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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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

The national government through the Ministry of Communication and Aviation has successfully built 130 mobile towers out of 161 towers they had planned to build around the country.

The project is known as the Solomon Islands National Broadband Infrastructure Project (SINBIP) and implemented by the Ministry of Communication and Aviation, with the support from Solomon Tower Limited (STL).

The implementation of the three years project started in 2024, with the aim to complete the construction of the 161 towers before the end of 2026.

The project designed into three phases, which covers the distribution of the provinces, currently is in it’s final stages, according to the Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister for Communication and Aviation Fredrick Kologeto.

“We reached the last stage of installation of towers. Now, we are at Temotu, Makira Ulawa and Rennel Bellona provinces.

“As to date, we have installed 130 towers with 57 being connected, and some of the connected towers had already reached their limit,” he highlighted.

The Deputy Prime Minister also noted that the Solomon Tower Company started to receive revenue from the towers. It is not just SBD $100 or SBD $1,000; it is in millions.

He said if the 161 towers are installed and connected, it would be a revenue boost for STL, and telecommunication services in the country.  

Kologeto is confident that the ministry and operators would install and connect the targeted 161 towers prior to its schedule. This is so that rural people benefit from the program.

In the meantime, he encouraged every people in Solomon Islands to make great use of the service, and not just for tiktok and other unnecessary means.

“Let’s be innovative and make money out of this infrastructure,” Kologeto emphasized.

He said his ministry will also encourage the operators to look at pricing so that people in rural areas can afford the service.

“This is to ensure they engage in businesses,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

The Ministry of Communication and Aviation is working on a digital transformation policy roadmap policy, crucial to safeguard citizens of the country in this era of digital transformation.

The policy, according to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Communication and Aviation Fredrick Kologeto, will be finalised soon and is expected to be tabled before cabinet for blessing, next year.

Speaking in parliament last week, Kologeto admitted the challenge faced by his ministry to safeguard the citizens of the country in this era of digital transformation.

“As the era of digital transformation looms and gets exponential momentum, my ministry is finding it very difficult to make sure that we safeguard our citizens.

“In addressing that, I can assure the ministry is working hard on cybercrime and cyber security, which culminated the digital transformation roadmap to safeguard our people.

“The digital transformation roadmap should be finalised soon and should be tabled for cabinet for blessing.

“The idea behind the policy is to ensure we know where we are heading and know we are safe in what we are doing, in terms of this digital era,” he said.

On the same note, Kologeto highlighted that the cybercrime policy is in the drafting stage, and the ministry hopes to table it next year, 2026.

He also emphasized that another priority area his ministry is looking at is the national data centre.

“It is important that the sovereignty of this nation is kept within our digital space. We don’t want other people to keep our data. This is a priority area of our ministry,” Kologeto emphasized.

He said the digital policy roadmap is part of the broader policies of the ministry to safeguard people on the services will offer, through infrastructure development such as towers in the country.

Kologeto emphasized that the intention of the ministry is to develop proper infrastructure, so that every citizen of this nation can enjoy services provided.

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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

The Ministry of Communication and Aviation (MCA) has proposed an upgrade of airports in the country.

This includes upgrade of the Honiara International airport and rehabilitation of airfields in the provinces.

The program became an integral part of the ministry’s decentralization policy to improve the aviation sector across the country.

Speaking in parliament last week, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Communication and Aviation Fredrick Kologeto, highlighted the proposal and benefit it would deliver for the country.

He said the national government through the ministry is closing on a negotiation towards a project to upgrade the Honiara International Airport.

“The project will include lengthening and widening of the runway to reach 2.8 or 3 kilometres. It will also look at improving the status of the terminal.

“This is vital so that bigger planes like A370 that accommodates 400 to 500 passengers can land at the Honiara international airport.

“The terminal upgrade is also important so that we can be able to accommodate three or four flights simultaneously. This is a challenge we’re facing,” Kologeto stated.

He also noted the government wants the ministry to accomplish the plan before the country’s 50th anniversary in 2028.

In the meantime, the Deputy Prime Minister highlighted current upgrade and rehabilitation program on provincial airfields across the country.

He said the tar-seal of Taro airfield is in the final stage and is expected to be complete early next year. Tar-sealing of Suavanao airfield is set to begin next year, including other airfields the government sees fit for tar-sealing.

Kologeto further mentioned that tender for the rehabilitation of Avu-Avu airport in Guadalcanal province has already been awarded and rehabilitation of Atoifi airfield in Malaita province is coming up.

He also highlighted a MOU signed between the ministry and landowners of Malaita Outer Islands to establish airfield in Lord Howe.

Moreover, the DPM said scoping and coasting for a new airfield in Vanikoro, Temotu province has already been done with the project soon to be implemented.

Kologeto said the Ministry of Communication and Aviation encourages decentralization of infrastructure development especially airports and telecommunication across the country.

He also said these infrastructures are also important to support the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to implement its plans and program especially to promote tourism in the country.

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Opposition Leader Wale slams drastic cut to budget of Ministry of women and youth

BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Leader of the Opposition, Matthew Wale, has raised serious concerns about the budget cut for the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs (MWYCFA).

Wale said this in response to MWYCFA Minister Catty Nori’s presentation on her ministry’s budget and plans during the Committee of Supply proceeding on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday this week.

The Opposition Leader also noted similar budget cuts across various ministries.

Wale said that the common theme from Minister Nori is the fact that the finance department cut their budget even after the cabinet approved it.

“The Finance is more powerful than the cabinet. I don’t know how that works. The Cabinet should be the final approval over the budgets. Finance should not be the final approval of the budget. Nothing worked that way.

“When taking something that has fiscal implications, get finance to endorse it so any adjustments can be made. So, when the cabinet approves, we cannot make a mockery of the cabinet approval process,” Wale said.

He pointed out that the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs often get the least allocation and priority.

“And it is almost as if we don’t care as a collective leadership. Do we not care because it doesn’t touch us?”, Wale questioned.

“The extent of gender base violence in our society is very great indeed. Maybe we don’t believe it. Because perhaps we are insulated, or maybe it doesn’t touch your family,” Wale said.

Wale said investing in the Ministry is not just a social sector investment.

“It’s a big social safety net for us. It affects almost 80% of our women and girls. But this would be 2026, another year of neglect. Not a small neglect, gross, deliberate, by design neglect. Let’s take a zero-tolerance attitude towards this cancer in our midst.

“The allocations in the budget do not reflect a zero-tolerance attitude. It speaks of carelessness, light-hearted, neglectful. I have a really big disappointment. Worse than disappointment. So, we urge the government. We urge the Prime Minister to take a lead on this one and come up with some proactive initiatives,” he said.

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