MP Tuki looks forward to Public Service Bill 2025 ensuring more females employed for government

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Member of Parliament for Temotu Vatu constituency, Freda Tuki Rangirei hopes the Public Service Bill 2025 can address gender equality in the public workforce of the country.

Contributing to the bill, which is now in its second reading in parliament, she is grateful to be one of the few women currently in parliament and in the history of the Solomon Islands.

At the outset, the MP sincerely commends the intention of the bill which is to ensure a public service that has integrity, is transparent and accountable, and is high-performing.

She highlighted the importance of the reform, given the ongoing gender inequalities and disadvantages that certain groups, particularly women, continue to experience in the country.

“Current public service workforce data indicates that approximately 68 percent are men and only 32 percent are women employed by the government.

“It revealed that leadership and decision-making roles in the public service do not reflect the broader demographics of the Solomon Islands.

“Men hold over 80 percent of positions, such as Permanent Secretaries, Deputy Secretaries, Directors and Financial Controllers, as well as 58 percent of human resources managers’ roles,” she said.  

Furthermore, MP Tuki highlighted that most women Deputy Secretaries are in corporate or administrative areas, while men dominate technical roles.

Similarly, she added that men continue to occupy the majority of direct positions with legislative authority.

In light of this, MP Tuki said a legal framework that ensures a diverse and inclusive workforce can better serve a diverse public.

She emphasised that this could lead to improved decision-making, increased efficiency, and greater public trust aligned with government commitments to all of its citizens, especially those most vulnerable.

“The bill’s clear principles; transparency, accountability, fairness, equality and employee rights are commendable.

“I particularly acknowledge the Equality of Employment Opportunity Principle, which promotes fair competition, eliminates discrimination and encourages diversity reflective of our nation,” the MP said.

She reiterates her confidence in the Public Service Bill 2025 to address challenges in gender equality in the public workforce.  

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

A conservation group in South Malaita is helping communities build their own tilapia ponds.

The construction of the tilapia ponds is seen as a pivotal initiative undertaken by the dedicated members of the Apunepara Ha’amwaora Natural Resources Association (AHNRA).

AHNRA, a dynamic community-based organisation composed of committed individuals from the remote villages of Sarawasi, Kelinge, and Waitoto, is situated within the Maramasike Mangrove of South Malaita.

The tilapia pond initiative is an integral aspect of AHNRA’s strategic development plan for the years 2022 through 2035.

It aims to provide sustainable alternatives that alleviate pressure on the marine source of the region’s dwindling natural resources.

AHNRA believes that by embracing aquaculture, specifically the farming of Tilapia, the initiative not only fosters economic development but also prioritizes environmental stewardship, ensuring that local ecosystems are preserved for future generations.

Recently, this forward-thinking fish farming initiative received a significant boost through official recognition from the Malaita fisheries office.

In response, the office dispatched two knowledgeable staff members to conduct specialised training sessions on Tilapia farming techniques for the association’s members.

This training session sparked a passionate interest among participants, equipping them with essential skills and teaching a renewed sense of purpose and interest as they work towards their aquacultural goals.

With their newly acquired expertise, members of AHNRA are actively engaged in the hands-on construction of fish ponds. Their optimism about the recently introduced Nile tilapia, known for its fast growth and adaptability underscores the community’s hopes for sustainable aquaculture practices.

To date, the members have successfully constructed three new fish ponds, with plans to continue until members have a dedicated pond for tilapia farming.

Fish farming offers a multitude of benefits that extend beyond just food security. It serves as a vital source of protein for local families while also providing a potential source of income for the community.

By promoting aquaculture, this venture helps to lessen the pressure on the marine resources effectively conserving local fish populations.

In light of these promising developments, AHNRA encourage all community members who are eager for positive change to take advantage of this unique opportunity.

By participating in this initiative, they can gain invaluable insights into sustainable practices and contribute to the collective efforts of AHNRA, ensuring a prosperous and resilient future for all.

Photos: Supplied

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

People mandate their representatives to provide policy leadership, decision-making and law-making says Opposition Leader, Matthew Wale.

Speaking during the second reading of the Public Service Bill 2025 on the floor of parliament, Wale said that this ties policy decisions and law-making directly to the people’s mandate.

Wale said the public service is unelected and must not usurp the role of elected representatives in determining policy directions.

He went on to state that this is why it is important for ministers to take their roles seriously.

“It is why a cabinet is very, very important to our system of government. And once the policy decisions are made, it is the public service that implements the decisions. It is not the place of politicians to be directly implementing policy decisions,” Wale stressed.

He said that this is the boundary between political leaders and the public service.

