BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

THE Speaker of the Western Provincial Assembly, Ramrakha Talasasa Jr, has confirmed that preparations for the upcoming Western Provincial Assembly meeting are in progress as planned, with the meeting scheduled to take place from March 16 to 20.

Speaking in an interview with Island Sun, he said the provincial administration has begun its preparations last week and will continue until all necessary processes are completed ahead of the meeting.

“Currently, the Provincial Administration is busy aligning and compiling documents for the next process, which is the Provincial Public Committee hearing.

“All Ward Development Committee leaders will participate in the consultations, with outcomes from the meeting forming part of the proposed budget allocations for each division and ward across the province,” Talasasa said.

He said the document will be submitted to the provincial executive before proceeding to the Provincial Public Accounts Committee for final scrutiny ahead of deliberations by the full Assembly.

“At the moment, our administrative officers are drawing up the skeleton of the whole process, from identification of services and development priorities to allocating funds for implementation.

“So, we are dealing with documentation at the moment. The next step is the money side of it,” Talasasa said.

He said the Western Provincial Administration and Members of the Provincial Assembly are looking forward to the important sitting, which is expected to determine key operational priorities for the province during the first quarter of 2026.

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BY IRWIN ANGIKI

Leader of Opposition Matthew Wale is concerned that yesterday’s ministerial changes has removed the voices of Solomon Islands’ Polynesian minority from Cabinet.

Three new ministers were sworn in yesterday.

Members of Parliament for the country’s two Polynesian constituencies were removed from their ministerial portfolios.

Polycarp Paea, MP for Malaita Outer Islands (MOI) was replaced in the Environment ministry (MECDM) by Wayne Ghemu, MP for Ranongga Simbo.

John Tuhaika Jnr, MP for Rennell and Bellona constituency, which is also a province of its own, was replaced in the Traditional Governance ministry (MTGPEA) by Stephen Kumi, MP for Temotu Nende.

The third new minister was Rollen Seleso, MP for South Guadalcanal, who replaced Mr Ghemu in the Ministry of Provincial Government (MPGIS). Mr Seleso had held the portfolio during the previous government, DCGA, until May 2024 under the current GNUT government.

Opposition Leader Matthew Wale in a statement yesterday to congratulate the new ministers, wished them success in their new responsibilities and urged them to ‘work collaboratively for the benefit of all citizens’.

At the same time, Mr Wale raised concern that ‘members of Parliament from the Polynesian community, a significant minority grouping within our country, are no longer represented in Cabinet’.

He said while Cabinet appointments remain the prerogative of the Prime Minister, it must be based on sound judgement; inclusivity and balanced representation.

Wale said these are important principles that strengthen national unity and public confidence in government.

“This will be a deep dark stain on the record of the Prime Minister,” the Opposition Leader said.

Wale said Solomon Islands is built on diversity and Cabinet should reflect the rich cultural and regional make up of our people.

“Our nation’s diversity is one of its greatest strengths, and ensuring that different communities feel represented at the highest levels of decision-making contributes to cohesion, mutual respect, and shared ownership of national development,” Wale said.

Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has defended the changes saying they brought stability and aimed at ensuring fair and balanced representation in the distribution of ministerial portfolios within the Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT).

Mr Manele after the swearing-in ceremony yesterday said Tuhaika Jnr and Paea ‘remain as members of the GNUT and will continue to play a pivotal role to contribute in GNUT broader policy direction and the implementation of the 2026 programme’.

Paea has been with the GNUT government from the beginning, serving in two ministerial portfolios – Ministry of lands from May 7, 2024 to July 5, 2025, and MECDM from July 5, 2025 to February 10, 2026.

Paea stood unwaveringly with PM Manele and GNUT through two motions of no-confidence – Dec 2024 and May 2025.

Tuhaika Jnr started off with GNUT as Minister for Public Service until his resignation on December 14, 2024 to cross over to the Opposition ahead of the first motion of no-confidence against PM Manele. Manele survived it.

However, four months later, PM Manele faced his biggest challenge when his finance minister, Manasseh Sogavare, MP for East Choiseul, led a mass walk-out from GNUT with 10 MPs on April 28, 2025, igniting the second motion of no-confidence on Manele.

Tuhaika Jnr was one of the three Opposition MPs who saved PM Manele and GNUT when they joined government in the eleventh hour. Just days before, Opposition was slated to win since they commanded the majority.

Tuhaika Jnr held the MTGPEA portfolio from May 7, 2025 until yesterday’s replacement.

Photos: Supplied

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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Leader of Opposition, Matthew Wale says there is need for greater understanding of what free education truly means and the benefits it could bring to the country if the policy is pursued.

Speaking in a recent episode of Insight, Mr Wale expressed disappointment over statements made by the Minister for Education during a sine die motion last year, describing claims about free education as economically dishonest, unrealistic and merely a slogan.

Wale explained that free education does not mean it comes without cost, noting that schools require infrastructure, teachers, learning environments and educational resources.

“All these things cost money, but education should be free to students. Education is a public good, provided by the government, and therefore the cost should be borne by the government,” he said.

“However, that does not mean everything is totally free. Communities and education providers will still be involved in building classrooms, holding bazaars, fundraising and so on.

“The point of free education is that a child is not deprived. A child should not be prevented from attending school simply because parents cannot afford school fees. No impediment should hinder a child’s education,” Wale said.

He said it is in the interest of the entire Solomon Islands that every child is educated, describing education as critically important to the country’s future.

“We want education to be a right for all Solomon Islands children, not a privilege for a few who can afford it. If implemented, we would not be the first country to adopt free education,” he said.

