BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Women from across the justice sector gathered in Honiara for the first-ever Empowering Women in Justice Workshop yesterday.

The workshop was organised by the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs ahead of Mother’s Day celebrations this weekend.

Deputy Secretary Corporate of the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs, Christina Victoria Bakolo, said the initiative was to bring together women working across the justice sector to share their experiences, to encourage one another and strengthen professional and personal support networks.

Speaking in an interview, Ms Bakolo said the event was organised to build momentum towards Mother’s Day, which will be observed on Sunday May 10.

She said the workshop brought together women from different levels of the justice sector, ranging from cleaners to senior officials, to participate in dialogue sessions and discussions about challenges faced both at home and in the workplace.

“The underlying intent is to bring together all the women from cleaners up to the highest level to come together and have a dialogue and talk story together,” she said.

Ms Bakolo said the workshop also provided an opportunity for younger women to learn from senior officers who have worked more than 10 or 20 years in the justice sector.

She said participants not only shared success stories but also discussed hardships and challenges to help build resilience and support among women in the sector.

The one-day workshop began at 9am and was scheduled to conclude at 4:30pm, followed by an evening recognition program honouring women serving in courts and legal agencies.

Representatives attending the event came from the National Judiciary, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Public Solicitor’s Office, Attorney General’s Chambers and the Law Reform Commission.

Around 85 participants were confirmed to be at the event.

Ms Bakolo also acknowledged support from the Strengthening the Justice Sector program funded through DFAT, Australia.

Photo credit: John Houanihau

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BY NED GAGAHE

The country will have a new Prime Minister by Friday, May 15 next week as nominations for the election of a new Prime Minister officially opened yesterday.

Government House has confirmed issuing a formal notice for Parliament to sit next Friday to elect a new Prime Minister following the ousting of Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele in a successful Motion of No Confidence on Thursday, 7 May.

The election will take place at the National Parliament Chamber at 9:30am.

Section 33(1) of the Constitution together with Schedule 2 provides that the Prime Minister is elected by Members of Parliament from among themselves through a secret ballot.

Government House confirmed that the three-day nomination period opened at 8:00am on Friday, 8 May, and will close at 12:00pm on Sunday, 10 May 2026.

After the close of nominations, the Governor-General will circulate the full list of nominated candidates together with their nominators to all Members of Parliament.

Under the constitutional process, once a Prime Minister is elected, the successful candidate is formally appointed and sworn into office by the Governor-General before forming a government through the appointment of Cabinet Ministers from among Members of Parliament.

The coming days are expected to be politically intense as the country awaits the election of a new Prime Minister.

The nomination period is also expected to trigger intense lobbying among the two political groups as camps work to secure majority support ahead of next Friday’s vote.

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BY NED GAGAHE

Shortland Islands MP Junior Isikeli Vave warns that political uncertainty arising from the motion of no confidences can undermine investor confidence and slow economic activity in the country.

Speaking during debate in Parliament on Thursday, Vave said stability in leadership is critical to maintain trust among development partners, investors and the private sector.

He cautioned that frequent political changes or uncertainty in government direction often leads to hesitation in investment decisions and delays in project implementation.

“History has taught us that uncertainty in leadership can create economic hesitation and social tension amongst our people,” he said.

Vave said Solomon Islands is at a sensitive stage of development, where ongoing reforms and projects require consistent policy direction and stable governance.

He warns that any disruption in government could affect confidence not only among foreign investors but also within the domestic business community.

The Shortland Islands MP said investors and stakeholders rely heavily on predictable government policies, and political instability risks is sending the wrong signal to the market.

He said that government ministries and development partners are already aligned with existing national priorities, and any sudden change could lead to delays and policy uncertainty.

“A sudden transformation now may force unnecessary policy reversals and administrative delays to programmes that are already benefiting our people,” he said.

Vave urges MPs to carefully consider the broader economic implications of the motion, saying leadership decisions must prioritise national stability and economic confidence.

He said while political competition is part of democracy, it must not come at the expense of investor trust and national development momentum.

The MP calls on Parliament to ensure that Solomon Islands remains a stable and attractive environment for investment, trade and development cooperation.

Photo: Supplied

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BY NED GAGAHE

Member of Parliament for Shortland Junior Isikeli Vave urges Parliament to view the motion of no confidences through the lens of national stability, warning that any political disruption could undermine public confidence and the country’s future direction.

