BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
The Solomon Islands Government, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Kingdom have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen transparency, accountability and coordination in the country’s mining sector as Solomon Islands prepares for increased mining activity and to rejoin the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).
In a joint media statement, the three partners said government institutions are stepping up efforts to protect the country’s natural resources from corruption, illicit financial flows and revenue leakages through stronger cooperation among key agencies.
The statement follows a national workshop in Honiara attended by more than 30 representatives from government ministries, oversight bodies, law enforcement agencies, financial intelligence institutions, accountability organisations, civil society groups and mining companies.
The workshop focused on building a coordinated national response to corruption, illicit financial flows and revenue leakages in the mining sector.
The workshop was organised by UNDP in partnership with the Solomon Islands EITI National Secretariat under the project supporting the Government of Solomon Islands to implement the EITI.
The initiative is funded by the Government of the United Kingdom. Participants examined corruption and governance risks while identifying practical ways to improve institutional cooperation, information sharing and coordinated responses among agencies responsible for regulation, revenue administration, financial intelligence, investigations and prosecution.
Opening the workshop on behalf of the Government, Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, Coswal Nelson, said protecting public revenues generated from natural resources is essential to achieve the country’s development goals.
He said the extractive industries sector has the potential to generate revenue, create opportunities and support national development, but weak governance creates opportunities for corruption and revenue losses.
He said that stronger coordination among institutions is essential to safeguard public resources and strengthen public confidence.
Representing the United Kingdom, Deputy British High Commissioner Cameron Millar said natural resources present significant opportunities for economic growth.
He however said that without strong governance systems they can become vulnerable to corruption, opaque ownership structures and substantial revenue losses.
He said transparency, accountability and institutional cooperation are vital to ensure that resource wealth benefits all Solomon Islanders, adding that lasting reforms must be driven by national institutions.
UNDP Programme Specialist for Inclusive Governance and Economic Growth, Solomon Kalu, said strengthening integrity in the extractive sector goes beyond preventing corruption and is key to ensuring that natural resource wealth contributes to the country’s long-term development.
He said stronger partnerships, better information sharing and practical actions among institutions will help improve transparency and accountability across the mining sector.
The joint statement said the workshop forms part of UNDP’s broader support for Solomon Islands’ re-engagement with the EITI through technical assistance, institutional capacity development, policy support and multi-stakeholder engagement.
It added that strengthening governance across the mining sector will help build public confidence and ensure the country’s mineral wealth delivers lasting benefits for current and future generations.
Photos: Supplied
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