Wale noted that many countries throughout history have implemented free education, often as a phase of national development.

“Education is made free for one or two generations, producing the level of human resources the country needs. As the economy grows, citizens are eventually able to afford some level of contribution through fees.

“There needs to be a broader discussion about our vision for Solomon Islands, the type of economy we want to build, the role of human resources in that vision, and how we invest in developing them,” he said.

Wale emphasised that free education is ultimately a matter of government priority, stating that if the government prioritises it, resources can be allocated accordingly and other stakeholders can be engaged.

He said the CARE Party adopted the free education policy because it places strong importance on the wellbeing of Solomon Islands children and views the policy as a long-term, generational commitment.

Wale added that the party believes the policy is realistically achievable through the reprioritisation of government spending and by seeking support from development partners to participate in what he described as a crucial national endeavour.

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MID left to bear major infrastructure development challenges following slashed budget allocation

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Ministry of Infrastructure Development’s (MID) biggest challenge this year is limited budget allocation to cater for the the ministry’s infrastructure development programme, particularly road rehabilitation.

Despite the constraint, the ministry continues to receive support from its development partners, including CAUSE, SIRAP, LMCP, PRC and DFAT, whose ongoing assistance has significantly contributed to the ministry’s work.

Speaking at MID’s first press conference for the year, MID Minister Ricky Fuo’o highlighted the issue and the impact it has on the ministry’s programmes.

“I want to stress that budget constraints remain one of the biggest issues for MID. With a development budget of $140 million, it is not enough to fix all the roads in the country,” he said.

The minister told media that MID had initially submitted a budget proposal of $280 million last year, which was later slashed to $120 million.

He said the ministry pushed for an increase and was granted an additional $20 million, bringing the total development budget to $140 million.

However, Minister Fuo’o said the allocation is still insufficient, especially with outstanding commitments, noting that about 40 percent of the budget is tied up in ongoing projects.

“That leaves MID with only about $100 million to carry out work this year, which remains one of the biggest hindrances for the ministry,” he said.

Permanent Secretary for MID, Allen Lilia said the ministry’s focus for this year is road improvement and maintenance, and acknowledged the crucial role played by development partners in supporting infrastructure development across the country.

He said under MID’s development programme, road projects are being implemented through the Economic Infrastructure Project and the National Transport Fund (NTF).

The PS said under the programmes, MID has carried out road maintenance, rehabilitation as well as work on new constructions. MID also has donor partners that have assisted in road rehabilitation programmes.

These include the Solomon Islands Roads and Aviation Project (SIRAP) funded by the World Bank, the Land and Maritime Connectivity Project (LMCP) funded by the Asian Development Bank, the CAUSE Project funded by DFAT and the World Bank, and the PRC-funded infrastructure programme supported by the Chinese Government.

He added that DFAT also provides funding through the National Transport Fund, which finances road maintenance and rehabilitation projects under MID.

Minister Fuo’o thanked the development partners for their continued cooperation and vital contribution to the country’s overall infrastructure development.

While acknowledging their support, he also reminds partners of instructions issued by his office regarding preparations for the country’s upcoming 50th anniversary.

Fuo’o said MID has instructed all partners that both current and proposed infrastructure projects must be completed by 2028.

“All projects must be completed by July 2028 to coincide with the celebration of the country’s 50th anniversary,” he said.

Photo: MID

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Athletics community in Solomon Islands and Oceania mourns passing of Jack Iroga

BY RICHARD MENANOPO

The athletics community in Solomon Islands and across the Oceania region are mourning the sudden passing of prominent athlete, coach and technical official, Jack Iroga.

Information about his life and contribution to the sport was shared in a tribute posted on Oceania Athletics official Facebook page.

“Jack’s passing is an immense loss to athletics—not only in the Solomon Islands, but across the entire Oceania Region. As an athlete, coach, educator, and technical official, he made an invaluable contribution,” a statement from Oceania Athletics said.

“As a person, he was kind, warm, humble, and a joy to work with”, the statement from Oceania Athletics added.

Born in 1986, Iroga began his athletics journey by following in the footsteps of his father, James, and was among the first recipients of an Oceania Athletics High Performance Training Scholarship in 2003/2004 at the Millennium Institute in Auckland.

A talented and versatile competitor, he recorded notable achievements on the regional stage, winning silver in the high jump at the 2003 OAA Melanesian Championships. He later secured silver in the discus and bronze in the 110-metre hurdles at the 2005 championships, before claiming bronze in the 100 meters at the 2008 Oceania Championships.

During the 2006 Grand Prix series held in Ba, Sigatoka and Apia, he also finished second overall in the field events standings.

Iroga proudly represented Solomon Islands internationally, competing at the 2003 World Youth Championships, the 2004 World Junior Championships in Grosseto, and the 2006 and 2010 Commonwealth Games in the 100 meters.

Beyond the track, he contributed significantly to the development of athletics in the region.

He served as Chief Judge at the 2023 Pacific Games in Honiara and was a member of the Jury of Appeal at the 2025 Pacific Mini Games in Palau.

In 2025, he also lectured at coaching and education programmes in Honiara and on the Gold Coast, mentoring and building the capacity of emerging coaches.

“We extend our heartfelt condolences to Jack’s family and to his athletics family. We will miss his smile, his gentle nature, and his genuine friendship,” the Oceania Athletics statement said.

Iroga is remembered as a dedicated sportsman, mentor and respected official whose legacy will endure across Oceania athletics.

Photo: Supplied

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