BY JUNELYN KELLY & IRWIN ANGIKI

The SIG Scholarship list for 2026 is yet to be published.

This is despite the list being officially endorsed by Education Minister Tozen Leokana on Thursday last week.

Island Sun was told at the endorsement ceremony that the list would be published the next day. It did not happen.

However, a portion of the list was emailed to ongoing SIG students in Fiji on Monday this week.

The email contained a list of 118 names purportedly of new SIG recipients awarded scholarships for USP (University of the South Pacific) Laucala campus and FNU (Fiji National University). Island Sun has sighted this email.

Ongoing SIG students in Fiji were instructed to inform anyone they knew in the list that he/she has been awarded a SIG scholarship, and to advise them to go to the National Scholarship Division at the Education Ministry ‘as soon as possible’.

“Check with them, if he or she has yet to apply for admission, please tell them to do so as soon as possible,” the email said.

Students and parents decry this seemingly secretive way the education ministry is releasing the list.

“While many of us parents and applicants are waiting anxiously for the list, the ministry of education (MEHRD) after officially endorsing the list, has not published it for us to see.

“Instead now we are seeing a small part of the list is being sent to ongoing SIG sponsored students in Fiji telling them to inform those who have been awarded. Is there anything MEHRD and SITESA are trying to hide from public?” the parents and applicants told Island Sun this week.

Meanwhile, officials from the National Training Unit (NTU) who spoke to Island Sun under condition of anonymity yesterday deny that the list in the student emails is the official list for USP Laucala and FNU students.

“That is an eligibility list, which is a preliminary one used in the early stages of selection. It is different to the official one.

“We have advised those circulating it to stop since they are spreading misinformation,” the NTU officials said.

On Monday this week, NTU Director John Iromea told Island Sun reporter Junelyn Kelly that they are waiting for SITESA (Solomon Islands Tertiary Education and Skills Authority) to provide the official list before they can publish them.

He could not comment when asked why the delay after Minister Tozen Leokana officially endorsed the list on Thursday last week.

The scholarship list will be published on the national scholarship office’s official social media platform, Island Sun was told. The name of the facebook page was not given.

Island Sun was also told that successful applicants will receive notification via for their application portals.

In-service applicants are advised to contact the Ministry of Public Service and TPU/MEHRD for further information.

There is a notice at the NTU office saying the national scholarship office is closed to consultations this week, Jan 9 – 13, to allow them to focus on scholarship matters.

The SIG scholarship 2026 list was late, endorsed on February 5 by Minister Leokana.

FNU semester 1 began on Monday (Feb 9) this week, and USP semester 1 begins on Monday, Feb 23.

SINU starts classes on March 2.

PNG tertiary institutions – PAU on Feb 23, UniTech on Feb 23. UPNG Waigani and Turama already began classes on Feb 9.

The ongoing delay exacerbates the dilemma applicants and parents are facing, furthermore successful recipients may be late for admission to these institutions.

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BY ALICE CAMPBELL

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MCT) and Tourism Solomons is calling for a meeting with event organisers to push for coordinated approach to national events.

This is to discuss ways to address challenges that continue to limit the effective marketing of events at both national and international levels, a statement by Tourism Solomons yesterday said.

The meeting is set for 10am this Thursday at the Tourism Solomon Head Office Boardroom, Mendana Avenue.

The meeting will focus on confirmed annual events across cultural, music, sporting, MICE and religious categories, with the aim to strengthen collaboration and improve planning outcomes, the statement said.

The meeting will also reinforce the supportive role that the ministry and national tourism office can play in marketing and promotion, while clearly outlining the commitments required from event organisers to enable effective promotion to both domestic and international audiences.

Culture remains a central pillar of the Solomon Islands’ tourism identity, our very DNA, and events such as the Roviana Lagoon Festival, Shell Money Festival, Wogasia Festival and Tinakula Festival are now firmly established as some of the country’s most significant annual celebrations, the statement said.

Together with an ever-growing calendar of cultural, sporting, musical, religious and community activities, they showcase the Solomon Islands’ unique traditions, creativity and diversity, in the process attracting strong local participation and instilling a deep sense of community pride.

Supported by both government and commercial partners, these strengths provide a solid foundation on which to build a more structured, coordinated and market-ready approach to event promotion intended to provide even greater benefit.

However, challenges continue to limit the effective marketing of events at both national and international levels.

This includes lack of early confirmation of key information — including dates, programs and locations — an issue that persists year after year and results in missed opportunities.

This affects engagement with potential partners, such as airlines, wholesalers and tour operators, many of whom have expressed long-standing interest in developing event-based travel packages.

When events are well planned and promoted, they have the capacity to deliver meaningful and lasting economic benefits to communities and tourism operators alike.

But to fully realise this potential, stronger coordination, clearer timelines and a shared understanding of market requirements are essential.

