BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Bradley Tovosia, Acting Minister for Infrastructure and Development welcomed delegates to the 25th session of the Asia-Pacific Heads of Maritime Safety Agencies (APHoMSA) Forum currently underway in Honiara.

Solomon Islands is hosting APHoMSA that commenced on Monday 13th and will conclude tomorrow, Friday 17th April at the National Aquatic Centre.

The one-week forum brought together 50 heads of Maritime Safety Agencies and Senior Officials from 21 countries across Asia and Pacific with other partner organisations.

Speaking during the opening ceremony, Tovosia, said Solomon Islands is and foremost a maritime nation.

He told delegates that Solomon Islands is a country of more than 900 islands spread across a vast ocean area of over 1.6 million square kilometres.

“Our population is growing rapidly and it will exceed one million people, one million in the coming years, all relaying on the maritime transport for their daily lives,” he said.

He said that one hundred and eighty domestic vessels connect the islands with around 700 foreign vessel calls each year have been fishing vessels and the rest serving logging, mining and general supplies.

“We have thousands of small boats, moving people and goods between our communities. Our ports, are gateways for economy, supporting exports, imports and livelihoods across the country. That is why we are particularly honoured to welcome the heads of maritime safety agencies from across the Asia and the Pacific, some of you coming from across the Pacific. You are visiting a country that understands deeply the importance of maritime transport, its opportunities, its challenges and its responsibility.

“This week, we are proud to showcase our maritime sector, our people and our ocean. We hope that during your time here, you will enjoy our country, our strength, friendship, and strengthen our friendships and build the partnerships that will shape the future of maritime cooperation in a region. On behalf of the government of Solomon Islands, I warmly welcome you,” Tovosia said.

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BY LORETTA B MANELE

Solomon Islands National University (SINU) Vice Chancellor, Dr Transform Aqorau says Solomon Islands must work with all nations, east and west, north and south, that respect our dignity and aspirations.

He made the statement when he delivered the “New Academic Year Opening Address” at SINU’s Panatina Campus last week.

“We must be a friend to all and enemy to none, but we will not hesitate to assert our rights and speak the truth,” he said.

Aqorau said Solomon Islands may not be might in military or economic terms, but we have the moral power of truth and unity.

Quoting Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, he said intermediate and smaller powers are not helpless, but can and must help build a new order rooted in values like human rights, sustainable development, and solidarity.

Aqorau said countries in the Pacific share these values deeply and know that peace, cooperation and respect must remain in all of the regions.

“We will continue to champion a cooperative, rule-based regional order through the Pacific Islands Forum and other bodies because it protects the rights of all large and small.

“And as we will invest in our own resilience, strengthening food security, energy security, and disaster relief so that we can all withstand global shocks,” he said.

Aqorau said the above also challenges us to define our character.

Hence, he said it is how we respond with fear or with courage with passivity or with proactivity, that our future will be written.

The Vice Chancellor said we are also reminded in a very immediate way that the shocks of distant conquests are never truly distant from small islands such as ours.

Pointing out an example, he said the ongoing war involving Iran and the disruption of one of the world’s most critical energy corridors has sent tremors through the global economy, driving up oil prices and unsettling supply chains on which we depend.

Aqorau highlighted that for small islands, where fuels underpin almost every aspect of daily life, from electricity generation to transport to the cost of fuel, food, these global disruptions quickly become local realities.

“We are already seeing the sign and the signs, rising prices, pressure on household incomes, and increased costs for businesses.

“Projections suggest that inflation could climb sharply and economic growth could slow as these pressures work their way through our economy,” he said.

Aqorau pointed out that the crisis also exposes a deeper structural truth; our heavy reliance on imported fuel and on supply chains that pass through distant hubs like Singapore which leave us vulnerable, not only to price shocks, but to potential disruptions in supply itself.

In further remarks, he said this moment is not only a warning but a call to leadership.

“And I appeal to our leaders in Solomon Islands to rise up to their challenge now more than ever. It challenges us to confront honestly the risks we face and to act with foresight and resolve,” he said.

Aqorau said if we are to be masters of our own destiny then we must accelerate our journey towards energy security, investing in resilience, and reintroducing our dependence on forces beyond our control.

“In doing so, we transform vulnerability into purpose, and uncertainty into an opportunity to shape a stronger, more self-reliant Solomon Islands”, he said.

Photo: Loretta B Manele

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BY JUNELYN KELLY

Tozen Leokana, Minister for Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) officially launched the Solomon Islands ICT for Education Master Plan 2030 yesterday, setting a clear direction to modernise and digitalise the country’s education system.

Speaking at the event, he said the master plan provides a long-term vision to ensure that every child across the Solomon Islands has equitable access to quality and inclusive education supported by technology.

He said the initiative goes beyond the provision of devices and internet connectivity, focusing on improving learning outcomes through the effective use of digital tools in classrooms.

