BY NED GAGAHE

PRIME Minister Jeremiah Manele on Thursday 11 December 2025 warned Parliament that the Solomon Islands continues to face mounting external and internal pressures, as he moved the Sine-Die Motion.

The Prime Minister said the global economic climate remains highly volatile, with rising fuel costs, inflation and ongoing disruptions in international supply chains placing significant strain on the country’s cost of living and national budget.

“Despite these challenges, our Government has worked tirelessly to cushion the impacts on households and essential services,” Manele said.

Mr Manele said geopolitical tensions continue to complicate Solomon Islands’ positions on certain issues, particularly its recognition of the One China policy.

“Let me reiterate my Government’s position to the One China policy,” he said, adding that while geopolitics is unavoidable, “before geopolitics, we must deal with geography,” emphasising the importance of maintaining close cooperation with the Pacific family.

The Prime Minister again underscored climate change as the “biggest existential threat” to Solomon Islands, noting the devastating impacts of sea level rise, coastal erosion, cyclones and flooding.

“These continue to destroy infrastructure, displace communities and threaten our way of life,” he said.

He added that the Government is delivering adaptation and mitigation programmes through relevant ministries, provincial governments, NGOs and multilateral partners, while maintaining strong advocacy for climate justice at the global level.

Mr Manele acknowledged that weak public delivery systems remain a longstanding obstacle to timely implementation of government programmes.

“Limited technical capacity, slow processes and resource constraints affect the speed at which programmes can be implemented,” he said, but noted ongoing reforms and capacity-building initiatives aimed at addressing these weaknesses.

The Prime Minister also raised concerns about rapid urban drift, unemployment, crime and the increasing pressure on land and resources—issues he said are straining communities, especially in Honiara.

“Honiara is our city, and we must all take responsibility for it,” he stressed.

He called for proactive urban planning in the provinces to avoid repeating the capital’s current challenges.

“I call on the ministries for Lands, Housing, Survey and Provincial Government, and all provincial governments to properly plan for urbanisation in our provincial towns,” he said.

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BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

PREMIER of Western Province, Billy Veo, has called on Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele to urgently consider the Perpetual Estate (PE) application submitted by the Western Provincial Assembly to the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS).

Speaking during the Western Province celebrations this week, Veo said his government has been waiting for a response from MPGIS since the submission was lodged, despite fulfilling all necessary requirements.

He stressed that the province has established proper frameworks and administrative structures—free from political interference—to manage all provincial lands once the transfer of Perpetual Estate titles is approved.

“One of my government’s key priorities ever since assuming office in 2023 is for the transfer of all Perpetual Estate in Western Province to the Premier, on behalf of the Western Provincial Assembly.

“We invested quite a substantial number of resources into this policy priority, and to date there appears to be a bottleneck at the ministerial level. Our submission to be brought before Cabinet is still with the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening. We are still waiting for an outcome on that submission,” Veo said.

He added that Western Province is prepared to take full responsibility for land administration and management, ensuring due diligence, transparency, and proper governance without undue political influence.

Veo urged the national government to clearly communicate whether it will endorse the province’s application or not.

In response, Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele acknowledged the Western Provincial Government’s intention and reaffirmed that the matter is under review.

“I acknowledge the efforts of the current Western Provincial Government led by Premier Billy Veo concerning its intention to transfer Perpetual Estate to the Premier on behalf of the Western Provincial Assembly,” he said.

Manele further confirmed that MPGIS is now working with the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey to relook at the issue.

“I also note that Cabinet has previously decided on this critical priority,” he said.

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The Solomon Islands Meteorological Service continues to issue heavy and, recently, strong wind warnings as unstable weather remains current for parts of the country.

The Solomon Islands Meteorological Service (SIMS) at 4pm yesterday, Thursday issued a strong wind warning number one.

“A strong wind warning is current for Temotu waters. situation: A tropical low is located to the northwest of Temotu Province. Expect northwest to northeast winds to reach 20 to 25 knots over the waters of Temotu. Seas will be moderate to rough and moderate northerly swells 2.5-3.5 meters. Expect poor visibility in heavy rain and thunderstorm areas,” SIMS issued on its official Facebook page.

