-New majority coalition calls on Prime Minister Manele to ‘do the honourable thing’ – resign or call parliament to debate the motion of no-confidence

-New coalition warns PM Manele’s delay tactics is a tilt towards ‘dictatorship’

BY IRWIN ANGIKI

The new coalition with the majority of MPs is calling again on Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele to do the ‘honourable thing’ – resign or call for parliament.

This statement comes as the notice of the Motion of No-Confidence (MoNC) against PM Manele matured in parliament yesterday with no sign of the prime minister calling for parliament to debate the MoNC.

Mr Manele had said on Sunday that he would call parliament at an ‘appropriate time’. But the new coalition says the most appropriate time is ‘now’.

With Manele prolonging his rule with a minority government, refusing to let go of power and delaying parliament from debating the MoNC, the new majority coalition warns that the prime minister is pulling Solomon Islands from a democracy ‘towards dictatorship’.

The new coalition boasts 28 MP members and PM Manele commands 22. Two of government’s MPs are in serious medical conditions, rendering only 19 MPs helping Manele run government.

Speaking on behalf of the new majority coalition yesterday, MP for East Are’are Peter Kenilorea Jnr called the group the ‘Government in waiting’.

The new opposition coalition is officially registered with the Political Parties Commission – comprising six parties; People First Party (PFP), Solomon Islands Democratic Party (SIDP), SI United Party (SIUP), Democratic Alliance Party (DAP), Iumi for Change Party (U4C) and SI Party for Rural Advancement Party (SIPRA).

Mr Kenilorea Jnr and Peter Shanel Agovaka (MP for Central Guadalcanal) represented the ‘Government in waiting’ at a press conference yesterday in which the group rebuffed PM Manele’s statements in his press conference on Sunday which the group said attempted to ‘undermine’ and bring ‘uncertainty’ to the current political crisis.

The new majority coalition is 28-MP strong and rock-solid

“We have now been together for one week as a group, 28 strong and being consistent throughout this whole week,” MP Kenilorea Jnr said.

“We are not simply saying that through photographs. It’s not just snapshots on photo. It’s not just rumours that I think the Prime Minister might be referring to it as such.

“It’s actually registered in the Political Parties Commission.

“We have a strong resolve to see this through right till its natural end. We see ourselves as the government in waiting.

“We already have the number. We already have the majority. We’re all about majority rule.

“We will be the next government for Solomon Islands. And that is the resolve that all of us 28 we have.

“To start we are the government in waiting and we look forward to that honour and privilege to serve our nation again in a new government. And that is something we want to say out front and to rebuff the idea that what is happening is perhaps unclear, uncertain. There is a clear certainty.

“We are very clear about our objectives, about what we are doing. And I would encourage you to check out the Office of the Commission for Political Parties. All the documentations are there and that should give you a good guidance.

“And I would also encourage the Prime Minister to also go and have a look at the registration of our coalition. It’s already there in black and white. All 28 have signed.”

PPIA supports new opposition coalition and condemns PM Manele’s minority government

“We now have the PPIA, which is the Political Party Integrity Act. That is a law in itself that governs how the coalition or political parties have coalition,” MP Agovaka said.

“And the PPIA is also a proof that [PM Manele] hasn’t got the number.”

MP Kenilorea Jnr said: “There is an effort to try and undermine what is happening here and perhaps doing the playbook of the old days where we didn’t have this particular office in place where the fluidity was more at play. Now, with this new Political Party Integrity Act and the Political Party Commission, I think unless you look if everyday change, change, somebody signed, resigned, more signed, resigned in a coalition or so, there is no fluidity anymore.

“So, the days where the fluidity, you don’t know who’s here, who’s there, photo taken today might not reflect what happens tomorrow, those days are gone. We are now in a new era where there’s a strong resolve by our group to look forward towards taking this country forward.”

Majority rule is a bedrock of our democracy

“We are all about majority rule. Majority rule is the bedrock upon which democratic countries are built,” MP Kenilorea Jnr said.

“That is the foundation upon which all that we are doing, otherwise it’s meaningless. Otherwise, we might as well be a dictatorship. We are very much a democratic country, believe in the values of democracy.

“And this is something that we thought the Prime Minister also believes in. That is why it’s quite surprising for some of us to start to hear this kind of dictatorship tendencies coming out and holding on to power. Because for us the clear and simple way forward in this impasse that we are now experiencing is simply resignation.

Numbers is important in politics, not just a concept

“Numbers are so important. And we refute and we … disagree with the suggestion that numbers somehow is a concept. Number is not a concept,” MP Kenilorea Jnr said.

