BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Opposition leader, Matthew Wale, says the primary expectation of all Solomon Islanders is to ensure very basic services are available, accessible and affordable for them.

And while these become the expectation of people, it must also become priority for the government.

Speaking in a recent interview on the first episode of Insight for 2026, the leader said what the citizens of the country want is to get on with their life.

He said a young Solomon Islander wants to complete studies, work and put the food on the table, or becomes father and mother and feed their family.

In this regard, Wale emphasised that government must elevate education to become right of every citizen to be educated.

He also said when citizens go to clinic, nurses and medicines are available. Also, when refer to hospitals in Honiara, transport is available and affordable.

Wale said the quality of infrastructure is very important – roads must be passable as well as other basic infrastructure.

He said the government may talk about bigger things, but it’s important to start with these basic services  

Wale said they must make sure health services are accessible and available, education services too and infrastructure to support mobility of goods and people.

He stressed that these are among some of the basic expectation of people that government is there to provide.

Moreover, Wale acknowledged government on various political reforms such as state government, and encouraged to continue pursue them.

He said it’s important to engage Solomon Islanders in conservations about political systems and reforms the government wants to deliver for the country.

In the meantime, Wale said he feels positive about 2026 budget, especially on the basis where both government and opposition can work together on the political level.

He assured his willingness and openness to work with government in his role as opposition MP to question government’s policies and decisions.

Wale also said if government can free themselves from capture of business interests and make decisions guided only by interests of Solomon Islanders, he thinks 2026 would be a good year.

He said this is despite his disagreement with the size of allocations with certain sectors in the 2026 budget, the government can make some impacts.

BY SYLVANA TEKUMAHA
An analysis report by the Ministry of Education and Human Resources (MEHRD) on performances during the National Examination in 2025 showed a range of results by students.
For form-3 level, both genders showed strong performance in different subjects. Male students showed better performance in mathematics and sciences, while female counterparts were better in social sciences and English.
The top-performing male student for form-3 from Chung Wah Secondary School achieved a score of 377 out of 400.
Female students in form-5 level performed better in most subjects. A male and female student from King George VI School scored the highest of 533 out of 600.
As for the form-6 level, male students performed better across most subjects, especially in science and accounting. The top-performing male student from King-George Sixth School attained 439 out of 500.
Male students dominated the highest aggregate across all levels.
Around 1592 year 9 students were unplaced into form-5, while 3,703 form-6 students would require support to engage in further studies this year.
MEHRD acknowledges that access to secondary education has improved, particularly at the senior secondary education level where demand continues to exceed available spaces.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI
Opposition Leader, Matthew Wale has highlighted telecommunication as one of the key factors contributing to the high cost of living for ordinary Solomon Islanders.
In a recent interview on Insight, Wale called for urgent policy changes to improve the quality of telecommunication services and make them more affordable.
He said telecommunication services in the country are among the most expensive in the Pacific and, in his view, are of the poorest quality.
Wale pointed out that while he has raised the issue repeatedly, regulators have been slow to act and doing nothing about it.
He suggested that the government should consider revising policies to encourage more competition and enhance service quality.
One example he cited is the undersea cable, which is now five years into its 25-year lifespan but has yet to reach even one percent of its data capacity.
Wale emphasised that the service provided by the undersea cable is far too expensive, and called on the company to lower costs.
He urged the company to take risks and absorb losses in the short term, suggesting that expanding service availability could lead to long-term profit.
“By making the service cheaper, more people will be able to access it, and the company will see greater returns,” Wale explained.
Wale also addressed the ongoing discussion about a second undersea cable, calling it beneficial for redundancy, but questioning its economic viability.
“We’re only using one percent of the current cable’s capacity. If a second cable is introduced, how much of it will we actually use?” he asked, emphasising that this needs crucial consideration.
He noted that the high cost of telecommunication has contributed to the overall high cost of living and makes doing business in the Solomon Islands also more expensive.
Wale urged the government to take immediate action on this issue for the benefit of ordinary Solomon Islanders.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Leader of Opposition Matthew Wale is calling on the government to eliminate “state capture” which he claims has enslaved the country for far too long.
In a recent interview with Insight, Wale made the call, saying symptoms of state capture are still evident and urging that it must come to an end.
He defined state capture as a situation where the country’s leaders or elites are influenced by interests by certain individuals or organization that do not align with, or serve, the best interests of ordinary Solomon Islanders.
Wale pointed out that for many years the logging industry has been a key player in state capture, using its financial influence to control the government.
“They have the money, and they determine who becomes the Prime Minister, the Minister for Forestry, and the Commissioner of Forestry,” he said.
With that, Wale explained that the government leaders were unable to make decisions that went against the interests of those who supported them.
In this way, he said, the state was effectively “captured” by powerful interests, leaving the leaders unable to pass laws that would challenge them.
Wale emphasised that state capture continues to exist and that both the government and the country must work together to get rid of the practice.
“It has enslaved the government and the country, with leaders accepting to eat from the hands of those who control them,” he said. “This needs to stop.”
He warned that as long as state capture persists, decisions would continue to be made in the interests that don’t serve the best interests of Solomon Islanders.
Wale said while symptoms of state capture still surfacing, everyone must work together to ensure it stops ruining the country.

