BY NED GAGAHE
Chairman of Solomon Islands National Provident Fund (SINPF) Board, Sir Dr Jimmie Rodgers, has warned that the country’s fast-growing population presents a major challenge for the Fund in the years ahead.
Speaking during the official announcement of the 2025 crediting rate in Honiara this week, Sir Jimmie said Solomon Islands has the fastest-growing population in the region, producing about 25,000 new births every year.
“While we register around 6,000 new members annually, 25,000 are entering the population. That means around 18,000 to 19,000 young people each year are not part of NPF, most of them unemployed,” Sir Jimmie stated.
He explained that this gap poses a challenge for the Fund, as it directly impacts membership growth and long-term sustainability.
Sir Rodgers stressed the need to expand coverage into the informal sector so more Solomon Islanders can contribute and benefit from the Fund.
“If our revenue does not grow in line with the population, then more mouths will go hungry. And when people are hungry, they get angry, and when they get angry, there are riots,” he said.
The SINPF chairman noted that planning ahead for the future requires balancing investment growth with expanding membership, adding that this is critical for the Fund’s role in maintaining social stability.
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