Solomon Islands

RIPEL boasts over 800 hectares of Cocoa planted lands on the Russell Islands and in Guadalcanal.

The trees are mature and producing cocoa already for the export market.

Currently, they are being managed by various local landowners and selling at very low prices to local traders in the market.

Taking back these lands and rehabilitating the trees to ensure maximum production would be part of the initial 6 months strategy.

This will help support immediate cash flows and better job opportunities.

Initial funding allocated to the project will include the setting up of cocoa drying and processing facilities on the islands.

The aim is to produce upwards of 1000 tonnes of organic cocoa yearly within the first 3 years and then to grow this significantly over 10 years.  All for the export market.

The adoption of an out-growers program will be used to help increase the production.

RIPEL Support 1 Sept 2016

Prior to 2002, the Russell Islands had its own resort located near to Yandina.  This was a regular tourist destination for people visiting the Solomon Islands due to the great diving offered, which included World War 2 relics in the deeper waters.

Resorts were also located on other islands, one of which included a 9-hole golf course.

Re-establishing tourism on the Russell Islands would quickly create revenue while establishing new opportunities and supporting employment.

Recently, the Solomon Islands has sparked interest as a child-free haven. Of course, children aren’t barred from visiting the country, but travel for youngsters is potentially problematic due to the lack of kid’s clubs and nanny facilities as well as the prolific involvement of hiking and small boat transfers throughout the holiday destination. It is mainly due to these reasons that the Solomon Islands is claimed to be an ‘adult’s paradise’.

The Solomon Islands is one of the few Pacific nations that remains a traditional destination. The indigenous communities of the Solomons refuse to lose their ‘kastom’ (physical, cultural and spiritual customs and practices) in balancing development and authentic island life. This see’s it being well suited to mature travellers.

It is also a destination characterised by romantic seclusion. Offering accommodation in traditional bungalows with modern facilities, less the Wi-Fi and TV. Couples can disconnect with the world of social media and reconnect with each other, whilst truly enjoying the snorkelling, fishing, kayaking, wakeboarding, spa treatments and traditional village experiences on offer. The Solomon Islands is ideal for honeymoons and couple’s retreats.

The Solomons Islands is home to some of the best diving and snorkelling site world-wide, with stimulating and distinctive locations. Day-trips and extended tours are operated by several companies, offering coral gardens, wall diving, drift diving and World War II wreck dives. The clear, warm water is home to eels, dolphins, dugongs, sharks, colourful fans, neon sea slugs and endless reef fish.

Surfing is another pull to the destination with a plethora of quiet reef breaks. These top surfing spots are said to be best between October and April, with winds ensuring conditions are ideal.

The Solomon Islands is home to memorials, museums and rusting military hardware that tells the story of the 1942 and 1943 bloody naval, air and land battles of World War II. The jungle still hosts jeeps, tanks and the caves where the Japanese were dug in. The US War Memorial and Japanese Peace Memorial tell the story of a horrific battle. This part of the Solomon Islands history appeals to not only historians and the families of those who fought, but tourists and locals alike.

LEMCO CEO, Aaron T Cassar, has experience working within the Solomon Islands through his hands-on involvement in a sustainable development project and assistance with raising 4 million dollars for this. Through this project, he utilised his business development expertise to help develop rural economies into producing high quality exportable products for the organic, health food and Pharmaceutical and Nutra-ceutical markets worldwide.

The Solomon Islands project was focused on its objective to set the Solomon Islands up to be a key production place for Organically Grown Produce, Livestock Farming and Crab Farming, supported by Agri-Tourism.  To create real growth in the region by attracting overseas investment into land banking for organic farming.

To do this Aaron Cassar ensured rural community engagement played a key role. He identified:

• Working in rural area requires regular engagement and discussions with all members of the com
• Economic development involves educating communities about the importance of supporting new initiatives and learning new skill sets.
• Taking responsibility and planning for future generations.

This project saw the first investment for development in East Fataleka. Aaron was also involved in the clearing and preparation of the bay area in Ambe for commercial use, including building an access ramp over approximately 150 metres in length that could withstand rough seas. This took over 4 months of dedicated work.

Additionally, a road to the bay area was built, joining other established roads. This joins over 15 kilometres of roads and 3 bridges which have been built for sustainable development projects. We know that good quality roads are the real basis of any rural economic development.

Permanent structures were built for the use of management, to oversee the development. To attract qualified persons to come and support agricultural development, foresight was taken to invest into setting up adequate accommodation.

Employment of local people injected over SBD80,000 per fortnight into the rural economy with a good portion being used for improving housing standards. The building of new housing is a real testament of the progress that has already started in the lands of East Fataleka. Quality of housing is better than that of average locals in Honiara. People have also been afforded the opportunity to send milled timber back to Honiara for building of homes for family members also.

Aaron Cassar has already begun the development process in the Solomon Islands, with his leadership and experience LEMCO can encourage further sustainable development, with a long-term focus. This ensures the improved livelihoods of local indigenous communities.