(Published May 6)

BY NED GAGAHE

All schools in Honiara will close today [Tuesday, May 6] as Parliament resumes to deliberate on the highly anticipated motion of no confidence against Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele.

The Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) made the decision in response to requests from Honiara-based Education Provider Officers.

The move is aimed at safeguarding the wellbeing of students and staff during what officials say is a period of political uncertainty.

Permanent Secretary Dr Franco Rodie told SIBC while the situation remains calm, the closure is a precautionary measure due to the unpredictable nature of such political events.

“We are giving education providers the final decision, so it looks like all the schools within Honiara will be closed,” Rodie stated.

“They can compensate for the day that they miss classes on another day or in the future.”

He reiterated that school management, in consultation with their respective education authorities, are permitted to suspend classes if they see fit.

Many schools had already issued notices of cancellation by Monday afternoon.

St Nicholas College was among the first to announce its closure, citing student safety as the priority.

However, the decision to close schools has sparked public concern and criticism, with some questioning the disruption caused by political processes.

Leader of the Independent Group, Peter Kenilorea Jnr, expressed disappointment, saying it was unfortunate that children were being affected by parliamentary proceedings.

“It’s sad that our children and students have to suffer because of a constitutional political process conducted in Parliament,” he said.

“I dream of a day when people and children, in particular, are not affected by these events.”

Despite the political tensions, Kenilorea and other leaders have urged the public to remain calm and go about their daily lives peacefully as Parliament debates the motion.

Today’s session is expected to draw national attention as the government faces a significant test of confidence in the House.

Meanwhile, Commissioner of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF), Mostyn Mangau, said that the MoNC is part of the democratic process and should not disrupt normal life.

“It will be business as usual, despite the Motion of No Confidence (MoNC) scheduled to be debated in Parliament against Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele.” He said

“This is a normal democratic process. Let our leaders deal with it,” Commissioner Mangau said.

He urged the public to go about their daily routines as usual—attending school, going to work, and running businesses.

“We have leaders elected to handle this matter. The Solomon Islands is mature enough to go through such processes. We’ve been through this before. Let our leaders deal with it,” he added.

Parliament received the notice of the MoNC last Monday. The motion was moved by the MP for Central Honiara, Hon. Gordon Darcy Lilo.

Mangau also assured the public that appropriate security measures are in place and that peace and order will be maintained throughout the proceedings.

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-Speaker to give statement on reasons, parliament resumes 9.30am

-GNUT government with 32 MPs, Opposition group with 17

(Published May 6)

BY IRWIN ANGIKI

The motion of no-confidence against Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele will not be debated in parliament today (Tuesday, May 6), it has been reported.

The Speaker is said to make a statement today to explain why.

Parliament Clerk Jefferson Hallu confirmed this to Island Sun when enquired last night:

“The motion of no confidence will not be debated tomorrow [today]. The Speaker will make a statement tomorrow [today] for the reasons.”

Mr Hallu said parliament will resume, starting at the usual time “from 9.30am onwards”.

The provisional order paper for parliament’s session today does not contain an agenda for the motion of no-confidence – only ‘prayers’ and ‘adjournment’.

A government member speaking to Island Sun on condition of anonymity last night said it was not expected, however government will always abide by the law.

“This is news to me. But, whatever happens, the Speaker is the boss of the parliament, and this motion depends on the mover and the Speaker. GNUT will let democracy and our law play out.”

The notice for the motion of no-confidence was submitted to parliament on Monday, May 28, by Opposition member and MP for Central Honiara, Gordon Darcy Lilo.

The notice matured yesterday, and was initially set to be tabled in parliament today.

The Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT) as of last night boasts 32 members. Opposition is reportedly with 17.

Nine MPs joined government over the weekend, marking a U-turn in the numbers game.

When the 10 government MPs resigned on Monday last week, GNUT was left with 23 members against Opposition’s boosted side commanding 26.

But, come Friday night, the first Opposition MP to switch was announced as MP for North Malaita Daniel Waneoroa was sworn in as the new Minister for Rural Development (MRD).

