August 27, 2026
The People’s Republic of China
(PRC), in partnership with the Ministry of Rural Development
(MRD), on 19 August 2026, officially handed over
Solar-powered Street Lights project worth $1.5 million to
communities in East Honiara Constituency (EHC).
This
generous support was made possible through the PRC-funded
Rural Sustainable Development Program (RSDP), being
implemented by MRD. The official handover program was held
at the Norman Palmer School at Gilbert Camp, East
Honiara.
The project include 400 units of
Solar-powered Street Light components installed in various
communities across the constituency (EHC), bringing light to
communities, improving safety and creating a better safe
environment for men, women, girls and boys.
This
significant support is part of the PRC’s ongoing
commitment through RSDP to sustainable development and
empowering communities through strategic assistance projects
that drive long-term improvements to livelihoods and
self-sufficiency across the Solomon Islands.
Speaking
at the handover ceremony, the Member of Parliament for East
Honiara Constituency and the Minister for Health and Medical
Services Honourable Morris Toiraena, said the project was
about far more than infrastructure.
“Today is about
bringing light to our communities, improving the safety of
our people, and creating a better environment for our men,
women, girls and boys,” Hon. Toiraena said.
Minister
Toiraena said the new lighting would make a tangible
difference in daily life across the constituency, giving
commuters greater visibility on their way to work, school,
church and market; giving women and girls greater confidence
and security moving through their communities; creating
safer public spaces for young people; and bringing families
greater peace of mind.
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“This project is not simply
about installing lights. It is about illuminating
opportunity. It is about strengthening community safety. And
it is about improving the quality of life of our people,”
he said.
Hon. Toiraena on behalf of the people of East
Honiara extended deep gratitude to the People and Government
of the People’s Republic of China, the Chinese Embassy, and
all who worked to make the project possible, describing
China as “a true friend and development partner to Solomon
Islands.”
He said East Honiara looked forward to
continuing a close and constructive relationship with China,
with both sides working together to identify further
opportunities to improve the lives of residents and support
the constituency’s development.
The Minister also
recognised the efforts and hard work of the installation
team who worked along roads and in difficult conditions
across East Honiara to install the 400 lights, as well as
the community leaders, volunteers and officers who supported
the project.
“Your work may not always receive the
attention it deserves, but today we acknowledge you. This
achievement belongs to you as well,” he said.
Hon.
Toiraena emphasised that the lights belong to the people of
East Honiara, not to the Member of Parliament, the
constituency office, or any individual, and called on every
community and beneficiary to protect them from vandalism,
theft and damage, and to report anyone attempting to
interfere with the lights or their
components.
“Development is also about taking
ownership and protecting what we have received,” he
said.
He added that the lights symbolised more than
infrastructure. “This light represents friendship. It
represents cooperation. It represents hope. And it
represents our shared commitment to building a better future
for our people,” he said, expressing hope that the project
would strengthen ties between the people of Solomon Islands
and China and open the door to further
cooperation.
“Let us keep East Honiara moving
forward. Let us keep East Honiara shining,” he
said.
Meanwhile, Counsellor Li Qinghua of the Chinese
Embassy congratulated East Honiara Constituency office and
beneficiary communities on receiving the project.
She
said “since the establishment of diplomatic relations
between China and Solomon Islands in 2019, our two countries
have built a practical and productive partnership across
many sectors including health, education, infrastructure
developments, agriculture and people-to-people exchanges in
short term trainings and scholarship in
China.
“Today’s handover is not merely the delivery
of hardware. It reflects a shared vision of safety,
security, and strong partnership,” Ms Li said.
She
added that beyond Solomon Islands’ major infrastructure
projects, such as telecommunications towers and Auki Road
project, China also places great emphasis on smaller, smart
initiatives such as the RSDP programme.
Counsellor Li
also expressed appreciation to the Permanent Secretary of
the Ministry of Rural Development and his officers for their
continued support.
“From the outset, our focus has
been on ensuring that the benefits of this project reach
communities directly, and today’s solar light project stands
as a testament to that commitment to social and economic
development.
“…these solar lights will light your
way home at night, and will contribute to greater safety and
security within your communities. They stand as a further
reflection of our shared partnership. I wish for the
friendship and partnership between China and Solomon Islands
to last forever,” she concluded.
Community leaders
and constituents of East Honiara also expressed gratitude to
the MP Hon. Morris Toiraena, the constituency office, MRD,
PRC Embassy in Honiara, Honiara City Councillors especially
for Wards in East Honiara and the people of East Honiara for
their collaborative efforts in delivering the
project.
Constituency Development Officer (CDO)
Stanley Araha explained that the Constituency’s Solar
Street Lights Project is a four-phase initiative to install
400 solar-powered street lights across East Honiara. Funded
by China under the RSDP programme, the project aims to
improve public safety and road visibility, starting with the
main road before extending into surrounding feeder roads and
communities.
“Phase 1 has been successfully completed,
with 100 units installed covering Panatina, Lio Ridge, Lio
Valley, Jackson Ridge, Koboto Market, and Lau Valley SDA
Church and surrounding ridge. Phase 2 is currently underway,
installing a further 100 units across April Valley, Kwaio
Valley, Lau Valley 2, Kobito, Gilbert Camp, Okwala, Aekafo,
and Lau Valley Primary School. Phases 3 and 4 will follow,
bringing the project to its full target of 400
units.”
“Implementation has faced several
challenges, including limited space between roads and
residential boundaries, resistance from some residents to
having poles sited near their property, and large trees
along the road reducing solar charging efficiency, Araha
said.
Despite these constraints, he added, the project
team is actively addressing them through community
engagement and vegetation clearance, and work is progressing
well.
Araha thanked the PRC, the MRD, MP Morris
Toiraena, and the communities and individuals involved in
the project’s implementation.
The RSDP is a
partnership programme between the PRC and the Solomon
Islands Government through the Ministry of Rural
Development. Since 2023, China has actively supported RSDP,
which is proposal-based and jointly implemented by MRD and
the Chinese Embassy.
The programme aligns with China’s
Global Development Initiative, including the Belt and Road
Initiative, and supports Solomon Islands’ National
Development Strategy (NDS) 2016–2035.
RSDP primarily
targets rural and semi-urban communities, aiming to
strengthen social and economic infrastructure, promote
income-generating activities, and address food security and
climate
resilience.
