But critics also blamed the unrest on complaints of a lack of government services and accountability, corruption and foreign workers taking locals' jobs.

Sogavare angered many in 2019, particularly leaders of the Solomon Islands' most populous province, Malaita, when he cut the country's diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

A plane carrying Australian police and diplomats arrived late on Thursday in Honiara, where they will help local police efforts to restore order after a second day of violent anti-government protests, Australian Defence Minister Peter Dutton said.

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With no internet access, how could the parish priest have got their address in Cirencester, an English country town?

And how could he know his request was exactly what they specialize in, which is implied in their name: SPICMA - Special Projects in Christian Missionary Areas.

Now, with the building complete and the new St Mark's Church soon to be re-consecrated, they have the answer. It's all because a bishop was elevated to archbishop.

St Mark's is in the village of Fote in the diocese of Auki on Malaita island. The bishop of Auki, an American Dominican missionary, Chris Cardone OP, had been appointed archbishop of Honiara, the Solomons capital.

About to move, he threw out a cache of old magazines.

"It is not only by mistake I pick one up," said Fr Albert Kalu, the parish priest, "but by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit."

In the magazine, he found a reference to the work of SPICMA, an entirely voluntary charity founded 50 years ago to assist poor parishes such as his. Moreover, it gave the charity's address.

"Knowing our rural situation and so sympathising with our struggling community," he thought, such a charity should be able to help.

So he wrote asking for a grant to rebuild St Mark's, previously a timber and attap hut built in 1976 "at the time of the transition of our people here from paganism to Christianity."

The charity gave £16,000 that has helped to provide a brick-built church with glazed windows accommodating 300 worshippers which "will serve our community for 100 years," said Fr Kalu.

The ceremony to re-consecrate the new St Mark's will take place in December. And Fr Kalu has invited SPICMA to attend.

Source

Supplied: SPICMA press release from Mike MacLachlan

The diocese covers an area with close to one hundred islands spread over 300km of sea.

Its 70 year old wooden vessel, the St Peter, has outlived its useful life, and its continued use is not economically sustainable.

So the Diocese has purchased a 14 meter steel ex-fishing trawler to replace St Peter.

The vessel has been named Galilee.

The purchase is being funded through donations.

Donations can be made on Give a Little.

A New Zealand Mahitahi Catholic overseas volunteer, Doug Buchan, who carried out an engineering and electrical overhaul of St Peter, is now assisting this project.

Volunteer Gordon Banfield says "This is a major project and should bring long term service to many in the islands of Gizo Diocese."

"Whilst we seek additional funding we also ask for prayerful support for this project."

Galilee was built in 1964 and is fitted with an old English Gardner diesel engine which is in good condition and runs like clockwork.

It is being fitted out at Opua in Northland.

There is still some work to do to get it ready for the trip to Gizo.

The vessel needed to be hauled from the water and cleaned and repainted.

A new alternator, a range of spare parts, essential safety equipment and fuel for the delivery voyage are still needed.

The voyage to Gizo from New Zealand is 2300 nautical miles.

With a service speed of 7 knots, the ship is expected to arrive there sometime in August.

Source

• solomonstarnews.com
• givealittle.co.nz