The next day, before lunch time, two MPs from Opposition joined government and were immediately sworn in to ministerial portfolios.

MP for West Makira Derrick Manu’ari became Minister for Mines and Energy, and MP for Central Kwara’ae Ricky Fuo’o the new Infrastructure Development minister.

More MPs left Opposition on Sunday, and by yesterday it was announced that nine MPs in total had jumped ship.

A statement from the Prime Minister’s Press Secretariat yesterday said the other six MPs are: Rollen Seleso – MP for South Guadalcanal, Nestor Ghiro – MP for Central Makira, John Tuhaika Jnr – MP for Rennell Bellona, Claudius Teiífi – MP for West Kwaio, Stanley Sofu – MP for East Kwaio, William Marau – MP for Ulawa/Ugi.

These six MPs have not been assigned portfolios yet as GNUT settles down with its reshuffling.

On Sunday, Frederick Kologeto MP for South Vella La Vella and party leader for GNUT’s second largest coalition partner, the People’s First Party (PFP), was sworn in as Deputy Prime Minister.

Mr Kologeto continues with his portfolio as Minister for Communication and Civil Aviation.

And, Cathy Nori, MP for Maringe/Kokota, became Minister for Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs.

Yesterday, more reshuffling took place as Jamie Vokia, MP for North East Guadalcanal became Minister for Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration, replacing Harry Kuma, MP for North West Choiseul, who is the new Minister for Finance and Treasury.

Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources is still vacant after former minister, Nestor Ghiro, resigned from it Monday last week. It is still unclear who will be new fisheries minister.

Of the nine MPs who joined GNUT from the Opposition group, five had been part of the 10 who defected on Monday, April 28.

They are: Mr Seleso, Mr Ghiro, Mr Teiífi, Mr Sofu and Mr Marau.

Before they had resigned, Seleso was minister for MRD and Ghiro the minister for fisheries. The other three were back-benchers.

Meanwhile, it has been reported that the Opposition group, which had led in numbers from the beginning, cracked during a meeting on Friday last week when they could not agree on who to become prime minister once they came into power.

Sources within the Opposition group said when it became clear that MP Manasseh Sogavare was to be their PM candidate, one of the earliest Opposition parties led the walkout.

An Opposition MP, speaking on condition of anonymity told Island Sun over the weekend that ‘regionalism’ had a part to play in the Opposition group’s disintegration.

“When blocs within our group began pushing for their agenda, we lost the national cause of finding the right leader to lead this nation. It became who should be leader because of him being from a particular region. Many of us found this distasteful and look, we are losing members by the numbers now,” the MP said.

Yesterday, GNUT met at Caucus and reinforced government’s collective commitment to stability, good governance, and service to the nation.

Prime Minister Manele reminded members of the important responsibilities before them, including key national priorities that require their continued attention once the motion is addressed, a statement by PM Press Secretariat yesterday said.

“At this time, it is essential that we remain focused on our shared responsibility to provide stable and effective leadership for the people of Solomon Islands,” Manele said.

The Government remains confident in its mandate under the 12th Parliament and continues to uphold its commitment to national unity and development, the statement said.

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BY INDY MAEALASIA

THE newly reconstructed and historic Number 1 House—soon to become the country’s second museum in Tulagi, Ngella could be the boost Central Islands Province’s (CIP) tourism sector needs.

In his remarks during the handover, Premier Michael Salini said Tourism is a key priority under his administration, alongside Agriculture and Fisheries.

“We believe that the No.1 House Museum will be a major tourist attraction that will bring people from around the world,” he said.

“We believe that the future of Central Province lies in the tourism sector. We have so much potential, and if we can develop this potential, we can achieve the future we want for our province and our people.”

Premier Salini added that the benefits of tourism development would not only uplift the province but also contribute to national tourism growth and the broader Solomon Islands economy.

He said his administration’s long-term vision is to position CIP as a tourism hub in the country, but stressed that achieving this goal would require strong partnerships.