The SIMS advised that people in those areas take precautionary measures, as such strong winds have the potential to impact lives and properties and called on sea travellers to consider safety actions, as such winds can produce dangerous wave conditions which are hazardous to small boats.

The SIMS also issued a heavy rain warning number six yesterday.

The SIMS said that a heavy rain warning is current for Western, Isabel, Choiseul, Malaita, Central, Guadalcanal, Makira and Temotu provinces due to a tropical low located over the northern parts of Solomon Islands.

“Associated clouds and heavy rain with thunderstorms are expected to affect Western, Isabel, Choiseul, Malaita, central, Guadalcanal, Makira and Temotu provinces,” SIMS said.

The SIMS said such localised heavy rain may lead to possible landslides and flash flooding over communities living near hill slopes, close to large rivers, streams and low-lying areas.

“Sea travellers are urged to consider safety actions, as such heavy rain can reduce visibility. People are therefore strongly advised to take safety measures to avoid danger and loss of lives,” SIMS advised.

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PM Manele highlights major milestones for the country for 2025

BY NED GAGAHE

PRIME Minister Jeremiah Manele yesterday moved the Sine-Die Motion in Parliament, using the opportunity to reflect on a year of major achievements, strengthened governance and renewed regional leadership for the country.

In his speech, the Prime Minister said 2025 had been “a year of significant national progress”, particularly for the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (OPMC), which coordinated several high-level engagements and reforms.

Mr Manele hailed the successful hosting of the Honiara Summit as one of the Government’s standout achievements. The event brought together regional and international partners to discuss shared priorities for the Blue Pacific.

“The Summit was delivered smoothly with strong whole-of-government coordination and showcased Solomon Islands’ capability to host major international engagements,” he said, adding it also strengthened the nation’s diplomatic standing.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the successful hosting of the 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting, describing it as another defining moment for the country.

“As Forum Chair, I had the honour of guiding our regional family through discussions that reaffirmed unity, solidarity and our shared responsibility to the future of our Blue Pacific continent,” he said.

He said that Solomon Islands hosted several other key regional gatherings in 2025, including the Pacific Water Ministers’ Forum, PACER Plus Ministerial and PALM-related meetings—all of which, he said, were delivered successfully.

Another major milestone, according to the Prime Minister, was the strengthening of the Solomon Islands Independent Commission Against Corruption (SIICAC). The body now operates under its own dedicated Budget Head giving it greater autonomy and financial transparency.

The Government also stepped up support for other watchdog institutions, including, Leadership Commission, Ombudsman, Parliamentary Entitlements Commission, Political Parties Commission and Solomon Islands Electoral Commission

“These institutions are vital for transparency, accountability and integrity,” Manele said, while acknowledging that more resourcing is still needed.

He added that OPMC facilitated the appointment processes for key commissions to ensure they were fully constituted and able to perform their mandates effectively.

Manele singled out the Policy Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Unit (PMU) within OPMC for enhancing coordination across Government.

In 2025, PMU worked closely with ministries to align workplans and reporting structures with the Government’s priorities and the National Development Strategy.

“This improved coordination has strengthened inter-ministerial communication, ensured timely reporting and provided clearer tracking of progress,” the Prime Minister said. He noted the system allowed Government to better identify bottlenecks and improve decision-making.

Reflecting on the country’s broader development journey since Independence, Manele acknowledged that Solomon Islands continues to confront deep-rooted structural challenges.

These include: A widely dispersed geography that makes service delivery costly and logistically difficult and the complex coexistence of customary and modern governance systems, which sometimes complicate land decision-making

Despite these hurdles, the Prime Minister said the Government remains committed to strengthening institutions, improving service delivery and pursuing national development priorities.

Parliament will meet again today to continue on the sine-die-motion.

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BY LORETTA B MANELE

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) turns over a new chapter when the ministry with Solomon Islands Australia Partnership launched the “Womens’ Leadership Initiative” at the Heritage Park Hotel yesterday.

Andrew Schloeffel, Acting Australian High Commissioner, also the Deputy High Commissioner hailed the day as a day about “recognition and action”.

