Solomon Islands Humanitarian Background

For more detailed database on disasters by country, please see the Centre for Research on Epidemiology of Disasters:

Website of Emdat - Disaster Database

Calamities and Seasonal Affects

Seasonal Affects on Transport

There are few seasonal affects on transport in the Solomon Islands. Heavy rains during the cyclone season can cause issues with infrastructure such as bridges and roads.. Most goods are transported by boat so weather can effect the use of boats but this is possible all year round.

Seasonal Affects on Storage and Handling (economic, social, climate…)

There are few seasonal affects on handling and storage in the Solomon Islands. The high temperatures and humidity mean that perisable goods have a short shelf life, so contingencies of food stuffs like rice and flour are not stored for long periods of time by store owners or humanitarian agencies.

Capacity and Contacts for In-Country Emergency Response

Government

4.1 Solomon Islands Government Contact List

Humanitarian Community

4.2 Solomon Islands Humanitarian Agency Contact List

Solomon Islands National Parliament has 50 seats sitting in one house; members are elected from single member constituencies by popular vote, to serve four-year terms. 

Government of the provinces is under review; currently, provincial government is managed from within the national Ministry of Provincial Government. However, the Provincial Government Act is being transformed to reflect the country’s intention to give more autonomy to the provinces. Some areas of government – education and health – are already mostly devolved to the provincial level, with others moving steadily in that direction. With a significant amount of capacity building underway, the country is moving towards a federal system where the provinces will become states in their own right.

There are Magistrates and Local Court officers operating in the Provinces, overseen by a Principal Magistrate.  Local court also hears land dispute cases, and minor civil and criminal matters in the District Courts.  At village level, where the village chiefs still wield considerable authority, the village chief often settles local disputes in the Chief’s Hearing under the non-established Chief’s Courts. 

Both international security and internal policing of the Solomon Islands rests in the hands of the Royal Solomon Island Police Force, a robust, competent organisation that now has the capacity to work regionally, rendering assistance to neighbouring countries during times of disaster. As a result of a proactive crime prevention strategy, police working closely with local communities, the country is peaceful. International confidence is strong, as attested by a series of recent regional sporting and cultural events, and the upcoming Melanesian Arts Festival in 2017 and Pacific Games in 2023.

Ministry of Commerce, Labour, Industry and Employment holds responsibility for the Solomon Islands Port Authority

Ministry of Communications and Aviation holds responsibility for the Civil Aviation Authority Of Solomon Islands, the SOE that manages the Airports and their ancillary services. 

Ministry of Finance and Treasury’s Customs and Excise Division is responsible for processing documentation for tax exemption for humanitarian cargo. Organizations wishing to be eligible for these exemptions must be registered with the Registrar (Ministry of Lands) under the Charitable Act. and get a signature from the Inlands Revenue Division.

Ministry of Health Medical Services needs to be applied to for importation of medicine; a pharmacy permit issued by the National Referral Hospital may be required. This ministry is the Lead Agency for pandemic response

Ministry of Infrastructure Development is responsible for building and maintaining infrastructure including roads, bridges, navigation aids and wharfs, repairing infrastructure after disaster events.

The Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology is responsible for the National Disaster Council which has the primary responsibility for disaster risk management in the Solomon Islands supported by the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) 

Telecommunications Commission is a statutory body that was formed in February 2010. It is the regulator body for telecommunications in the Solomon Islands

For more information on regulatory departments and quality control laboratories’ contact details, please see the following links: 4.1 Solomon Islands Government Contact List and 4.3 Laboratory and Quality Testing Company Contact List here.

Further information on the services provided by the National Regulatory Departments identified in the contact list given above can be found in the following document:

Solomon Islands National Regulatory Departments Additional Information

Note: The information provided in the attached documents, which has been taken from the old DLCA, does not match the structure of the new LCA and is therefore provided separately.

Solomon Islands Customs Information

Solomon Islands Customs and Excise Division (SICED)

Most officers are located in Honiara at the airport, sea port and administrative offices, with a smaller number of officers at Gizo, Noro, Lata (Temotu Province) and Mono border office(Short Land).  SICED works with a range of Government agencies such as the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF), Immigration, Agriculture, Health and Quarantine on border security and the Inland Revenue Division on revenue collection.

SICED uses ASYCUDA

Duties and Tax Exemption

For contact information regarding government custom authorities, please follow the link below: 

4.2.1 Solomon Islands Government Contact List

Further info is available by following link: http://www.customs.gov.sb/

Emergency Response:

[Note: This section contains information which is related and applicable to ‘crisis’ times. These instruments can be applied when the Government officially declares an emergency.

When this occurs, there is usually a streamlined process to import goods duty and tax free that allows the importation and release of goods prior to producing documentation, however it must be noted all the appropriate documentation, as outlined in the tables later in this section, will be required at some time by customs for all items bought in to the country. It is therefore imperative for good records to be kept for later reference.

Exemption Regular Regime (Non-Emergency Response): 

[Note: This section should contain information on the usual duties & taxes exemption regime during non-emergency times, when there is no declared state of emergency and no streamlines process (e.g. regular importations/development/etc.).]

Humanitarian aid will be exempted from duties and taxes provided the organizations importing such supplies have complied with the requirements outlined in the section below. There are no specific types of goods restricted from being eligible for this status

Organizations wishing to be eligible for these exemptions must be registered with the Registrar (Ministry of Lands) under the Charitable Act.

In the following table, give information on the necessary requirements in order for organizations to qualify for a duties and taxes exemption on imports (e.g. do they need to be officially registered - with which department and how is this done, necessary permits/licences, etc.).  Include information for both UN agencies and NGOs.

Exemption Certificate Application Procedure: 

In the following table, please provide the practical information that is necessary in order to obtain a duties and taxes exemption certificate or similar document.  Include a process description (including contacts, departments, paperwork, etc.), making the distinction per counterpart/programme.  Also include the contact details of agents and authorities (where to apply for certificates/authorization) as well as time benchmarks.

Exemption Certificate Document Requirements

The following matrix should include information as to what documents are necessary in order to obtain a duties and taxes exemption certificate. In each of the boxes in the matrix, please include the following information for the commodities list at the top:

• Whether or not the documents listed on the left are required (Y/N)
• Whether or not an original, proforma or a copy is necessary
• The number of copies of the document that is necessary Any differences between UN and NGO requirements If there are any additional comments, they can be included at the bottom of the table.

Customs Clearance

General Information 

Customs Clearance Document Requirements

The following matrix should include information as to what documents are necessary for the customs clearance of consignments. In each of the boxes in the matrix please include the following information for the commodities list at the top:

• Whether or not the documents listed on the left are required (Y/N)
• Whether or not an original, proforma or a copy is necessary
• The number of copies of the document that is necessary
• Any differences between UN and NGO requirements

 If there are any additional comments, they can be included at the bottom of the table.

Transit Regime

Not applicable for the Solomon Islands as goods would generally only transit through if being transhipped in a container to onward destinations such as Fiji.

If goods are being transhiped they must remain in the wharf area under security, until such time as they are reloaded for onward shipment.