BY BEN BILUA

Gizo

UZAMBA United Church congregation in South Vella La Vella, Western Province, has turned newly acquired skills into practical action following a recent Finance and Church Leadership Management Workshop.

Putting theory into practice, the congregation has introduced a structured fundraising model to help meet its 2026 church budget. The initiative aims to strengthen financial sustainability while promoting unity and shared responsibility among members.

According to workshop facilitator and community member Joash Lawrence, the congregation has been divided into four zonal groups.

He explained that the arrangement helps with better organisation and simplifies food allocation during fundraising events.

Lawrence said each zone has been tasked to raise $3,000, bringing the total expected contribution to $12,000 if all groups reach their targets.

The church’s treasurer, Lika Linga, said the new fundraising approach reduces the workload on individual members while encouraging teamwork across the congregation.

“The responsibilities are shared equally among congregations adding that the first fundraising event held last week saw each group contribute different varieties of food for sale,” he said.

Pastor Castro Lawrence and his executive team expressed gratitude to individuals and families who supported the drive through donations, food contributions, and active participation.

He reminded the congregation that financial support is essential for the church to fulfil its mission, both within Uzamba and across neighbouring communities.

“By way of giving or contributing to this fundraising, you are contributing to God’s mission on earth,” Pastor Lawrence said.

Community elder Masden Hence welcomed the new fundraising model, stating it would play a key role in ensuring the church meets its financial needs for 2026.

He also encouraged Uzamba descendants living outside the community to support the initiative.

The fundraising strategy stems directly from the three-day capacity-building workshop attended by Uzamba church leaders last month.

The workshop, held at South Vella La Vella, aimed at enhancing financial literacy and leadership skills among United Church in Solomon Islands (UCSI) leaders within the Bilua Circuit.

The training brought together representatives from 13 congregations, stretching from Lajaka to Buleana. Participants included pastors, elders, congregation treasurers, and treasurers from affiliated groups such as the Men’s Fellowship, United Church Women’s Fellowship (UCWF), Youth Fellowship, and Sunday School ministries.

Facilitators George Ngimaika and Joash Lawrence from Tabaka Technical Institute delivered sessions under the institute’s community outreach programme. The workshop covered financial management, transparent record-keeping, stewardship based on biblical principles, effective leadership, team building, and conflict resolution in church settings.

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BY NED GAGAHE

CABINET has approved the draft Dangerous Drugs Amendment Bill, paving the way for major legal reforms aimed at strengthening the country’s fight against methamphetamine and other illicit drugs.

Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele confirmed this in Parliament on Thursday December 11, 2025 during his speech when moving the Sine-Die Motion.

“Mr. Speaker, emerging risks from cyber security to dangerous drugs are already on our shores. We are not oblivious to these matters,” the Prime Minister said.

He added that legislative reforms are progressing to confront these threats, including the development of a cyber security bill and significant amendments to the Dangerous Drugs Act.

The new amendments will dramatically increase penalties reaching tens of millions of dollars in fines and life imprisonment for serious drug offences.

“The draft Dangerous Drugs Amendment Bill was approved by Cabinet last week for finalisation by the Attorney General’s Chambers and the Ministry of Health and Medical Services,” Manele said.

Legal Gaps Prompt Urgent Action

The Government’s push to overhaul the Dangerous Drugs Act follows alarming revelations earlier this year regarding critical weaknesses in the existing law.

In October, Prime Minister Manele confirmed that Government was moving urgently to address legal gaps that have hindered effective prosecution of methamphetamine cases.

His response came after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Andrew Kelesi, publicly highlighted that current legislation only criminalises importation, exportation and transportation of dangerous drugs.

This followed the arrest of a foreign national allegedly found with the drug.

The law does not criminalise possession, supply, or manufacturing of substances such as methamphetamine.

Under existing law, it is not illegal to possess or even manufacture methylamphetamine in Solomon Islands.

The revelation triggered widespread concern and prompted the Government to fast-track reforms.

Government Committed to Closing Legal Loopholes

Prime Minister Manele told local media during an October press conference that significant gaps exist in “a good number of our legislations.”

He said the Attorney General’s Chambers, police, and other stakeholders were working together to urgently address the weaknesses.

He said this is a priority for the government to quickly bring the necessary amendments to Parliament, hopefully during the first session next year.

He stressed that the Government aims to modernise outdated laws to ensure stronger action can be taken against individuals involved in the production, distribution, and use of illegal drugs.

With Cabinet now endorsing the draft amendment bill, the legislation is expected to be finalised soon before being tabled in Parliament.