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BY ALICE T CAMPBELL

Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has urges Permanent Secretaries to look beyond the government’s budget for funds for their ministries.

Manele uttered this at a meeting held with permanent secretaries (PS) on Friday last week.

The meeting was chaired by the Secretary to Cabinet Nego Sisiolo with Prime Minister Manele attending as Special Guest, a statement by the PM Press Secretariat on Sunday said.

Manele acknowledged and commended PSs for their dedication and hard work throughout 2025, noting that the shared objective of the public service is to serve the people of Solomon Islands.

Highlighting the critical role of PSs in implementing government policies, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of close collaboration with ministers and public servants to ensure policies reflect the priorities of the Government.

He calls for stronger engagement between the Prime Minister’s Implementation and Monitoring Unit (PIMEU) and line ministries to support effective policy delivery.

Manele also encourages permanent secretaries to adopt innovative approaches in sourcing additional financing for projects, noting that ministries face different challenges and opportunities.

“Ministries are encouraged to look beyond government budgets and explore partnerships with development partners and agencies,” he said, urging PSs to involve their Ministers closely in project development to ensure alignment and awareness.

The Prime Minister further emphasised the importance of legislative work, reminding permanent secretaries of Bills before Parliament to work closely with the Attorney General’s Chambers.

He said strong performance by PSs includes a clear understanding of legislation and a firm commitment to progressing Bills relevant to their ministries.

Preparations for Solomon Islands’ 50th Independence Anniversary in 2028 were also highlighted as a major national milestone, the PM Press Secretariat statement said.

Manele noted that a National Taskforce has been established to lead preparations and encourages Permanent Secretaries to ensure that celebrations are marked by meaningful achievements, including the completion of key development projects.

The meeting agenda included discussions on preliminary outcomes of the 2025 Budget implementation, key reminders on the 2026 Budget strategy, distribution of the Fabric of Laws booklet funded under the ASIPJ through the Attorney General’s Chambers, and other business, the statement said.

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BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

A diarrhoea outbreak has claimed the lives of two adults and one child in Isabel Province within a week, leaving residents of Huali village in shock and grief.

Reports reaching Island Sun said community members in Huali are still struggling to come to terms with the outbreak, which has affected villagers from adults to infants since last month.

In an interview with Island Sun, Director of the Isabel Province Health and Medical Authority, Martin Gavira, confirmed that Buala Hospital has received reports of the situation.

“We received reports that community members are affected by diarrhoea, from adults to children.

“Initial reports highlight symptoms such as passing loose, watery stools, vomiting, and in serious cases, passing blood,” he said.

Gavira said a medical team from Buala Hospital was deployed to Huali to conduct an assessment and identify the cause of the outbreak.

“Our team travelled to Huali yesterday. The team includes doctors, nurses and laboratory technicians.

“They will carry out investigations to verify the contributing factors,” he said.

Gavira, who is from Huali village himself, said the village population has increased over the years, making proper settlement planning and sanitation critical.

He said community leaders must establish simple rules to ensure cleanliness and protect public health.

“This is a reminder that we need to stop using mangroves and bushes as toilets. This community needs proper sanitation due to its population size,” he said.

Gavira calls on residents of Huali to take precautions and strictly follow good hygiene practices to prevent further spread of the disease.

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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has met with provincial premiers and their representatives to discuss the Provincial Government Act 1997, with a shared preference emerging for an overall review of the legislation.

The meeting was requested by provincial leaders to consider whether to proceed with targeted amendments or undertake a broader review of the Act. Following discussions, premiers agreed that a comprehensive review would be the preferred option.

Prime Minister Manele said that for nearly a decade, efforts have focused on making quick fixes and addressing specific legislative gaps in the Act. However, he noted that it took almost ten years for the draft amendments to be prepared.

He said the option of conducting a full review of the Act was discussed with the premiers, and this was where their preference lay.

The Prime Minister had met with the then Minister for Provincial Government, Wayne Ghemu and his team to brief them on the views expressed by the premiers during the meeting.

As a result, Manele said a policy paper will be submitted to cabinet, noting that any shift from amendments to a full review would require a change in policy.

“Whether you go for the quick fixes, which is the current position, or move towards a broader review, that may take another ten years,” Manele said.

On the issue of federalism, Manele said premiers understood that work on the Provincial Government Act would continue as part of the broader transition towards a federal system.

He said this process aims to strengthen provincial capacity and improve resource readiness.

The Prime Minister recalls that in the past five to ten years, some provinces had indicated they wanted to move to a federal system immediately, which he said reflected a lack of understanding of the required processes.

However, he said discussions during the recent meeting showed that premiers and their representatives now have a clearer understanding of federalism and the steps involved.

Manele said the key interest expressed by premiers during the meeting was the review of the current Provincial Government Act.

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