“Number is what makes politics operate. Number is where you see the mandate that is given to the people that help to run government. Number is what gives us, as members of parliament, legitimacy.

“Number is what gives the prime minister legitimacy, because he has to win by absolute majority. And we want to say that number is the bottom end of democracy.

“The mandate that people give to us is controlled by the number. So, the number game, as we always say, is a real reality. It’s not a concept, it’s not something that you think about. It’s the fact that the number is so important.”

“The number game that we are playing is that the prime minister hasn’t got the number,” MP Agovaka said.

“It is evident in the fact that he is appointing ministers to supervise in other ministries, act in other ministries, so that in itself is a proof that he has no number. And the PPIA is also a proof that he hasn’t got the number.”

PM Manele twisting the issue of parliamentary chairmanship

“The issue about the parliamentary chairmanship, how it’s been framed by the prime minister is not the right way to see what we’re going through now,” MP Kenilorea Jnr said.

“It’s framed as a separation of powers, when we all know that the prime minister is elected by parliament. That is a convergence of powers for executive, derived from parliament.

“The executive is accountable to parliament.

“And because of that accountability, he has to take a meeting in parliament, call for it, so that we can really go through that full accountability in parliament.

“That’s something that you see throughout commonwealth parliament, that happens now and again. [It is not a] new something. It might be new for Solomon Islands, [that is true].

“It questions the legitimacy of the executive. When we, who are on this side of the house, who man much of the chairmanship, we resign, that is a protest that there is a minority government in place.”

Government ministers in parliament committees against separation of powers

“Once the prime minister would start to appoint people into those committees again, then the separation of power that he’s been talking about calls into question,” MP Kenilorea Jnr said.

“How would you have people in government sitting in those committees to scrutinise again the government? How can you have your own people do the scrutiny? That in itself goes way against what the prime minister is trying to promote as separation of powers.

“That in itself, prime minister, if you start to do that, you’re driving us straight into a constitutional crisis where you have members of the executive manning parliamentary committees, where you’re supposed to have scrutiny and oversight over the role of the executive, but it’s now done by members of the executive.

“Where is that division? Where is that separation? If you go down that route, you are just committing what is potentially a constitutional crisis.”

Vote of no-confidence takes precedence

MP Agovaka said ‘everything’ that Prime Minister Manele had mentioned in his Sunday press conference are secondary to the democratic principle of numbers.

“That principle must stand. The vote of no confidence is an important motion that takes precedence during parliament sitting. [When there is a] vote of no confidence, first we leave aside all the other motions and we concentrate on the vote of no confidence.

“And parliament must be convened to look at this vote of no confidence. It shows that the house has no confidence in the prime minister.

“He is holding the country to ransom, saying that it is in the national interest. And he has not deliberated on what that national interest is.”

For the love of this nation, PM must call parliament

“I would like to call on my friend, the prime minister, to seriously think about this nation, for the love of this nation and people, that he should call parliament, so that we can test this number,” MP Agovaka said.

“Resign from your position that you’ve now lost numbers, accept that, or call Parliament and test your number on the floor of Parliament,” MP Kenilorea Jnr said.

Background

On March 16, 19 government MPs including 12 ministers resigned from the Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT) coalition.

A notice for a Motion of No-Confidence was served to Parliament on March 17.

Yesterday, this notice matured its seven days and today (Tuesday, March 24) marks the beginning of when the motion can be debated.

It can only be debated when parliament is called for by the prime minister.

On February 2 this year PM Manele in a press conference voiced his intention to call for parliament either in May or June.

The Governor General (GG) has come out saying he does not have the power to call for parliament, adding that he can only do so under advice from the prime minister. This followed a petition by the opposition coalition for the GG to call parliament.

PM Manele told a press conference on Sunday, March 22, that he would call parliament at ‘the appropriate time’.

Furthermore, on March 19 nine chairpersons of nine of the parliamentary select committees resigned – a move which crippled parliament in its oversight functions, and looked to force PM Manele to resign or call parliament.

All nine former chairpersons are MPs in the new opposition coalition. The tenth committee was vacant after its chairperson was appointed a government minister earlier last week.

This is PM Manele’s third MoNC. In the first two MoNC the prime minister had not delayed in calling parliament to debate the two MoNC.

By the time the motions matured, PM Manele had already secured majority numbers to defeat them.

In this instance, the MoNC has matured and PM Manele is with a minority. He has not yet called for parliament.