“I, on behalf of the government and the people of my province, call on the national government, donors, and partners to continue to support us to achieve this ambitious vision,” he said.

In addition to the No.1 House Museum, which will host both colonial and cultural exhibitions dating back to the colonial era and beyond, the Premier outlined several other ambitious tourisms plans for Tulagi.

“The provincial government has also set aside the waterfront land as a tourism and recreational site. It will have a jetty, a recreational area with amenities where our guests can come and rest, have a cup of coffee or drink before exploring the many tourism sites around the island,” Premier Salini said.

He added that the Tulagi seawall has also been earmarked for development as a major tourism site.

Premier Salini made an open call to genuine investors to visit the province and explore available investment opportunities. He also extended appreciation to existing tourism operators for their ongoing contribution to the development of tourism in Central Province.

“We are grateful to those who ensure that tourists are able to enjoy these facilities and the many natural and cultural attractions our beautiful islands have to offer,” he said.

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BY INDY MAEALASIA

THE Central Islands Provincial Government has officially taken ownership of the newly reconstructed House Number 1 Museum—the historic former residence of the first British Resident Commissioner, Sir Charles Morris Woodford.

In a handover ceremony held in Tulagi on Friday, 2nd May, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MCT) formally handed over the building to Central Islands Province (CIP) Premier Michael Salini, in the presence of Tulagi residents.

In her keynote address, Minister for Culture and Tourism Choylin Douglas said the restored residence will become the Solomon Islands’ second museum.

 “The House No. 1 project is an important national initiative to preserve our heritage and culture and to create an anchor for tourism development in this historic township.  The island of Tulagi holds multiple layers of rich and significant history from its indigenous cultural heritage to its role as the first capital of Solomon Islands under British colonial administration, “she said.

She also highlighted Tulagi’s prominence in World War II and its place in the nation’s early commercial history, noting it was the site of the country’s first fish cannery.

Minister Douglas said the vision for the museum is to unite these diverse historical narratives in a way that educates, inspires, and connects future generations to the past while also attracting cultural tourism.

“We must know our history,” she emphasized. “While preserving it, we also invite visitors to experience Tulagi as a cultural and heritage destination.”

Now that the building has been handed over, MCT, the Central Islands Provincial Government, and other stakeholders will begin the next phase of the project—setting up the actual exhibitions.

“We will now begin the important work of collecting, curating and exhibiting historical materials that will bring this space to life,” she said.

Meanwhile, Premier Salini described the project as “historic” for both the province and the country.

“We gather here to witness an important event not only for Central Province but for the entire nation. The Number 1 House not only represents our colonial past but also the broader history of the Solomon Islands,” he said.

Perched atop a hill chosen by the Resident Commissioner in 1904, the reconstructed residence estimated to have cost SBD 3.9 million offers panoramic views of Tulagi Island and the surrounding seascape.

The building includes a reception area, office space, three bedrooms, storage rooms, and an external kitchen.

This project was made possible through the collective support of Central Island Provincial Government and the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening using the Provincial Capacity Provident Fund approach.

The tripartite memorandum of understanding was signed between the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, MPGIS and CIPG to jointly administer and implement this project.

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BY INDY MAEALASIA

MEMBER of Parliament for Ngella Constituency, Choylin Douglas has reaffirmed her commitment to driving infrastructure and agriculture development in the constituency.

Speaking recently, Mrs Douglas said the long-awaited road project for Small Gela’s Boli District is expected to commence soon, pending final cost and scoping reports from the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID).

“The road assessment was completed two months ago, and we are still waiting on the final reports. Once received, implementation will begin,” she said.

In the meantime, the constituency office has already purchased 10,000 nursery coconut seedlings, and Douglas is encouraging both existing and new farmers to begin clearing and preparing their land for planting.

“Our goal is to plant 20,000 coconuts this year. Our CDO and the team will be visiting communities to talk more about agriculture, including our plans to plant at least 40,000 cocoa trees,” she said.