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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

The Minister for Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration (MCILI), Harry Kuma has pledged to reinforce the Commodities Export and Marketing Authority (CEMA).

This came following a report on the initial operation of body revealed that after the revitalisation of CEMA, it has gone through a mixture of things that put the body under spotlight.

CEMA operated some decades back, and came to a halt due to government’s non-prioritisation. In recent years, the programme was revitalised back into operation.

The programme came under the Ministry of Commerce (MCILI), and so far, the ministry has allocated $18 million for its operation.

Speaking in parliament this week, Minister Kuma said despite the program has gone through roller coaster, the ministry planned to reform and restrengthen it.

He admitted ill administration of the body, revealing mixture of things that landed CEMA under spotlight and stirred public criticism.

“There is a report revealed mixture of things that are not pleasing to the eyes of the public. And we are going to address them with the increase in our budgetary support to SEMA.

“We would like to strengthen those areas particularly, in terms of the corporate governance and financial management within CEMA.

“We would also like to instil a sense of good leadership in CEMA so that this amount of budget can be properly implemented and achieved,” Kuma said.

The minister said for next year, the budget allocation for CEMA is $21 million, the ministry would like to see it support farmers especially in terms of granting fair prices.

Also to promote export and expand production base of local commodity, beginning with copra and cocoa, and of course moving on to value addition as well.

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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

The Minister for Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration (MCILI), Harry Kuma, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the Credit and Guarantee Scheme, despite challenges faced during its initial rollout.

The scheme was recently introduced with government support to provide loans to individuals and businesses, aiming to boost Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), particularly in Guadalcanal and Honiara.

Speaking during the Committee of Supply in Parliament, Minister Kuma acknowledged that the scheme—and the concepts behind it—were new to many local businesses.

He said this highlighted the need for proper training and risk-mitigation measures within banks to better support recipients.

THE minister revealed that the first SBD $15 million allocated under the scheme supported around 169 loans. Of these, approximately 33% were in the agriculture sector and 27% in the transport sector.

“And I think only 10 of those loans did not perform, and they were covered under the scheme.

“We experienced challenges, but interestingly the take-up rate is very high, indicating the demand for this scheme to continue,” he said.

Minister Kuma stressed that these initial shortcomings should not discourage continuation of the program.

“We believe the challenges should not hinder us from moving forward. It is important that we assess the impact and ensure the continuity of such schemes for our people.

This credit scheme targets small and medium enterprises, so it is very important for us to continue with it,” he said.

He further noted that the program has so far been implemented mainly in Guadalcanal and Honiara, and plans are in place to gradually extend it to other provinces.

This expansion aligns with the planned growth of CEMA operations to Auki, Gizo, and other locations nationwide. CEMA is another major program under MCILI.

The Minister reiterated that although the first SBD $15 million phase had mixed outcomes, the scheme remains crucial.

“I believe that discontinuing it would not serve the best interests of SME development,” he said.

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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

The Minister for Police, National Security and Correctional Service, Hon Jimson Tanangada, has acknowledged that housing remains a major challenge faced by the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF).

In light of that, he said his ministry is committed to developing a policy strategy to address the issue, emphasizing the need to ensure the safety and security of police officers.

Minister Tanangada made the remarks in response to a question from MP for East Are Are, Hon Peter Kenilorea Junior, regarding a housing policy for the RSIPF during the Committee of Supply in Parliament this week.

He noted that housing is an important aspect of supporting the country’s law enforcement agency, especially as many officers are not accommodated in designated police housing.

“Unlike other places where officers live in barracks, most of our police officers are living in rented houses. And that is something we really want to address,” he said.

“The safety and security of police officers is important, so they can perform their duties without concerns about their own safety,” the Minister added.

Based on a date provided by Minister Tanangada, there are currently around 247 houses for police officers, which will undergo renovation over time.

He admitted that the shortage of adequate housing for officers across the country remains a critical challenge and will be a key focus of his ministry’s policy direction.

“In terms of policy, the strategy is that we need to house officers by developing proper police barracks. That is what I believe in.

“So that they are confined in a secure environment — not only themselves, but their families too.

“And when police officers perform their duty, they know their families are safe. This enables them to execute their duties to full capacity,” Tanangada said.

The Minister also recalled instances where officers living in rented accommodation outside police facilities were threatened.

He said this highlights the urgent need to establish secure police barracks going forward.

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Minister for Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs, Cathy Nori, has said her Ministry will continue to seek an increase in budget.

She said that when she presented the Public Account Committee (PAC) recommendation to the Ministry on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, during the Committee of Supply proceedings.