He expressed that it is about the recognition of incredible women who lead across the health sector and action to break down barriers that still hold women back in this important sector.

Schloeffel also took the opportunity to acknowledge Pauline McNeil, Permanent Secretary for MHMS for championing the initiative.

“And as I said, let me first once again commend the PS for championing this initiative, a milestone for women in health under her leadership. This award sends a powerful message,” he said.

Schloeffel voiced that leadership in health must reflect the talent and diversity of those who deliver care every single day in this country.

He said across Solomon Islands and across the world, women are the backbone of health delivery and while they make up 70 percent of the global workforce, they only hold 25 percent of senior leadership roles.

Schloeffel pointed out that when women lead, health systems thrive.

“Women leaders prioritise maternal and child health care, champion preventative care and ensure resources reach those most in need. They foster collaboration,” he said.

Pauline McNeil, PS for MHMS thanked DFAT and the Australian Government for their support for the initiative.

“Your support strengthens our shared commitment to building a health system where women’s leadership is recognised, supported, valued and appreciated,” she said.

McNeil stated that the Women’s Leadership Initiative marks an important step forward for the Ministry of Health and Medical Services.

She said through the initiative, they will promote soft training, mentoring and leadership training to strengthen women’s skills, confidence and readiness for leadership roles.

“We will partner with national leadership networks, including women, in executive leadership in the country, in the region and hopefully in the globe to enhance impact and shared learning,” she said.

Also present at the ceremony was Dr Paul Popora Bosawai, Minister for MHMS.

He encouraged all present at the launching event to build this leadership platform and make it strong and effective.

Bosawai also commended PS McNeil for her leadership role in the ministry and for being active and transparent in the work she does in the ministry.

In his message to women working in the health sector, he said while they take on the leadership roles, there will always be criticisms and challenges, and there’s always the mentality of being inferior because of our cultural norms.

Bosawai added that this also leads to the thought of not being good enough or not being clever enough.

Shedding light on gender equality, he said the size of the male and female brain and the beauty of it is the same.

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BY LORETTA B MANELE

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) there is a 10 million deficit of health workforce.

Dr Paul Popora Bosawai, Minister of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) stressed this in parliament on Monday, December 8, 2025 when responding to Member of Parliament for East Choiseul, Manasseh Sogavare’s question as to why three health consultants have left the country.

Sogavare voiced that the departure of these health consultants doesn’t speak well in regards to the health services of this country.

“Anyone should know exactly what the reason why the health consultants are leaving because this affects the delivery health services,” he said.

Bosawai in turn, stated that as per the WHO, there is a 10 million deficit of health workforce and this has created a vacuum.

“A vacuum that flows towards such a stronger economy. It’s not only Solomon Islands that we’re going to face this health workers’ migration,” he said.

Bosawai explained that the movement of health workforce due to deficiency in that workforce is happening across the region and the globe.

He mentioned that it is very obvious that our medical doctors and practitioners and health workforce are very marketable and attractive.

Moreover, Bosawai said if you look microscopically into the arrangements of how we train our medical doctors, we have the whole system up to five years or so.

He added that after five years, they have the freedom to move wherever they want and also that is, if they have completed their contract.

Bosawai told parliament that there are actually two binding principles, of which one is training our health workforce with the funding system and secondly, with the contract we currently have for them.

On this note, he said from his perspective, there are two ways to control the movement of those in our health workforce.

“If I could let this house know of my reactive way to control this, there are two ways. We train them and we treat them well.

“Second one is that we need to go with some discomfort in our amendment of our laws considering the importance of our health workforce across the country.

“And another one is what is in my mind; on the other side of the house and my good colleagues on the side of the fence is to address the tax that the health workforce in terms of their pay and as well as addressing the contract,” said the Health Minister.

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BY LORETTA B MANELE

Member of Parliament for East Are’are Constituency, Peter Kenilorea Jr has voiced the advantage of providing rewards such as accelerated incremental payments for doctors and nurses who have to go and work in remote areas of the provinces.

Contributing to the 2026 Appropriation Bill 2025 discussion on Head 09- Ministry of Health and Medical Services during the Committee of Supply Stage on Monday this week, he emphasised the idea of supporting doctors and nurses facing hardships going to work in remote areas of the country.

