[Awareness Post]
The Solomon Islands Meteorological Service (SIMS) and the Civil Aviation Authority of Solomon Islands (CAASI) signed a Land Use Agreement (LUA), allowing SIMS to construct the Weather Radar Project with supportive accessories at the CAASI compound at Henderson area recently.
The Solomon Islands Meteorological Service (SIMS), of the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM) has received the confirmation of its first Weather Radar instrument through the Pacific-lead Weather Ready Pacific (WRP) Program, which sits under the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP). With the funding and technical support under WRP, SIMS is embarking on this flagship infrastructure project to construct a C-Band Weather Radar in Honiara. After years of trying, SIMS is finally confirmed to receive this instrument through WRP.
This cutting-edge radar will significantly enhance SIMS capacity in real-time weather monitoring, weather forecasting, early warnings for severe weather events, flooding early warnings, and the aviation weather services.
The new instrument has a critical role towards building climate resilience and disaster risk reduction in the Solomon Islands and the wider Pacific region. The radar is being supplied by Enterprise Electronics Corporation (EWR), a USA-based leader in radar technology. The procurement of the radar equipment and other accessories is underway and shipment is expected to be in Honiara by the end of this year.
Site preparation and installation oversight will be undertaken by the New Zealand Meteorological Service with the support of SIMS, while SPREP will coordinate implementation with funding from WRP donors. Currently, the key active donors of WRP include the Australian Government, New Zealand Government and UK Met Office.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Acting Director, Dr Alick Haruhiru, thanked the Director CAASI for recognizing the radar project and availing its land area to install an infrastructure, that will benefit the aviation sector, national stakeholders, and the region as a whole through the services provided by SIMS.
Mr. Haruhiru said they will continuously work closely with CAASI in the implementation of the Weather Radar Project.
In her remarks, on behalf of the Supervising Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment Climate Change Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM), Deputy Secretary Technical (DST), Ms. Agnetha Vave-Karamui acknowledged the presence of the former SIMS Director, Mr. David Hiriasia and the former DST, Mr. Chanel Iroi, who under their leadership, have steered and contributed to ensuring that SIMS continue to carry out this project and now it has come to its working processes.
Ms. Vave-Karamui also commended all who were involved from CAASI, Prime Minister’s Office and other government agencies, for continually supporting SIMS to deliver efficient, accurate and quality services for our people, communities and Provinces.
The Solomon Islands Meteorological Service (SIMS) will proceed on with the ground work as of this week.
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[ MECDM Media Press release ]