She said that the Ministry will strategically prepare a budget with costed annual plans to convince the Ministry of Finance and Treasury and National Planning and Development to allocate funding.

She adds that the Ministry had requested additional funding but has always been reduced by the budget team at the Ministry of Finance, even with Cabinet approval in previous years.

“Under the Family Protection Act 2014, reviewed by multi-sectoral partners in 2023, the recommendations came up with 43 recommendations were made. One of them was to build a care centre for victims of violence against women and girls. As a result, the Ministry, along with the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs, have submitted together a combined Cabinet paper requesting funding to build a care centre for each province for victims of gender-based violence and violence against children to provide accommodation and support to access safe net services before they can be discharged. The combined Cabinet paper was approved, but there was no allocation given,” said Mrs Nori.

She said that her Ministry will follow up with a conclusion on the combined submission and budget for 2027 onwards.

“The approval then was for 20 million over five years,” she said.

She said that the ministry has revitalised the National Youth Congress and nine provincial youth councils, where the ministry will make a Cabinet paper for more funding to support these provincial youth councils.

“Currently, under the Ministry development budget, we are aiming to build a youth and children’s centre in the country. We have been supported in building youth and children’s centres in the Western, Malaita, Central, Temotu and Isabel provinces. These are at the tendering stage. For Makira Ulawa province, the bid is for next year, 2026,” she said.

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Prime Minister Jeremiah Manel has responded positively to Opposition Leader Matthew Wale’s concerns regarding the budget cut for the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs (MWYCFA).

Wale raised the concern when he reflected on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) recommendation for an additional budget to be allocated for violence against women and girls in the country.

The opposition leader also urged the members of Parliament (MP) to take a zero-tolerance attitude towards this cancer, violence against women and girls in the midst.

He said that the allocations in the budget do not reflect a zero-tolerance attitude but speak of light-hearted, neglectful and heartless.

In response, Prime Minister Manele confirmed the Government’s negligence of the important requirements and needs of the ministry.

“So as a coordinating department, we will work very closely with finance and, of course, with the Ministry of Women, so that earlier on in the budget process, they come with fully costed programs and projects so that we can improve in terms of the budget allocation. We note the point you raised earlier in terms of papers coming to Cabinet,” PM Manele said.

He said that the ministries do check with the Ministry of Finance in terms of the financial implications of programs that they bring to the Cabinet.

“It’s also important to note, while the allocations in the budget for this ministry are extremely low, we will work to improve on those, it is also important to note that some of the issues or even initiatives affecting the Ministry of Women, Youth and Children are also cross-cutting issues,” he said.

He said that there is a need to streamline these programs more strategically going forward to achieve milestones, especially under the Ministry of Women, Youth and Children.

“At the same time, the other line ministries that do address women’s issues like health, education, culture and tourism in terms of projects, agriculture. I think there is room for improvement on those as well, so that we can properly target the needs of women, youth and children going forward.

“But thank you for those important observations, and I hope next year we can improve in terms of preparations for 2027,” he said.

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BY SYLVANA TEKUMAHA

COMMISSIONER of Lands (CoL) Alan McNeil has firmly rejected allegations circulated in the media relating to the 2023 variation of the lease over the Kongulai Water Treatment Plant land parcel.

Speaking during a media conference on Friday December 12, 2025, Mr McNeil outlined what he called misinformation and “baseless” claims made against him.

McNeil was suspended on November 13, 2025 over allegations including:

Fraudulent execution of the lease variation (RT Form 10) and the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on November 26, 2023, allegedly knowing some parties involved had already passed away in relation to parcel 191-064-1 (Kongulai Water Source).

Breach of a High Court Order (Civil Case No. 463 of 2009).

Misrepresenting a “good will” payment by former Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare as a final payment under the disputed 2023 lease agreement.

However, the suspension was revoked and set aside on November 28, 2025.

McNeil told local media that none of the alleged deceased individuals signed any documents, explaining that the old trustees appeared on the lease only because the RT Form 10 requires referencing the original 1983 lease, whose signatories have since passed away.

He said the 2023 landowners did sign the variation and the MOU, and evidence including the agreement, a group photo taken in the Cabinet room, and a news article published through the Government Portal clearly confirms this.

“There is proof that the MOA was signed on November 28, 2023 in the Cabinet room at OPMC. The evidence is there. So any landowner who claims he was not present their signatures and photographs are clear,” McNeil said.

He listed the 2023 trustees who signed as LESSOR:

Kasiano Lalau, Savino Laugana, Joseph Pali, Simon Mavi and Damako Roko.

