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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BY LORETTA B MANELE

Pauline McNeil, permanent secretary for the Ministry of Health and Medical Services has described the Women’s Leadership Initiative as a campaign to stand up for women in the health sector.

She expressed this at the launch of the “Women’s Leadership Initiative” by MHMS and Solomon Islands Australia Partnership on Wednesday, December 10 at Heritage Park Hotel.

“It is also a campaign that calls on all of us to stand for safety, respect, dignity and equality for all our women, all our health workers who continue to serve and deliver health services; all our girls of today and years to come,” said Mrs McNeil.

She emphasised that for the health sector, this responsibility is immediate and deeply relevant.

McNeil said violence affects the health, safety and dignity of women across our country, hence, strengthening women’s leadership is therefore part of their broader obligation to ensure that our health facilities and workplaces are safe, respectful and equitable.

“It represents a deliberate effort to create pathways for our women in the service. Opening opportunities for them, empowering them, building their capacity to ensure they are confident and competent in the work that they do,” she said.

On this note, the Permanent Secretary stated that for leadership development and for meaningful participation in shaping our health system in this country, they will establish an alignment of network of leaders who can mentor others, regardless of where they are, whether it’s at a lower health facility or at an average ministry headquarter.

“We’ll ensure that the opportunities are available and accessible to ensure that they share experience and serve as role models across the country.

“We will also use evidence from Nationwide Diagnostic Survey of Women in the Health Workforce to identify the barriers, the bottlenecks and the challenges and design effective practical solutions that will be reflected in our strategies, frameworks and policies,” she said.

To top that off, McNeil said they will also continue to advocate for workplace reforms that support women as well as transparent promotion processes, safe and respectable environments that are free of harassment and violence, zero tolerance of violence and flexible arrangements for them to be recognized as they go along in their leadership journey.

She stressed that these commitments are essential if we want a leadership culture that truly reflects the talent, the skills and the diversity of our health workforce.

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BY NED GAGAHE

AFTER five days of intense debate and scrutiny, Parliament has passed the 2026 Appropriation Bill 2025, approving a total government expenditure of SBD$5.6 billion for the 2026 financial year.

The Bill went through the Committee of Supply and the Third Reading without any amendments and was passed on Wednesday, December 10, 2025.

Speaker Patterson Oti declared the Budget approved.

The passage of the Bill authorises government spending amounting to SBD$5,605,482,104, and also sets annual borrowing limits in accordance with the Public Financial Management Act 2013.

These include provisions for Treasury Bills during exceptional situations and borrowing facilities through development partners or local financial institutions to support key infrastructure and development priorities.

Minister of Finance and Treasury, Rexson Ramofafia, confirmed during the third reading that the Bill had emerged from the Committee of Supply unchanged.

He highlighted the Government’s medium-term objectives under the 2026 Budget, which include:

• Achieving average GDP growth of 3–5 percent, driving increased economic activity in rural and urban areas and boosting employment by around 3 percent.
• Keeping domestic inflation at or below 3 percent.
• Maintaining sustainable budget balances consistent with projected revenue and financing capacity.
• Ensuring debt levels remain manageable.
• Gradually rebuilding cash reserves through surplus revenue transfers.
• Budget Aims for Transformative Change

Earlier, Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele said the 2026 Budget represents a shift away from “business as usual” toward a more proactive and transformative direction, guided by the theme:

“Accelerate Economic Transformation: Resourcing the Resourced for Economic Growth and Sustainable Development.”

He said the Budget is anchored on six core development objectives:

• Promoting transformative and sustainable economic growth
• Maintaining affordability in the national budget
• Safeguarding fiscal stability
• Improving service delivery through quality and targeted spending
• Strengthening national unity and empowering communities
• Advancing good governance and accountability

“These objectives highlight the areas central to our work next year,” the Prime Minister said. “With these priorities in mind, my Government will continue its efforts across all sectors and provinces.”

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BY LORETTA B MANELE

Pauline McNeil, permanent secretary for the Ministry of Health and Medical Services has described the Women’s Leadership Initiative as a campaign to stand up for women in the health sector.

She expressed this at the launch of the “Women’s Leadership Initiative” by MHMS and Solomon Islands Australia Partnership on Wednesday, December 10 at Heritage Park Hotel.

“It is also a campaign that calls on all of us to stand for safety, respect, dignity and equality for all our women, all our health workers who continue to serve and deliver health services; all our girls of today and years to come,” said Mrs McNeil.

She emphasised that for the health sector, this responsibility is immediate and deeply relevant.

McNeil said violence affects the health, safety and dignity of women across our country, hence, strengthening women’s leadership is therefore part of their broader obligation to ensure that our health facilities and workplaces are safe, respectful and equitable.

“It represents a deliberate effort to create pathways for our women in the service. Opening opportunities for them, empowering them, building their capacity to ensure they are confident and competent in the work that they do,” she said.

On this note, the Permanent Secretary stated that for leadership development and for meaningful participation in shaping our health system in this country, they will establish an alignment of network of leaders who can mentor others, regardless of where they are, whether it’s at a lower health facility or at an average ministry headquarter.

“We’ll ensure that the opportunities are available and accessible to ensure that they share experience and serve as role models across the country.

“We will also use evidence from Nationwide Diagnostic Survey of Women in the Health Workforce to identify the barriers, the bottlenecks and the challenges and design effective practical solutions that will be reflected in our strategies, frameworks and policies,” she said.

To top that off, McNeil said they will also continue to advocate for workplace reforms that support women as well as transparent promotion processes, safe and respectable environments that are free of harassment and violence, zero tolerance of violence and flexible arrangements for them to be recognized as they go along in their leadership journey.

She stressed that these commitments are essential if we want a leadership culture that truly reflects the talent, the skills and the diversity of our health workforce.

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BY RODRICK DESURI 

AUKI 

A ship carrying building materials for North Malaita, Malaita Province, is set to sail soon to the constituency. 

The shipment will contain housing scheme materials, project materials and income-generating equipment for the proposed growth centre. 

In an interview with Island Sun Auki, Member of Parliament for North Malaita Constituency, Daniel Waneoroa, said the distribution of the materials to each of the recipients will be based on project proposal submissions. 

He said many project proposals have been submitted and received by his constituency office, but the limited constituency fund does not allow for every application to be approved. 

“Distribution of the materials to the recipients will be based on proposal submissions,” he said. 

“The funding for the materials is limited; however, we will try our best to address everything once the funds are sufficient,” he said.

Waneoroa said that under his leadership, there are a few major plans in place for implementation, but due to pressure from constituents, they will not become a reality.

He said that the pressure from people coming and asking for assistance is one issue that can’t be addressed for any further development.

Island Sun understands that this will be the second chartered materials for the North Malaita Constituency.

Other constituencies in Malaita Province have completed their material shipments.

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