“The plan is about creating opportunities for learners, reducing inequalities and strengthening the overall education system,” Leokana said.

He said that the ICT Master Plan outlines strategies to develop an inclusive and resilient digital education system, equipping students with the skills needed to succeed in a rapidly changing and connected world.

Leokana acknowledged that the country continues to face challenges due to its geography and digital divide, but said that the plan prioritises equity through accessible and affordable technologies.

He also commended development partners and schools for their ongoing efforts to improve ICT access, including investments in solar energy and internet connectivity in remote areas.

Leokana said the Master Plan is built on four key pillars: ICT infrastructure, information systems, teachers’ digital skills, and digital learning resources, outlining a phased implementation approach, beginning with foundation work, and followed by scale-up and eventual system maturity.

He said that data-driven decision-making will play a critical role in the successful implementation of the plan.

He highlighted the importance of safeguarding students in the digital space, seeing that policies addressing cybercrime, cyberbullying and the responsible use of artificial intelligence are essential.

Leokana acknowledges the support of development partners, including UNICEF, MFAT, DFAT, ADB and the Global Partnership for Education and their contributions towards the development of the plan.

Photo credit: Junelyn Kelly

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Tozen Leokana, Minister for Education and Human Resources said the recently published Autobiography of Chancellor of SINU Sir Dr. Nathan Kumamusa Kere is more than a personal memo.

Solomon Islands National University (SINU) officially launched the, “Village Boy Knight” Book, Autobiography of Dr. Kere on Monday this week.

Speaking as the guest speaker at the launch, Leokana said he views the publication as more than a personal memo.

“It is a contribution to the intellectual and cultural resources of our nation,” he said.

Leokana said the book offers a narrative through which students, educators and future leaders can engage with questions of identity, leadership and purpose.

“It is through such narratives that we begin to anchor education not only in knowledge acquisition but in a meaningful way and in context.

“Over the decades, our institutions, leadership, pathways and aspirations have been informed by models not entirely our own. Yet within this transition, there remains powerful, lived experience rooted in our communities that continue to define who we are,” Leokana said.

He said the life of Sir Dr Nathan Kere reflects this inspiration, from a humble beginning village boy to national and international leadership.

“It does not only capture personal determination but also the enduring values of service, resilience and community that underpin Solomon Island as a society. His story, in many ways, a magazine of our national experiences,” he said.

He commends SINU for facilitating the important work in partnership with the Ocean University of China.

He said the decision to publish the autobiography in both English and Chinese reflects a forward-looking approach, one that has recognised the importance of dialogue, exchange and sharing of stories across culture and regions.

“The distribution of 500 copies to our schools across Solomon Islands represents a practical investment in our human capital development. And it ensures that these copies of stories do not remain confined to certain or known spaces but becomes accessible to our young people throughout the nation. Encouraging reflection, aspirations and a deeper understanding of what it means to lead and to serve,” he said.

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The Solomon Islands Government calls for stronger regional cooperation and immediate action to advance maritime development across the Pacific.

Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele highlighted this when he spoke at the 25th session of the Asia-Pacific Heads of Maritime Safety Agencies (APHoMSA) Forum currently underway in Honiara.

The Forum commenced on Monday 13th and will conclude tomorrow at the National Aquatic Centre.

The one-week forum brought together 50 heads of Maritime Safety Agencies and Senior Officials from 21 countries across Asia and Pacific with other partner organisations.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, PM Manele said that the Marine sector goes beyond ships and ports, serving as a vital link connecting communities to essential services such as health, education and markets.

He said that the country’s maritime sector is central to its identity and economic survival.

“Solomon Islands is at its core a maritime nation, and our ocean defines who we are as a people and our future,” he said.

The Prime Minister urges members of the Asia-Pacific maritime body (APHoMSA) to move from dialogue to implementation, seeing that while the organisation has played an important role in knowledge sharing, the region now faces urgent challenges.

“These include the global shift towards low-carbon shipping, increasing digitalisation, maritime safety concerns, and the growing need for a skilled workforce,” he told delegates.

He said that Pacific Island nations risk being left behind if they fail to adapt, potentially becoming destinations for outdated vessels and missing out on global maritime opportunities.

“To address these challenges, Pacific countries have developed the Pacific One Maritime Framework, which is expected to be endorsed by regional ministers. The framework aims to guide investment, cooperation and transformation in the sector, ensuring sustainable and inclusive growth,” PM Manele said.

He however, said that its success will depend on strong partnerships beyond the Pacific.

He calls on (APHoMSA) members to step up technical cooperation, support joint projects and invest in practical solutions.

“Solomon Islands has already begun implementing pilot projects focused on energy-efficient shipping, port development and workforce training, and is inviting partners to collaborate,” he said.

He voiced confidence that the meeting in Honiara will deliver concrete outcomes and strengthen regional commitment to a shared maritime future.

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