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

THE National Coordinator of the E-Commerce Division says e-commerce will be at the centre of business growth as digital modernisation and transformation continue across the country.

Speaking during the Digital Content Creation Training in Gizo yesterday, Tristein Zutu said Solomon Islands is gradually moving into the e-commerce space, driven by increased use of digital devices and online platforms.

He explained that e-commerce is the process of buying and selling goods and services over the internet through various digital platforms.

Zutu said the E-Commerce Division has been established under the Ministry of Commerce, Industries, Labour and Immigration (MCILI) to promote and provide pathways for e-commerce to thrive in the country.

He added that the division is currently implementing the National E-Commerce Strategy 2022–2027.

“Part of our activities is to conduct trainings and workshops in Honiara and the provinces,” Zutu said.

He said his team has already conducted similar trainings for entrepreneurs and freelancers in Honiara and Auki, and is now extending the programme to Gizo.

According to Zutu, the training focuses on building capacity and skills for businesses and freelancers, particularly those engaged in photography and videography.

“Most customers have moved online to shop, and this training targets opportunities in online business.

“It gives entrepreneurs the opportunity to learn photography and videography skills to better promote their products and services,” he said.

Zutu said the programme also aims to encourage entrepreneurs and freelancers to see photography and videography not just as hobbies, but as viable businesses that can generate income.

He stressed that there is immense potential for e-commerce to support the growth of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and to boost productivity across the country.

BY SYLVANA TEKUMAHA 

The Agriculture Investment for Market and Nutrition (AIM-N) project team paid courtesy calls on the provincial governments of Choiseul and Western provinces on Friday and Saturday, Jan 23 and 24.

The primary objective is to formally introduce the AIM-N Project to provincial leadership, clarify implementation arrangements, secure provincial awareness and endorsement ahead of the deployment of AIM-N Provincial Implementation Unit (PIU) staff, an AIM-N statement on Monday (Jan 26) said.

The aim is to strengthen nutrition and livelihoods through integrated investments in agriculture, market systems, school food initiatives, women’s economic empowerment, and institutional capacity building, while embedding gender equality, climate resilience, and learning components, AIM-N said.

Discussions cover project objectives, implementation structures, staff deployment, operational arrangements, planned activity sequencing for 2026, and alignment with existing provincial programmes.

AIM-N Project Manager Samantha Maeke said early engagement is essential to ensuring coordinated and effective delivery.

“These courtesy calls provide an important foundation for strong partnerships with Provincial Governments. Early engagement ensures AIM-N interventions are aligned with provincial priorities, strengthens local ownership, and supports sustainable improvements in agricultural productivity, nutrition outcomes, and rural livelihoods,” Ms Maeke said.

Engagements involve provincial premiers, provincial secretaries, and senior provincial leaders, including heads of key sector ministries and extension offices.

The engagements will also support alignment with provincial development priorities, establish coordination mechanisms, and confirm designated provincial focal points.

It is expected to strengthen provincial ownership, enhance coordination, and support the effective and sustainable rollout of AIM-N activities in the three provinces.

The initiative forms a key component of AIM-N’s 2026 readiness activities and aligns with MAL leadership directives and IFAD best practices for decentralised programme delivery.

The AIM-N Project is a national flagship initiative financed by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and development partners, made possible through the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL).

Buala (Isabel Province) will be visited next.