BY SAMIE WAIKORI

The Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT) has been urged to strengthen the tourism sector of the country.

The call cited tourism policies announced by GNUT as part of its 100 days plan being without any tangible progress.

Speaking in parliament this week, Opposition Leader Matthew Wale said in the tourism sector, policies were announced but with little tangible progress.

“The 100-day policy promises of strengthening community-based tourism, empowering youth entrepreneurs, and advancing cultural preservation remain largely unfulfilled.

“The Solomon Holiday campaign was launched, but visitor numbers have not improved.

“Key policy and legislative reforms are delayed, and the promised 5-Year Tourism Roadmap remains incomplete.

“Critical infrastructure investments, including new hotels, resorts and upgraded transport links, were announced,” he said.

Wale said although, nobody expects these to materialize in 100 days, there is an expectation that there is significant progress made towards commencing them.

He mentioned that despite increased international marketing efforts, the real growth in the sector remains elusive.

“The rebranding exercise and marketing of Solomon Islands as a tourist destination has been a terrible failure.

“The mark of success is tourist arrival numbers and that tells an undeniable story.

“When something hasn’t worked for many years, and we keep repeating it, it makes a mockery of us.

“Without serious targeted investment and focused delivery, tourism will remain an untapped promise, not the pillar of national growth we want it to be,” Wale said.

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New fisheries minister announces plan to rally private sector to establish processing facilities

BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Fisheries Minister Bradley Tovosia has announced his commitment to making seaweed processing a reality in the country.

Tovosia uttered this in parliament yesterday.

“Mr Speaker, I would like to talk more about the seaweed industry. Our second strategic investment concerns the seaweed industry. As you know, the GINUT government allocated $18 million to increase seaweed production, $7 million in 2024 and $11 million in 2025,” said the MP for East Guadalcanal.

“Speaker, my vision is that not too far in the distant future, we will process seaweed in the country before exporting. To that end, I will ensure the work of the private sector to make seaweed processing a reality in the country,” he said.

He said that this speaks of GINUT’s commitment to economic growth and the socio-economic development of the people by the end of April 2025.

He said that the Ministry has established 1,050 new farms, bringing the total number of seaweed farms to 2,050, and new applications are still being received.

He said that $5 million worth of robs was purchased and sent to farmers in the provinces, predominantly Wagina in the Choiseul province and Rarumana in the Western province, which hosts the greatest number of farms.

“Total seaweed production reached 30,500 metric tonnes by the end of 2024, and $19 million was paid to farmers. We aim to reach the 10,000 metric tonne mark by the end of 2025, with an estimated value of $50 million,” said Tovosia.

He said that his Ministry have worked with the Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) to ensure a specific authority for the export of seaweed to boost the return of seaweed export value.

“This has been done, and it will ensure that the total export earnings are remitted back to the country,” he said.

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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Teachers and nurses are the only faces of government can be seeing right in the rural areas across the country, though there are presence of other reach of government services.

And despite the immense contribution of these sectors to the development of the country, they continue to face significant challenges that to some extent, brought setback to the services provided.

In the education sector, the restructure of teachers’ salary is at the core of important issues teachers have been faced for decades.

The national government, however, recognised the matter by coming up with a new teachers’ salary structure, but teachers are still waiting for its implementation.

This week, Opposition Leader, Matthew Wale questioned the GNUT on the undertaking and other proposed government policies to strengthen and improve education services in the country.

He said in education, the new teachers’ salary structure, though finalized, remains unimplemented.

Wale added the reviewed of School Education Grant Policy has not translated into tangible support for schools.

He echoed that the much-needed School Infrastructure Development Plan sits idle, with no improvements yet felt on the ground.

Wale furthered the Tertiary Student Loan Scheme, announced by His Excellency again in 2025, to widen access to higher education, remains non-operational.

Moreover, the leader said the critical reforms such as the review of the SITESA Act and the TVET legislative framework are still incomplete.

He said during the inquiry into the 2024 actual expenditure, the PEC discovered that the scholarships budget alone was underspent by about 70m, when many students were eligible for awards.

“In fact, the total underspend in education could more than fund SINU and make all its programmes free to all students, subject to academic entry requirements.

“It seems government is uninterested in these things. Yet these are the initiatives that are more likely to produce strategic change and gain across society and in the economy,” Wale said.

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BY INDY MAEALASIA

THE Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) has strengthened its workforce with the recent recruitment of health professionals posted to duty stations across the country.

“I am happy to announce that the Ministry has progressed the recruitment of 180 nurses and 35 doctors, with the majority receiving their postings to the duty stations in the provinces,” Minister Paul Bosawai told parliament on Monday.

The move comes as the country continues to face shortages of health professionals, particularly in rural and provincial areas. Minister Bosawai attributed the progress to a significant increase in the Ministry’s staffing and training budget — from $2.5 million in 2024 to $5 million in 2025.

“This has enabled the Ministry to accommodate and process more applicants from provincial health divisions, national programs and medical departments, and health support services. The training budget is focused on long-term training through in-service and short-term training, both local and international, on technical areas.

Minister Bosawai also highlighted employment reforms at the National Referral Hospital (NRH), where staff previously on casual arrangements have now been transitioned to fixed-term contracts, following recommendations made during a previous parliamentary debate.

“These health professionals will add value to the current health care services in the provinces, hence improving the quality of care “he added.

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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Leader of Opposition Matthew Wale has called on the Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT) to come-up with an effective policy to address youth unemployment in the country.

The call came following what Wale described as “no serious plan” by GNUT to tackle youth unemployment, even other pressing issues face by youths.

The Opposition Leader highlighted the above this week in his official response to the 2025 speech from the throne by Governor General, Sir David Tiva Kapu.

Recalling the speech Kapu had spoken of empowerment for youths that make up 70 percent of the country’s population.

“His Excellency acknowledged in his 2025 speech from the throne that youth make up 70% of our population and spoke of empowerment.

“Yet, government has not presented a serious plan to tackle youth unemployment,” Wale said.

He added that no targeted job creation strategy, no clear investment in youth enterprises and no practical pathways from education to employment have been delivered.

“Promises of inclusion mean little if an entire generation is left without opportunity,” Wale said.

The government’s failure to empower youths has resulted in number of setbacks the country continues to face.

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