“Just coming back to the allowances and perhaps also rewarding our workers and doctors and nurses who are perhaps facing some hardship going on for some of our remote, isolated cases,” he said.

He asked whether the government in terms of policy, is looking to reward them with things like accelerated incremental payments.

“When you go to those places, you are qualified for self-accelerated, for your increments. You don’t have to wait for a year.

“Sometimes, ten months, eight months, you accelerate them up. In a way, it probably gives some incentives for those people who are going out there to do that kind of work. There are some other allowances, I know that they’re called mobility.

“The more you move around to those other places, the more you move faster. Sometimes, they even lead to promotions. The more you go out to those places, the more you’ll be looked at for promotions,” he explained.

He said these are things that perhaps in the long or medium term might help to attract health doctors and nurses to move out and work in the provinces.

“We are looking at the whole career path, moving forward in terms of pathways,” he said.

The Member of Parliament for East Are’are then asked if there is any thinking behind these kinds of incentives that do not necessarily revolution immediately, but something that might add on to the career pathways moving forward.

Paul Popora Bosawai, Minister of Health and Medical Services, agreed, noting that he likes the suggestions put forward by Kenilorea Jr.

In response, he said as he has always stated in his speeches, if we want a good healthcare system, we have to have a good, improved health infrastructure, a good health workforce.

“The health workforce that comes from your suggestion, which is the human resource. I really ask my team to develop a robust human resource health system. I ask them that I want a system that continues to do what you have just suggested,” he said.

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Harry Kuma, Minister for Commerce, Industry, Labour & Immigration said action was taken to deal with foreign illegal miners in the country.

Kuma disclosed this when he responded to the PAC’s recommendation to the Ministry during the Committee of Supply proceeding on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, December 9^th, 20205.

According to Kuma, there are two recommendations under the Ministry.

“Recommendation 34, the committee strongly recommend that the Director of Immigration deport the illegal miners or foreigners linked to criminal activities to protect the country’s integrity as an investment destination. We will work closely with the Ministry of Mines and Energy to pinpoint or identify these people, and then we can act on it,” Kuma said.

Kuma highlighted that some of the foreign miners come under a tourist visa.

“That is an important point in terms of workers who are breaching our laws. It is a matter for all enforcement agents, police, immigration, labour and the ministry responsible for mines for us to work together on that and quickly act on it.

“In fact, some of these workers, who come under tourist visas, have already been detected and dealt with, and some actions have been taken,” Kuma said.

In terms of the Commodities Export Market Authority (CEMA) board, Minister Kuma said that they also take note of that recommendation.

“Recommendation 35, the PAC committee recommends that a MAL representative be on the board of CEMA. I think that’s a good idea, and my colleague and I have recently discussed it.  We will pursue that,” he said.

Opposition Leader Mathew Wale in the meantime, calls on the Minister and associated ministries to take action as quickly as possible.

“The responses are good, but act on them. We have been attracting some characters that are a little bit shady and slippery in the Mining sector. We need to protect this industry, a little bit firmer, which means coordination between two ministries to make sure that only credible characters are involved in this industry.

“In terms of the CEMA board, there are a lot of good things that the MAL wants to do, but there’s a clear disconnect between what they want to do and what CEMA is thinking of doing, so having a rep from MAL on the Board will cause greater alignment, so we are not duplicating activities and resources,” Wale said.

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By RODRICK DESURI 

Auki 

Second-hand clothes sellers in Malaita Province will soon have a new market area just next to the Auki betelnut market.

An Auki citizen and mother, Shalin Mama, said they will be moving at any time once the construction of the new area is complete.

She stated that the new area will be their permanent space for selling second-hand clothes. 

“Currently, we are just waiting for the construction of the new area next to the betelnut market. Once the construction is complete, we will move there,” she said.

Meanwhile, Auki Central Market Revenue Collector David Laeta said the construction of the new second-hand clothes area is progressing.

He explained that the backfilling of the new area is ongoing and will soon be completed.

“The area is a swampy area, so currently we are doing backfilling with rubbish. After the backfilling of rubbish, we will cover it with gravel,” he said.

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