 x 3-tonne chain blocks
• 1 brick-making machine; 1 borehole drilling machine; 1 reverse-osmosis (desalination) machine
  

  art of the cool room/storage facility.

Honourable Isikeli Vave Jnr described the delivery as a defining moment for the constituency, noting that its scale – particularly the Mono Island cool room/storage facility and the constituency’s first desalination machine, was unprecedented and a testament to what can be achieved through collective effort.

He thanked the Solomon Islands Government, through MRD, for making CDF funding available to the constituency, as well as the PRC for its support through the Rural Sustainable Development Programme (RSDP).

He urged Shortland Islanders to make full use of the projects for the benefit of their families and communities, and called on residents to take ownership of the resources and work together to build a brighter future.

Meanwhile, CDO Vave said communities and beneficiaries were delighted to receive their projects, which are intended to improve social and economic livelihoods, and thanked the people of Shortland Islands for their patience and support throughout the delivery process.

He also acknowledged the MRD for its continued support in implementing the 2025 CDF-funded projects, and extended appreciation to the Member of Parliament and the constituents of Shortland Islands for their ongoing support.

CDO Vave confirmed that 2026 projects will be delivered once funding is allocated by the national government.

MRD’s Permanent Secretary John Misite’e, while congratulating Shortland Islands Constituency on the milestone, acknowledged Honourable Vave’s leadership in ensuring funds are utilized effectively to benefit rural communities.

PS Misite’e also thanked constituency officers for their tireless efforts in implementing the CDF program and ensuring projects reach intended beneficiaries.

He said that despite the country’s geographical spread and other work-related challenges, officers have continued to prove their resolve by delivering priority programs to rural communities over the years.

PS Misite’e added that despite limited resources, the government remains committed to supporting constituency offices to advance rural development and improve lives in remote communities.

The Constituency Development Fund (CDF) is the financing component of the Solomon Islands Government’s Constituency Development Programme, administered by the Ministry of Rural Development and implemented across 50 constituencies nationwide.

The Ministry’s vision is to empower Solomon Islanders toward self-sufficiency, improved livelihoods, and sustainable development.

Project delivery is ongoing in the constituency, coordinated by members of the Shortland Islands Constituency Development Committee (CDC), constituency officers, and community leaders.

Projects loading in Honiara prior to departure to the constituency.

Boats during loading of projects in Honiara.

Projects handed over to recipients from the Shortland communities in Noro.

A solar deep freezer project handed over to recipient from the Shortland communities in Ringi.

A project recipient signs off a project release form from MRD as part of the requirement under the CDF Act 2023, witnessed by CDC Secretary Killian Pule.

A project recipient receives his cattle fence system project.

Part of the 57 boats and engines during handover last Friday.

Part of the project deliveries.

A happy recipient receives her new water tank from CPO Jonathan Levo.

Part of the 57 boats and engines during handover last Friday.

A project recipient receives his housing building materials from CDP Jonathan Levo.

Projects handed over to recipients from the Shortland communities in Gizo.

During the boats and engines handover program at Nila Station last Friday.

The constituency office also assists Saint Annes Rural Training Centre (RTC Nila) in the Shortland Islands with donation of essential supplies to assist in its recovery following the impacts of Cyclone Maila. Supplies include 3 glass canoes, 3 paddles, 2 sewing machines and 100 cartons of noodles.

Part of the project deliveries.

– MRD Press