She also announced that members of the CDC will soon begin screening project applications, including initiatives focused on improving water and sanitation services across Ngella.

Douglas, who also serves as the Minister for Culture and Tourism, emphasised that her top priority remains boosting agriculture and tourism as key drivers of rural development.

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BY NED GAGAHE

The long-envisioned fourth campus of Solomon Islands National University (SINU) in Malaita Province is moving closer to reality following a high-level meeting held on Friday, May 2, 2025, between a SINU delegation and the Malaita Provincial Government (MPG) technical team in Auki.

Led by Pro Vice-Chancellor Corporate, Dr William Parairato, the SINU team met with key MPG officials to advance discussions on the establishment of the Aligegeo campus.

A statement from SINU said the central focus of the meeting was the official transfer of land from MPG to SINU — a crucial requirement for the project to proceed.

A key outcome from the meeting was the agreement to establish a joint Steering Committee.

Once formed, the Committee will be responsible for finalizing all land transfer instruments in preparation for an official declaration during Malaita’s Second Appointed Day celebrations in August 2025.

Speaking during the meeting, Parairato reaffirmed SINU’s commitment to expanding its services to Malaita, stating the Aligegeo campus represents a strategic development that will provide lasting benefits to the province through education, training, and local economic growth.

Deputy Provincial Secretary Peter Herehura, who represented the MPG technical team, confirmed MPG’s strong support for the initiative and noted that preparatory work on the land documentation is already underway. He said MPG is committed to ensuring that all administrative and legal requirements are completed on schedule.

The meeting was followed by a site visit to the proposed Aligegeo campus location, which has been praised for its central location and the absence of land disputes — a factor seen as key to the project’s success.

This latest development builds on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between SINU and MPG on August 15, 2024, during the 41st Malaita Second Appointed Day celebrations.

The MoU was signed by SINU Vice Chancellor Professor Transform Aqorau and Premier Elijah Asilaua, in the presence of donor partners and hundreds of local residents.

The proposed Aligegeo campus will be SINU’s first outside of Honiara and is expected to offer academic programmes in agriculture, technical and vocational education and training (TVET), teacher training, and short courses tailored to Malaita’s development needs.

The campus aims to ease the financial burden on Malaitan students who travel to Honiara for studies, while at the same time creating local jobs, boosting infrastructure, and enhancing human capacity in the province.

The establishment of the Steering Committee marks the next critical phase in making the SINU 4th Campus a reality.

Currently, SINU has three campuses, all located in Honiara: Kukum, Ranadi, and Panatina.

The SINU Aligegeo campus will be the 4th campus.

The move is being hailed as a critical step forward for education in the province, with many Malaitans expressing their full support.

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BY LORETTA B MANELE

It is vital for people to know about PACER Plus and what it can do for them.

Roy Lagolago, head of the Samoa-based PACER Plus Implementation Unit (PPIU) expressed this at the first day of the 8th meeting of the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus Joint Committee at Mendana Hotel yesterday.

He stressed that it is important whether a farmer in the outer Malaita province or from any of the outer islands know about PACER Plus or not and what PACER Plus can do for them.

Lagolago stressed that without our people trading, PACER Plus is just another agreement.

In relation, he emphasised that people need to be aware that they as government officials are providing them with opportunities to discover the world and not just here in the Pacific.

“And I think this is an important reflection for us.

Look at the opportunities for our people, look at where we want to go to next.”

Moreover, Lagolago said they all feel what happens across the world and that is, sometimes, leaders across the other side of the world don’t realise we exist.

He added that this is where as people and communities, as PACER Plus, we are really resilient and able to withstand the challenges thrown at us.

“And we continue to do so and PACER Plus gives us that opportunity to provide the opportunities for our people, for our communities.”

He said this is something they should continue to reflect on as they deliberate more in the coming days.

It is understood that the meeting is attended by representatives from Australia, Cook Islands, Kiribati, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu and will focus on reviewing progress under the PACER Plus agreement, including updates on the implementation of the 2024-2025 annual work plan.

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