BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The Environment & Conservation division is taking seriously the use of plastic water bottles during the recent Miss Pacific Islands Pageant (MPIP).

Director of the Environment and Conservation Division Josef Hurutarau said that a committee was tasked to investigate the matter.

He said that the Ministry together with police has launched an investigation into how plastic water bottles were used during the recent 2025 Miss Pacific Islands Pageant (MPIP) organized by Solomon Host.

Plastic water bottles, banned under the Environment (Single Use Plastic Ban) Regulations 2023, were distributed to VIP guests, meaning they directly violated the government’s regulations.

“It has come to our surprise who was behind this and how these plastic water bottles have come into use. We weren’t aware, and now, since it has come to our attention, an investigation is ongoing,’’ Mr Hurutarau told Island Sun.

Meanwhile, Honiara City Council (HCC) Mayor Eddie Siapu said that the custodian of the Single Use Plastic Ban is the Ministry of Environment.

“If we are still seeing small plastic water bottles circulating in the city and across the country, then that is breaking the act, where the Minister can give an order for us to act upon,’’ said Siapu in an exclusive interview.

He said that the HCC can take action if the HCC law enforcement receives an order from the Minister which is speculated in section 6 in the Act sub-section 1.

“The public has witnessed the use of small bottled water during the MPIP and the public is also aware of this act. So, people raise concerns because this is not straight. And under my leadership on who authorized the use of small plastic bottles I am not aware of that,’’ said Siapu.

 He said that the ministry should respond vividly to public concern.

The environment (single-use plastic ban) regulations 2023 bans the importation, distribution, manufacture, sale & supply of single-use plastic products with maximum penalties as follows; individuals: $50,000 and companies $100,000.

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