Speaking during debate in Parliament on Thursday, Mr Vave said the motion should not be seen as ordinary political disagreement, but as a decision with wider implications for governance, development and public confidence.

“I rise today with a very heavy heart because what I am witnessing is not merely a political disagreement. It is a matter that directly affects the stability, confidence and future direction of our nation,” he said.

He told Parliament that Solomon Islanders are closely watching developments and are more concerned about stability, service delivery and development outcomes than political competition or coalition manoeuvring.

“The Solomon Islands is watching us closely. They are not interested in political games, internal coalition struggles or personal ambition,” he said.

Vave warns that changing government at this stage could create unnecessary disruption, arguing that only about 16 months remain before the next general election.

He said a new administration would spend valuable time restructuring government systems instead of focusing on delivering results.

“The reality is the new administration formed at this stage would spend most of its time reorganising government machinery instead of delivering real outcomes,” he said.

The Shortland Islands MP also pointed to ongoing government programmes, saying many reforms and development projects were already underway and should be protected from disruption.

He further argued that political instability could affect public confidence, investor sentiment and the overall direction of national development.

Vave said leadership decisions must prioritise stability over political considerations, urging MPs to focus on the long-term interests of the country.

“Let us protect stability, let us protect continuity, and above all, let us put Solomon Islands first,” he said.

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BY NED GAGAHE

Member of Parliament for Baegu Asifola Makario Tagini, calls for constitutional reforms to address political impasses and leadership disputes in the country.

Speaking during debate on the motion moved by South Vella La Vella MP Frederick Kologeto on Thursday in Parliament, Mr Tagini acknowledged that every Member of Parliament has the constitutional right to move motions for debate in Parliament.

He thanked Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele and cabinet ministers for remaining committed during the political uncertainty that had lasted for more than 50 days.

Mr Tagini also commended public servants for ensuring government services continued throughout the impasse, particularly in his capacity as supervising minister for the Ministry of Public Service.

Addressing the issue, Mr Tagini said the prolonged court process expose gaps within the country’s legal framework relating to political defections and motions against the Prime Minister.

“The law is ambiguous,” he said, adding that different parties involved — including the Prime Minister, Governor-General and MPs on the opposing side — all held differing interpretations of the Constitution, resulting in the matter being taken to court.

He said the courts eventually directed Parliament to convene, describing it as the correct legal process.

However, Mr Tagini said that the Constitution must now be amended to clearly outline procedures when there is a shift in parliamentary majority.

He proposed that the law should specify procedures whenever defections or changes in majority occur, saying the absence of such provisions contributed to delays and uncertainty during the recent political crisis.

Mr Tagini said Parliament has a responsibility to close the gaps in the law to prevent future instability caused by political movements between government and opposition bench.

He further argued that the Constitution should also require movers of motions to clearly state the grounds for their motions.

According to him, this will allow the Prime Minister adequate opportunity to prepare  defence and ensure principles of fairness are upheld.

“We are locked up here because we don’t know what to debate,” Mr Tagini said while urging Parliament to focus on reforms rather than political confrontation.

He maintained that there were no valid grounds presented against the current Prime Minister and reiterated that legal reforms were the best way forward to avoid similar impasses in the future.

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King Charles sends sympathy message to TC Maila victims

BY NED GAGAHE

Britain’s monarch His Majesty King Charles III has conveyed his condolences and support to the people of Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea following the devastation caused by Tropical Cyclone Maila.

In a message issued by Buckingham Palace on behalf of himself and Queen Camilla, King Charles said they were “deeply concerned” to learn of the destruction and loss suffered across the two Pacific nations.

“Our thoughts are with all those who have been so cruelly affected and we send our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those who have so tragically lost their lives,” the King said.

He also praised the efforts of emergency responders, defense personnel, charity organisations and community members who have been assisting affected communities since the cyclone struck.

The King commended their “dedication and courage” in responding under difficult and hazardous conditions, particularly in remote areas impacted by the storm.

He further acknowledged the cooperation shown between Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and neighbouring Pacific countries during the disaster response and recovery efforts.

“It is most heartening to know that the strength of your already formidable resolve has been bolstered further by the collaboration and solidarity demonstrated between your nations, and with your Pacific neighbours,” the message read.

King Charles concluded by assuring both countries of the Royal Family’s continued prayers and sympathy as recovery efforts continue in the aftermath of the cyclone.

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