Photo: Supplied

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The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) has successfully completed Operation RAIBALANG 2026 by RSIPV (Royal Solomon Islands Police Vessel) Gizo, reaffirming the organisation’s ongoing commitment to safeguard Solomon Islands’ maritime domain.

Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) in a statement yesterday said Operation RAIBALANG is a multilateral regional initiative coordinated under the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) and was conducted from 3 to 4 March 2026.

The operation brought together Pacific partners to combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing while strengthening maritime security across the region.

RSIPF said during this operation, RSIPV Gizo patrolled extensively across Solomon Islands waters, covering a total of 2,087.92 nautical miles during the operation.

Throughout this patrol, the team conducted 14 vessel boardings, including six Chinese-flagged vessels, seven Taiwanese-flagged vessels, and one local fishing vessel.

The boarding teams with support from an onboard fisheries officer also carried out thorough inspections to ensure compliance with fisheries regulations.

“These inspections involved verifying fishing licences and conditions, examining catch logs and reporting records, assessing crew welfare, conducting searches for any illicit or illegal activities, and inspecting vessel documentation as well as storage areas.

“All vessels boarded were found to be fully compliant with their licence conditions and remain in good standing with the Forum Fisheries Agency,” said RSIPF.

Commanding Officer of RSIPV Gizo, Superintendent Naotoro, emphasised the importance of maintaining a visible maritime presence within Solomon Islands’ Exclusive Economic Zone as a strong deterrent to illegal fishing and other maritime crimes.

He raised the need to increase patrol frequency in the eastern EEZ and other remote areas that were not fully covered during this operation.

This patrol also had some initial challenges such as adverse weather conditions and crew fatigue due to limited rest.

Nevertheless, the team demonstrated resilience and professionalism to successfully complete the mission.

RSIPF said the Operation RAIBALANG’s success was possible through strong regional cooperation and support, including aerial surveillance provided by the Pacific Maritime Security Program (PMSP) and QUAD partners, analytical support from the Regional Fisheries Surveillance Centre at the Forum Fisheries Agency, and maritime domain awareness support from the Police Maritime Operations Centre.

Commander RSIPF Maritime, Superintendent Nevol Soko, commended the crew of RSIPV Gizo and the fisheries officers for their dedication and professionalism in protecting Solomon Islands’ marine resources.

He also acknowledged the Australian Government, through the Defence Cooperation Program (DCP), for its continued support in funding this important operation.

“The RSIPF remains committed to working closely with regional and international partners to ensure our oceans remain secure, sustainable, and free from illegal activities,” the statement said.

Photo credit: RSIPF

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BY JUNELYN KELLY

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) is taking a major step to strengthen cervical cancer prevention with the completion of the country’s first training on HPV DNA testing and treatment.

The week-long training was conducted by the Ministry’s Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) Division from 5-10, March 2026.

MHMS in a statement yesterday said the training was supported by the Australian Centre for the Prevention of Cervical Cancer (ACPCC), the Australian Government through DFAT, and the Solomon Islands Planned Parenthood Association (SIPPA).

This initiative is said to be the first introduction of HPV DNA testing in Solomon Islands.

The training focused on upskilling health workers who were previously trained in Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA).

Deputy Secretary for Health Improvement, Dr Nemia Bainivalu, said HPV DNA testing is the most effective method of cervical screening, as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

“This initiative represents a major milestone in our efforts to eliminate cervical cancer,” he said.

Bainivalu also emphasised that vaccinating girls aged 9 to 14 remains a key strategy, following a successful pilot in two provinces.

The HPV vaccination programme was rolled out nationwide in 2019. However, coverage declined during the COVID-19 pandemic to 11 percent, before recovering to over 80 percent through a campaign last year.

Since 2016, more than 15,000 women have undergone cervical screening using VIA, with over 1,000 receiving treatments for pre-cancerous lesions. Screening services were also expanded to Makira and Choiseul provinces for the first time in 2025, Bainivalu said.

The ministry now aims to extend services to Central, Temotu, and Rennell and Bellona provinces this year.

Bainivalu said more than 90,000 women aged 30 to 49 remain at risk, with over 5,000 women entering this age group each year.

Meanwhile although national data remains limited, cervical cancer is among the top ten causes of death among women in Solomon Islands.

He said that cervical cancer is highly preventable and is the only cancer with a global elimination strategy led by WHO.

The introduction of HPV DNA testing is expected to significantly increase screening coverage, including options such as self-swabbing, which reduces the need for clinical examinations and supports outreach services.

