AUSTRALIAN Minister for International Development and the Pacific, the Hon Pat Conroy MP, has announced 290 new solar lights will be provided to communities in Solomon Islands at an event at Lungga Community High School.
The new lights are being delivered by the Australian Defence Force and Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) and represent a commitment of SBD 6.3 million to the safety of vulnerable communities in Honiara and Western Province.
“Australia knows how important preserving the safety of local communities is, that’s why we’re proud to support important projects like this,” Minister Conroy said.
“Community by community, light by light, we are supporting the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force in their important mission to keep Solomon Islanders safe.”
The solar lights are programmed to work from dusk to dawn, providing nighttime lighting coverage to areas identified as vulnerable by the RSIPF.
This will provide multiple benefits to communities, including improving community safety, especially for women and children when walking after dark.
Other benefits include safer access to markets, churches, schools, and other essential community centres, and enabling schools and communities to play outdoor football or host community events in the evenings.
The project will provide reliable lighting using renewable energy, in recognition of the importance of climate change and reducing Solomon Islands’ use of costly, imported diesel fuel.
More than 50 per cent of the lights have been installed to date with the remaining to be installed in coming weeks.
In addition to the 290 lights, 30 lights were previously installed in Gilbert Camp in Honiara. Minister Conroy was joined at the event by Mr Willie Atu, Premier of Guadalcanal Provincial Government, and Mostyn Mangau, Commissioner Royal Solomon Islands Police Force.