“Ministers must not let PSs make policy. It is an important boundary that must be respected by both for our system of government to work effectively,” he said.

Wale said the government have encountered too many instances when this boundary has been deliberately breached.

“And in almost all those cases, some abuse of powers occurred,” he said.

Wale said that when the boundary is blurred or breached, the result is almost always corruption, abuse of public powers or such other biases.

“Both elected representatives and unelected public servants are trustees of the people of Solomon Islands over the powers and resources vested in them through the public offices they occupy and possess,” he said.

The Opposition Leader said that this principle of trusteeship is the critical foundation to all public service and it is important that this principle of trusteeship is taught as a core subject in its offerings on ethics.

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BY NED GAGAHE

Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele calls on all Solomon Islanders to unite and take collective responsibility for the nation’s future.

He made the statement at the launch of the National Development Strategy (NDS) 2016–2035 Medium Term Review Report and four key strategic documents in Honiara yesterday.

The event, held at the Mendana Hotel, brought together government officials, development partners, private sector representatives, and civil society organisations — all urged by the Prime Minister to work together to transform the findings of the review into real, measurable change.

“This is not just a government document. It is a national call to action.

“We must all take ownership — government, private sector, churches, communities, and individuals — because the future of Solomon Islands belongs to all of us,” Prime Minister Manele said.

The Prime Minister said the Medium-Term Review paints a mixed picture of progress under the NDS, revealing that while certain goals have been achieved, others remain far behind target due to economic shocks, social instability, and global challenges.

He said the lessons from the review must guide the next phase of development.

“We must diversify our economy, strengthen our institutions, and empower our people.

“We cannot afford to work in isolation. Development must be everyone’s business,” he said.

The review identifies five strategic objectives for the next decade — inclusive economic growth, poverty reduction and equitable development, quality health and education, environmental sustainability, and good governance.

To complement the review, four new strategic documents were also launched:

• The Solomon Islands Smooth Transition Strategy to Support Graduation from Least Developed Country Status
• Unlocking Potential for Productive Sectors in Solomon Islands: Challenges, Opportunities and Policy Considerations
• The Solomon Islands National Monitoring and Evaluation Systems Strengthening Strategy 2024–2028
• The Ministry of National Planning and Development Coordination Corporate Plan 2025–2027

Prime Minister Manele said these documents represent a “joined-up national roadmap” to guide development efforts in the years ahead.

“With these strategies, we now have a compass to navigate our journey. But a compass is only useful when we decide to move — and we must move forward together,” he said.

He also acknowledged the critical role of development partners such as Australia, New Zealand, Japan, the United Nations, and the European Union in supporting Solomon Islands’ national priorities.

“Partnerships have been central to our progress,” he said. “But true progress will come when every Solomon Islander, in every village and every province, takes part in building our shared future.”

As the country looks ahead to its 50th Independence Anniversary in 2028, the Prime Minister said the coming years will be crucial for shaping the nation’s destiny.

“Fifty years of independence will mean little if our people continue to live in poverty, if our forests are gone, if our children do not have access to quality education and health care,” he said. “We must act now — with courage, unity, and purpose — to make the next 50 years brighter than the last.”

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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Opposition Leader and Member of Parliament for Aoke/Langalanga, Matthew Wale says the Public Service Bill 2025, now before Parliament, will support growth in the Public Service.

Speaking in support of the bill introduced by the Minister of Public Service and Member of Parliament for West Guadalcanal constituency, Francis Sade, in Parliament this week, Wale said for many years, the country has been struggling with the effectiveness of the public service.

He said productivity has been an ongoing challenge for many years and performance measurement and reviews are essential tools to ensure accountability for any lack of effectiveness and low productivity.

“Some progress is being made on this matter, perhaps too slowly, but I see progress.

“It gives me hope that the potential for growth in public service is good, and this bill provides a good legislative framework to facilitate such growth,” he said.

Wale highlighted that as in all organizations, ethical and competent leadership is essential to ensuring the public service fulfills its potential and delivers services.

He pointed out that it is therefore important that such leadership is identified, cultivated, nurtured, and mentored within the public service.

Wale added that IPAM is obviously an important tool in this matter, although not the only one.

He stressed that there is a need to consider making IPAM more arms-length from the Ministry of Public Service, so that it can attract and maintain the talent and resources it needs, and be able to conduct research that may be useful to the public service.

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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Leader of the Independent Group in Parliament and Member of Parliament for East Malaita, Deacon Manasseh Maelanga, urges government to immediately ratify the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC).

The UNTOC is a critical international treaty designed to protect nations from the escalating threat of cross-border criminal networks.