“This will accelerate screening coverage while existing screen-and-treat approaches continue,” he said.

Bainivalu acknowledged the contributions of partners, stakeholders, and health workers in supporting the initiative.

Australian High Commissioner Jeff Roach welcomed the development and reaffirmed Australia’s support under the Partnership for a healthy region.

“Australia is a global leader in HPV and cervical cancer prevention, and we are committed to sharing this expertise for the benefit of Solomon Islands,” he said.

He said the partnership continues to strengthen research, clinical collaboration, and capacity building in the country’s health sector.

Photo credit: MHMS

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BY JUNELYN KELLY

The Solomon Islands National University (SINU) has taken a major step towards improving the country’s cocoa industry by importing 27 new cocoa varieties from the University of Reading in the United Kingdom.

This initiative is part of a Cocoa Genetic Improvement Research Programme led by SINU in partnership with Kaprikonia Trading Company, Marist Farm, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL), a statement from SINU yesterday said.

Upon arrival, the cocoa varieties were placed at the ministry’s quarantine facility in Henderson, where they are undergoing seedling grafting before being transplanted.

Once ready, the plants will be established at Marist Farm, SINU, and KTC farms. Afterwards, they will be distributed to local farmers for field testing to assess how well they adapt to different environments.

The programme aims to strengthen the cocoa sector and improve livelihoods for smallholder farmers across the Solomon Islands.

The statement said currently, most farmers rely on traditional cocoa varieties such as Amelonado and while these older varieties are resilient and productive, they are considered lower-grade and less competitive in premium markets.

By introducing modern, high-quality cocoa varieties, SINU expects to boost both the quantity and quality of cocoa production. The use of grafting techniques with mature plant material will also allow the cocoa trees to flower and bear fruit earlier, increasing efficiency for farmers.

The statement said the programme also incorporates modern technology.

Each grafted plant will be tagged with a QR code, allowing easy access to detailed information about the plant and its location.

According to Dr. Vaeno Wayne Vigulu, this initiative represents a significant advancement for the cocoa industry.

With improved planting materials and innovative practices, the programme offers promising prospects for higher-quality production and better economic opportunities for cocoa farmers in the future.

Photo credit: SINU

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Solomon Kings regret missed chances in dramatic draw

BY RICHARD MENANOPO

Solomon Kings FC were left to rue a string of missed chances after being held to a tense 1-1 draw by South Melbourne FC in a high-quality clash at the National Stadium.

In a match defined by late drama, both sides struck at the death of each half, but it was the Kings who will felt that they let victory slip after a dominant display.

Head coach Ben Cahn did not hide his disappointment post-match.

“The boys were brilliant tonight… my feeling is we probably did enough to win that,” Cahn said.

“We had a lot of chances. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to take them and they got that goal at the end.”

The Kings created numerous opportunities and showed resilience against a physical South Melbourne side, but were ultimately punished late after being forced to reshuffle defensively.

Cahn pointed to key absences at the back during the decisive moment.

“We had to defend that last corner without both our central defenders on the pitch… it was almost a completely new back four,” he said.

Despite the frustration, the Kings boss praised the team’s growth and the amazing home support.

“It hurts… but the bigger picture is really special. I think we did something amazing tonight and this is the start of a great journey for Solomons football.”

The result keeps Solomon Kings in the top-four race heading into the final stretch, with Cahn confident his side can deliver when it matters most.

“We believe we’ve got what it takes to go and win the games we need to finish in the top four.”

Backed by a passionate home crowd and buoyed by an improving performance, the Kings may have missed their chance for three points—but they sent a clear message that they are a rising force in the competition.

Photo credit: Tony Iroga

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By RODRICK DESURI 

Auki 

The Besi Youth Association in North Malaita sold their first batch of local taro to Goshen Enterprise Limited yesterday.

In an interview with the chairman of the Besi Youth Association yesterday, Abel Wanesuia, he said this first sale is truly a breakthrough for them.

He said that it also demonstrates trust and it is a real market opportunity following their signed memorandum of understanding with Goshen Enterprise. 

“It proves that the project is viable and that the market is real. This builds trust with partners like Goshen Enterprise Ltd and opens doors for long-term business relationships,” he said.

He said that marketing their own products also motivates and shifts the mindset of their young members.

“It surely will motivate our youths after earning their first sale, shifting their mindset from dependency to self-reliance,” he said.

He said financially, it will also begin the flow of income that can support further farming, expansion of production and as means to help sustain the association.

He said that it also strengthens their teamwork, discipline, and accountability among their members.

