Tropic Group Builders Ltd

🌟Walkabout lo TGB: Meet Jeffery Tofe🌟

Jeffery Tofe is 25 and from Langalanga in Malaita. Born with impaired legs, poor posture, limited vision, and losing a mother at only 12 years old. Growing up as the last born child out of 6 other siblings, life hasn’t exactly been easy. On top of that, he’s faced learning challenges that made things even tougher. But Jeffery’s never been one to give up.

Raised by his aunts and uncles in the village, Jeffery found his first job as a skipper on his uncle’s banana boat, helping transport people around the islands. His uncle saw something in him—potential—and sponsored him to attend the Bethesda Disability Training and Support Centre in Honiara in 2023.

Over two years, Jeffery picked up carpentry, farming, and poultry skills—training that helped him start reshaping his future.

A friend told him about TGB, and he decided to give it a go. After an interview and a bit of planning around how we could support his needs, Jeffery officially joined the TGB Joinery team as a woodworker.

Jeffery’s journey is a reminder that no matter where you start or what you’re facing, it’s possible to carve out your own path with persistence, support, faith and belief in yourself.

🌟Crafting Connections: TGB & TNC - Arnavon Project🌟

Our team at TGB Joinery has proudly crafted a bespoke round conference table for The Nature Conservancy (TNC’s) main office in Honiara. Made from strips of locally sourced Akwa wood, the table also features intricate turtle designs, precision-carved with our CNC machine. These designs symbolize TNC’s vital role in protecting the Solomon Islands’ only marine reserve in the Arnavon Islands—home to the endangered Hawksbill Turtle.

Beyond showcasing the craftsmanship of our Joinery team, this table also highlights the growing partnership between TGB and TNC as we prepare to construct a community education center and eco-lodge on Kerehikapa Island in the Arnavon Islands. This project is funded by MFAT and construction is scheduled to commence in April/May.

In preparation, a TGB/TNC reconnaissance team will visit the site in late March to mark out building locations, assess potential landing craft access, and identify a suitable camp area while evaluating key logistics, environmental factors, safety measures, and community engagement aspects of the project.

Taking on projects in challenging and remote locations like the Arnavon provides TGB with invaluable experience in remote construction. From managing complex logistics to sustaining a construction team in isolated environments, these efforts enhance our capabilities and reinforce our growing ability to successfully deliver projects across the Solomon Islands, even in the most demanding and remote locations.🐢🌴🔨

🌟Red Cross - First Aid Training🌟

Keeping Solomon Islands construction workers safe is important. This week, our key staff and supervisors took part in First Aid training, including refresher sessions, conducted by Solomon Islands Red Cross Society.

Many Solomon Islanders build homes for themselves and their families, but safety awareness is often limited. One of our TGB staff members shared a tragic story—his uncle fell from a rooftop while building a relative’s home, landing on a steel rebar rod that pierced and killed him instantly. Another told of a limb being severed by a saw, with no knowledge of how to stop the bleeding.

Stories of death and injury are all too common in the Solomon Islands, a harsh reminder of why worksite safety matters—not just on project sites but also in family, village, and community construction. First Aid is just one part of the solution. The real impact comes when these skills and knowledge spread beyond our worksites, filtering into homes and communities.

Every safety training session we run doesn’t just benefit our team—it helps build safer practices across families, villages, and communities. The more we share, the safer we all become.

🌟The Real Challenge in Remote Construction🌟

Building in remote parts of the Solomons isn’t just about infrastructure. The hardest part isn’t the construction itself—it’s the logistics of getting materials, machinery, and people to site, then sustaining, maintaining, and motivating them. Add to that constant rains, intense heat, and limited or non existent local supply and support services, and the challenges grow even greater.

TGB is steadily gaining invaluable experience in delivering remote and challenging projects, learning crucial lessons that will strengthen our capability for future remote work—most importantly, building local capacity and capabilities to deliver major remote construction projects.⛴🔨
📸:TGB Logistics Team

🚧 TGB Delivers Another High-Quality Project!

TGB recently completed a major bathroom renovation at the Australian High Commission Residence, earning high praise from the DFAT Facilities Manager (JLL).

The upgrade included:
✅ New doors, tiling, toilets, and showers
✅ Sleek glass partitions
✅ Custom wood signage with Braille (crafted on TGB’s CNC machines)

Our ongoing work at the High Commission Residence continues to refine quality standards and train staff in top-tier fit-outs—one of TGB’s specialties, thanks to our in-house joinery and construction fit-out expertise.

A huge thank you to DFAT, JLL, and High Commissioner’s wife, Ewa, for their support! 💙

🌟Title: USAID Suspension Disrupts Three TGB Malaita Projects🌟

The suspension of USAID projects in the Solomon Islands has halted a number of key USAID development projects in Malaita. This decision suspended funding for major initiatives like Auki Fisheries Cold Storage, Adakoa Cold Storage and Mini-Grid Energy, and Gwaigeo Projects, valued at USD $10 million.

Tropic Group Builders (TGB) lost around SBD $20 million in three initial secured contracts for these projects, with no certainty of resumption. This setback has stalled construction, created business uncertainty, and led to layoffs and financial strain. However, TGB along with other local Malaita companies remain hopeful that the U.S. will restore funding for these key aid projects to maintain its positive influence and support long-term development in the Pacific and Solomon Islands.

Unpredictable and highly disruptive events like this emphasize how businesses like TGB must stay agile, maintain reserves, have contingency plans and be able to quickly adapt, move forward and develop new opportunities.

🌟 Helping Workers Build Better & Happier Lives 🌟

On 4 February, TGB held a GM’s All Hands Session for 50 workers, focusing on six key principles for building better and happier lives. The six principles, shown in the attached picture, serve as a guide for personal growth at work and at home.
Many work places in the Solomons struggle with negativity and toxic environments, often influenced by people who are rude, arrogant, inconsiderate, difficult, disrespectful and unpleasant.
These age-old wisdom principles provide valuable guidance in fostering a better workplace and helping individuals develop better and happier lives at work and at home.

🌟 TGB Computer Training Programme 🌟

Training is a cornerstone of development in the Solomon Islands, and TGB is committed to fostering growth through practical, affordable, and continuous learning opportunities for its staff. Recognizing the gap in computer skills among many workers and supervisors, TGB has partnered with Solomon Islands National University to deliver regular computer training courses. Currently, over 15 TGB employees are participating in a program featuring three half-day sessions focused on essential skills such as email, Excel, and internet usage.💻

On behalf of TGA, we extend our warmest wishes this festive season of 2024🎄🌟🎉