A statement from the Independent Group said while Solomon Islands signed the Convention years ago, it remains unratified, leaving what Maelanga describes as a “dangerous gap in our national and regional security armour”.

“Criminal enterprises do not respect borders, they exploit them. While we sleep, syndicates are awake, weaving their illicit networks through our pristine waters and across our islands,” Maelanga warned.

He cautioned that the Pacific region is facing a rising tide of transnational organized crime, with the Solomon Islands now exposed to drug trafficking, human smuggling, and maritime exploitation.

“The tide is rising, and its wake is already lapping at our shores. The silent testimony of damaged boats found on our beaches with floating crime scenes, evidence of drug routes cutting through our own territory,” Maelanga said.

Maelanga, who is also an Anglican deacon, further identified a major legal vulnerability, the absence of specific laws enabling prosecutions of foreign nationals involved in transnational drug trafficking.

“This is a glaring loophole that turns our nation into a soft target. Ratifying UNTOC will give Solomon Islands the legal tools and international backing needed to close this gap and defend our borders,” he stressed.

Chair of Foreign Relations Committee and MP for East Are’Are, Peter Kenilorea Junior also supports Maelanga’s call, reaffirming that ratification in this instance is both urgent and straight-forward.

Currently, the Solomon Islands remains among a small number of nations worldwide yet to ratify the UNTOC, despite growing security challenges and regional cooperation commitments under the Pacific Islands Forum framework.

“Our message is simple, act now, ratify the convention, strengthen our laws, and protect our nation,” the statement said.

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PM Manele admits Solomon Islands lags behind in development goals

BY NED GAGAHE

Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has admitted that Solomon Islands is “off track” in achieving many of its national development goals, despite nearly a decade of implementing the National Development Strategy (NDS) 2016–2035.

Speaking during the official launch of the NDS Medium Term Review Report and four related strategic documents at the Mendana Hotel in Honiara yesterday, Prime Minister Manele delivered a frank and sobering assessment of the nation’s progress.

“The past nine years have tested us in ways we could never have imagined.

“The COVID-19 pandemic brought our economy to its knees. Civil unrest shook our confidence. Climate change continues to batter our shores. Global economic turbulence has made every step forward feel like two steps back,” he said.

The NDS Medium Term Review, compiled by the Ministry of National Planning and Development Coordination (MNPDC) with support from development partners, found mixed results across the five key NDS objectives — with notable progress in some areas but significant shortfalls in others.

“Our economy remains dangerously dependent on logging, mining, and fishing.

“The targeted GDP growth rate was to reach 5 percent by 2025, but we only achieved 3 percent in 2023. We are clearly off track,” Prime Minister Manele said.

He revealed that 23 percent of Solomon Islanders — nearly one in four — are unable to meet their basic needs, while 17 percent of the population suffers from malnutrition.

“The Human Development Index improved slightly from 0.507 in 2010 to 0.565 in 2020, but it still falls short of our target range of 0.625 to 0.675,” he said.

On the health front, the Prime Minister painted a concerning picture.

“Non-communicable diseases now account for 70 percent of deaths in Solomon Islands. One doctor serves about 4,000 people. These are not just numbers — they are a call to action,” he said.

While acknowledging some achievements — such as improvements in maternal and child health, and stronger disaster preparedness — Prime Minister Manele said the review highlights the need for urgent reform and renewed commitment.

“Our Environmental Performance Index fell from 51.1 to 26.7. Walk through our forests and you’ll see the scars of unsustainable logging. Dive into our reefs and you’ll see coral bleaching and depleted fish stocks. This is not just an environmental crisis; it is a cultural and moral one,” he said.

Despite the grim statistics, the Prime Minister urged optimism, saying the review provides a clear roadmap for the way forward.

“We must learn from our successes and failures and act decisively. We must diversify our economy, strengthen food and water systems, invest in health and education, empower communities to protect the environment, and deliver services with integrity,” he said.

The review also revealed that between 2016 and 2021, Solomon Islands committed SBD 13.6 billion towards development priorities — with 65 percent funded by donors and 35 percent from government resources.

However, the Prime Minister said the impact of this investment has been uneven.

“We’ve prioritised economic infrastructure — roads, ports, and buildings — but the translation to broad-based growth has been very thin. Have we invested enough in our people? That is the question we must ask ourselves,” he said.

Prime Minister Manele closed by urging unity and accountability across all sectors of society.

“We cannot blame others. We must take responsibility and act now. The recommendations in the NDS review show us what to do — what we need now is the courage to act.”

Photo: Supplied

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