He thanks the Australian government for their support and the Almighty God for strength throughout their journey.

“We humbly acknowledge God for his guidance and strength throughout this journey. We also extend our sincere gratitude to the Australian government for their support,” he said.

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By RODRICK DESURI 

Auki 

A Family-Life talks session was held this week at Larione, West Kwaio, Malaita Province, and it revealed that cervical and breast cancer in women’s bodies are allegedly caused by medical and traditional treatments used to avoid pregnancy or abortion. 

The Family-Life team is a Catholic group formed under Buma Holy Spirit Parish in West Kwaio. 

The facilitator, Arthur Agwa, during one of their sessions yesterday, said cervical and breast cancer is most likely caused by abortion-related tools and equipment used to prevent unwanted pregnancies. 

He said cancer is becoming a leading cause of death in the country because mothers affected by the consequences of these tools and equipment do not want to report their conditions and seek treatment at hospitals and clinics when it is in its early stages.

He said that according to their family-life teaching, the human body is the temple of God, and it can be affected when people want to use follow and use their own intelligence.

“Our human body is the temple of God and was created by God. God is an intelligent being. He molded us and doesn’t miss anything that each human body has in the world.

“But when we want to follow and use our own intelligence, that is when we face its effects, and cervical and breast cancer are the main effects,” he said.

Christina Bubuleu, a mother of six children who has gone through this said the effects are real.

She explained that when she used material tools and equipment to prevent pregnancy, she felt and encountered many pains in parts of her body.

She said she also experienced abnormal menstruation.

“For surely, I experienced and encountered the effects of using materials like diaphragms, and it really affected my body.

“After I realized that the pains within my body were caused by the diaphragm, I went to a priest and confessed all to him,” she said.

The Family Life Talks is an organized team formed by Catholic christians.

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BY ALICE T CAMPBELL

Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock’s (MAL) Biosecurity Solomon Islands (BSI) team successfully carried out an awareness program at Betikama Adventist College.

This is the first school for BSI to carry out awareness at and it also marks the start of its school outreach activities for 2026, a statement from MAL yesterday said.

The event was officiated by the school’s Agriculture head of department, Mr. Kendrick Tango’eha Tahea and attended by students from forms 1 to 7 in the school’s new hall.

The session was delivered by a team of three officers from different units within Biosecurity Solomon Islands, representing the Surveillance Unit, the Biosecurity Emergency Coordination Centre (BECC), and the Publicity and Information Unit.

MAL said the presentation introduced students to the history and role of biosecurity in Solomon Islands, including the shift from the former Solomon Islands Agriculture Quarantine Service to Biosecurity Solomon Islands.

“It also explained how biosecurity helps protect agriculture, the environment, the economy, and public health, while highlighting the country’s links to key international biosecurity organisations and frameworks such as the WTO, IPPC, WOAH, and WHO,” the statement said.

Deputy Principal Mr Kelly Patovaki praised the initiative and encouraged students to consider agriculture as a promising future career path particularly in specialised areas like biosecurity.

BSI Publicity Officer Leon Boso said that school awareness will remain a priority throughout 2026, and they have plans to reach more major schools throughout the year.

“While communication platforms such as social media, radio, and signboards remain important. But Face-to-face awareness continues to be one of the most effective ways to share information directly with communities.

 “When combined with other communication methods, awareness efforts can help information reach the public more effectively and create lasting understanding through repetition and engagement,” he said.

Boso stressed that students are future leaders and play an important role when it comes to spreading awareness to families and communities.

The officer highlighted that invasive alien species (IAS) including harmful exotic plants, animals, pests, and disease-causing organisms are an increasing national threat and can spread and severely impact biodiversity and livelihoods.

“Key concerns highlighted were rabies, a zoonotic disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans; African swine fever, which threatens the pork industry; Banana Wilt Associated Phytoplasma (BWAP), which poses a significant risk to banana and coconut production; and cocoa pod borer, which continues to threaten the cocoa industry,” said MAL.

Boso pointed out that biosecurity cannot address these challenges alone and that every citizen has a role to play by reporting any unusual insect, pest, disease, or damage affecting crops or animals to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.

MAL said Biosecurity Solomon Islands extends its sincere appreciation to Betikama Adventist College for inviting the team to deliver the awareness session.

“Through programs like this, Biosecurity Solomon Islands aims to strengthen public understanding and encourage shared responsibility in protecting Solomon Islands from harmful pests and diseases,” the statement said.

Photo credit: MAL

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