McNeil signed on behalf of the government as LESSEE.

A lawyer representing the landowners witnessed the signing.

McNeil said that after he scanned and passed the documents to Deputy Lands Commissioner Maeli Lubasia, that was when the mistake occurred.

According to McNeil, the original landowners’ names were incorrectly hand-written onto the RT Form 10 by the Deputy Commissioner instead of the 2023 trustees who signed the MOA.

Mr Lubasia acknowledged the mistake when questioned by the media.

“The pressure I experienced during the 2023 Pacific Games was huge. I had to process the RT Form 10 quickly to ensure water was available during the Games, and I mistakenly wrote the original owners’ names,” Lubasia said.

McNeil said this error happened after the signing ceremony and was outside his control.

“I wasn’t aware of the error because it was already out of my hands by then,” he said.

McNeil insisted the mistake does not amount to fraud.

He said the administrative error occurred at a time when ensuring uninterrupted water supply during the 2023 Pacific Games was a national priority, and emphasised that: No one benefited, the error is fully correctable, and it does not meet the legal definition of fraud.

“No one benefited, nothing illegal occurred, and the mistake is fully correctable. Calling it fraud is stretching it far beyond reason,” he said.

• Commissioner of Lands McNeil confirms he is exercising his democratic right and suing government over suspension

BY NED GAGAHE

Commissioner of Lands Alan McNeil has confirmed that he is taking legal action against the Government over his recent suspension relating to allegations of fraud involving the Kongulai Water Plant land dealings.

McNeil made the revelation on Friday, December 12, 2025 during a press conference in Honiara, where he broke his silence for the first time since being suspended and subsequently reinstated just weeks apart.

He was suspended on November 13, 2025 by the Ministry of Public Service over serious allegations connected to parcel 191-064-1, the Kongulai water source land. The accusations included:

Fraudulent execution of the 2023 lease variation (RT Form 10) and the Memorandum of Agreement, alleging that deceased trustees were knowingly referenced in the documents.

Breach of a 2009 High Court Order (Civil Case No. 463 of 2009) in the manner the land transaction was handled.

Misrepresentation of a payment made by former Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, which was alleged to have been presented as the final settlement for the 2023 lease agreement.

McNeil has publicly denied all allegations, describing them as baseless, procedurally flawed, and lacking any factual foundation.

He said he was never given an opportunity to respond before the suspension was imposed and insists he has “very strong evidence” to counter every claim.

When asked yesterday to comment further on the case, McNeil declined, citing the sensitivity of the matter.

“I’m not going to touch on that today; it’s still an ongoing matter because I have a claim in court against the government. So it’s a sensitive issue. That’s still not resolved yet,” he said.

Attorney General John Muria Jnr, when approached for the government’s position, also declined to comment, noting that the matter is now before the High Court.

McNeil confirmed his case is formally listed for February next year.

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BY NED GAGAHE

PRIME Minister Jeremiah Manele has called for national unity, responsible leadership and shared commitment to building a stronger Solomon Islands.

Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, December 11, 2025 Prime Minister Manele outlined the Government achievements and challenges in 2025.

He said Solomon Islands continues to grapple with heavy dependence on extractive industries, a narrow revenue base and a rapidly growing youthful population that urgently needs jobs, skills and opportunities.

“These challenges are not new, but our commitment to addressing them is unwavering,” he said, adding that the recently passed 2026 Budget is designed to tackle these long-standing issues head-on.

Mr Manele stressed that nation-building is not the responsibility of Government alone, but a collective duty shared by citizens, families, communities and leaders across all levels.

“We must teach our children the value of hard work, respect, unity and service,” he said.

“Whether we live in rural areas or urban centres, whether we serve in the public or private sector, we must all contribute to building Solomon Islands.”

The Prime Minister urged MPs to always reflect on the national interest when making decisions, whether as ministers or ordinary MPs.

Ahead of the Christmas break, Mr Manele expressed appreciation to public servants, teachers, police officers, provincial governments, churches, NGOs, private sector organisations, farmers and fishermen for their contributions to national development throughout 2025.

“Our journey is far from over, but our direction is clear,” he said. “With unity, stability and determination, we will continue to build a stronger, peaceful and more prosperous Solomon Islands.”

The Prime Minister held back his Christmas greetings, noting he would deliver them when winding up the Sine-Die Motion next week.

Parliament yesterday was adjourned on Thursday 11 to Monday December 15, 2025 to continue delibration on the Sine-Die-Motion, with the House set to conclude the Sine-Die-Motion on Wednesday 17 December 2025.

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