A reconciliation ceremony was successfully held at Kolofe, Lau Mbaelelea constituency in North Malaita, on Tuesday, 23rd December 2025.
The ceremony was held following an incident that occurred on the morning of December 9th, when a foreign worker contracted under the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) was viciously slashed with a hook knife by thieves in what is believed to have been an attempt to steal stored food within the Kolofe camp premises.
The program featured the presentation of three traditional shell money (in the local dialect called “tau donga”): first, by an immediate family member of the suspects to the contractor; second, by local chiefs to the contractor; and third, by community and church leaders to representatives of the provincial and national governments.
The ongoing works on the Kolefe 1 and 2 bridges are funded by the World Bank and undertaken by CCECC under the Solomon Islands Road and Aviation Project II (SIRAP 2).
Gabriel Ri’ita, elder brother of one of the suspects, presented shell money to CCECC representative Tony Ran and expressed that it symbolized the bloodshed caused by the incident.
Standing in front of the contractor and the government delegation, Mr. Ri’ita said in tears, “We are truly sorry for what our brother did to one of your workers. His actions were his own and do not represent our family.”
He further conveyed their remorse over the attack and reassured support to help locate their brother in surrendering and facing the law for such a criminal act.
Chiefs’ representative Elson Labufunu, on behalf of Lau Mbaelelea tribal leaders, presented shell money (tafuli’ae) to the contractor representative and emphasized that this incident does not reflect the entire northern region but is an isolated case.
He reflected on the progress of the project since its inception, highlighting that all went smoothly until this incident that even troubled their minds, and condemned it, seeing the repercussion it caused.
He reaffirmed the community’s commitment to cooperating with the project teams until the completion of this critical road upgrade project.
Chief Labufunu also handed another shell money to government representatives, expressing apologies for the incident and seeking to mend the rift caused with project partners.
Church leader Jonathan Suri, who oversaw the program, expressed deep concern over the incident’s impact on the region’s reputation.
“This incident has caused pain and has unfairly stereotyped our community. We sincerely apologize to the contractor, project team, and provincial and national governments,” he said.
Mr. Ran, who is also the deputy project manager at Kolofe, accepted the apology and reaffirmed their determination to continue with the work, as this incident will not deter their team, who worked against project goal delivery.
“We understand this was an isolated incident. We have built strong relationships with the community members and remain committed to finishing the Kolefe bridges early next year,” the CCECC representative said.
Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) Inspector Polycarp Taloania urged community members to assist in apprehending the second suspect, who remains in hiding.
“We call on the suspect to surrender voluntarily, as there are other cases against him. Our community policing approach is peaceful, but if he fails to show up, we will resort to tough measures, he said, emphasizing the extensive reach of the law.
Police officers from the Malu’u police post have been assigned at the camp to ensure the safety of workers and property.
One of the suspects was already captured and awaits court deliberation at the Auki correctional facility.
The victim is slowly recovering after being transferred to Honiara National Referral Hospital from Malu’u Health Centre due to the severity of the knife wounds inflicted on his hand and head.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Communication and Aviation, who is also the Deputy Chair of the SIRAP 2 National Steering Committee, Alwyn Danitofea, reiterated the importance of trust and collaboration.
“Rebuilding trust and working closely with the government is essential,” he remarked.
Mr. Danitofea, who led the government delegation from Honiara and Auki, challenged chiefs and community leaders in Kolofe and throughout North Malaita to demonstrate their ability to work together for development.
“Encourage our youths to adopt a positive attitude, and we will see more projects successfully implemented in our region.
“We must take responsibility and show the country and development partners that we are capable of protecting government assets and contributing to national development,” he added.
Mr. Danitofea, who is also of North Malaita origin, said their visit demonstrates the seriousness with which the national government approaches Malaita’s development.
“We have worked hard to bring road infrastructure projects to Malaita, and incidents like this downplay our efforts.
“Let us learn from our mistakes, work together, and support this international contractor, who also provides employment and passes on technical expertise to young people in surrounding communities.”
Also speaking during the ceremony, Malaita’s Provincial Secretary Eric George uttered similar sentiments about working hand in hand to advance development initiatives across the province.
Ministry of Infrastructure Development’s (MID) Acting Director of Transport Infrastructure, Ishmael Alulu, played a key role in facilitating this reconciliation.
He reaffirmed ongoing support for the project and efforts to resolve land disputes related to the construction.
“We are aware of a high court order, and our provincial works officers are actively engaging with landowners to find solutions that do not hinder project progress,” the acting director, who is also of North Malaitan origin, explained.
The ceremony was witnessed by villagers from surrounding communities, elders, local laborers, the project support team, construction supervision engineer (EGIS), one of North Malaita’s provincial ward members, George Ganiau, senior staff from MID and the Aviation Division, and the Auki police team.
Malaita’s Premier, Hon. Elijah Asilaua, also joined the delegation the following day and conducted community outreach talks, first at Sulugwalu and then at Kolofe Anglican Church, which attracted a large turnout of village elders and youths.
CCECC is in the final stages of completing the Kolefe bridges, with the South Road-Bira and Su’u bridges reaching approximately 87% physical completion.
CCECC is also contracted for the ongoing Auki Road Rehabilitation, the Honiara West Honiara Highway Rehabilitation, key sections of the East Guadalcanal Highway from Henderson to Mberande, and the Noro Township Road Improvement Project in Western Province. Furthermore, they are responsible for the maritime component of the Asian Development Bank projects at Honiara Port, Kirakira, and Bellona Wharf.
These infrastructure undertakings reflect the Government for National Unity and Transformation’s (GNUT) commitment to improving connectivity and fostering sustainable development across the country.
– MID Press
