BY INDY MAEALASIA

SOLOMON Islanders aspiring to pursue a PhD are invited to apply for the King’s Commonwealth Fellowship Programme (KCFP).

Inspired by His Majesty King Charles III, the fellowship offers a unique opportunity for individuals from Small Island Developing States to undertake a PhD in their home country while continuing to work.

According to a statement from the UK High Commission, “The KCFP PhD Fellowships offer a unique and exciting opportunity for fellows from Small Island Developing States to undertake a PhD in their home country alongside working.”

The programme will support PhD research in areas such as climate and the environment, education, engineering, and health. These focus areas aim to address the pressing economic, social, and environmental challenges faced by Small Island Developing States.

Applications for the fellowship are open until April 25.

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BY INDY MAEALASIA

A research carried out in Marovo Lagoon, Western province has revealed that women and youths are significantly more involved in mangrove conservation efforts compared to men.

The findings, led by Dr Mary Tahu, a researcher and lecturer at the Solomon Islands National University (SINU), has underscored the critical role that these groups play in mangrove restoration initiatives.

 “According to our research, more women including youths respond higher to existing mangrove restoration and replanting initiatives compared to men,” she said.

Tahu said that this commitment aligns with the roles women often hold within their families and communities, stressing their involvement in safeguarding vital marine resources.

“We see that more women and youths support the idea of protecting and managing mangroves, which also comes back to the role of women in the family, in the community, and especially in trying to protect and manage mangroves,” she said.

The findings also revealed that women have also called for greater protection and sustainable management of mangroves,

“This call can be effective when there are existing laws or policies on managing mangrove ecosystem and also reserving certain mangrove zones for conservation,” she said.

Acknowledging this, Tahu emphasized the need for gender-inclusive climate action that integrates indigenous knowledge and supports equitable participation across all levels—local, national, and regional.

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BY INDY MAEALASIA

DESPITE the critical role mangroves play in supporting livelihoods, the Solomon Islands still lack a formal policy framework for their conservation and sustainable management.

This gap was highlighted by Dr Mary Tahu, a lecturer at the Solomon Islands National University (SINU), during a presentation of her research last week at the FALAH research seminar.

“Currently, with the conclusion of my research on mangroves, there are no policies at the community or national level to guide conservation efforts,” Dr Tahu explained.

Her research, titled “Gender, Climate Change, and Indigenous Ecological Knowledge in the Solomon Islands Mangroves,” revealed the urgent need to protect mangroves to tackle the threats of climate change.  

However, strides are being made to address this issue. Tahu revealed that SINU, in collaboration with the government and other stakeholders last year, have worked on a proposed policy framework. Titled the “Integrated Coastal Zone Management and Mangrove Policy Framework,” this policy’s goal is to protect mangroves and support the social well-being of local communities.

“We are working to push this policy forward for it to be accepted by the cabinet,” Tahu added

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development is not the only government ministry that hires office space in Honiara; several ministries and agencies do so due to a persistent shortage of government-owned office infrastructure.

MEHRD has stated that the ministry has been actively pursuing opportunities to construct its office building but has faced challenges in securing suitable land.

MEHRD made the statements in response to Member of Parliament for Temotu Nende, Stephen Kumi, over the significant amount of money spent on rent for the Education Ministry Headquarters in Honiara for nearly two decades instead of investing in a permanent building.

Speaking during a recent Parliamentary Expenditure Committee hearing, MP Kumi questioned why the ministry continues to rent office space when if the rental being paid for $300,000 per month since 2008 the total would have been around $56 million.

In response, the MERHD clarified that only a few ministries currently occupy purpose-built Government offices and Ministry lands, and despite multiple attempts, approval was not granted by the relevant authorities.

The MERHD said that efforts to acquire land were unsuccessful despite the Ministry identifying the land at the former Parliament Rest House site as a potential location, and efforts to acquire land occupied by the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM) office building near the Ministry of Finance and Treasury.

The statement said that whilst suggestions to invest in permanent office infrastructure may appear straightforward, the reality is far more complex; however, MEHRD remains committed to achieving this long term through proper and transparent means.

The MERH adds that these difficulties are not unique to MEHRD, as many ministries encounter similar obstacles when attempting to acquire through clean and transparent processes in Honiara, as all government-owned land in the Capital Business District (CDB) in Honiara is limited.

The MERHD said that the decision to rent office space at the Tongs Building, Point Cruz, was made to ensure a central, safe, accessible, and functional working environment for MEHRD staff, students, teachers, and the public who rely on MEHRD services.

The statement further said that MEHRD’s rental payments to Tongs Ltd are a legitimate business transaction that secures a suitable office space while also benefiting the national economy.

According to MERHD, as a tax-paying entity, Tongs Ltd contributes to government revenue, which funds essential public services, including salaries for Members of Parliament, public servants, and teachers. Additionally, Tongs Ltd employs hundreds of Solomon Islanders.

It adds that the rental payments help sustain these jobs by enabling the company to pay wages, provide benefits, and support local economic activities.

The MERHD statement said that it is, therefore, misleading and unnecessary for the MP for Temotu Nende to question MEHRD’s rental arrangement with Tongs Ltd.

The issues statement adds that the media release is necessary to respond to unfounded accusations made against the MEHRD Executive Management by commentators through social media.

MERHD said that the Ministry remains committed to ensuring that its operational expenses align with financial regulations while contributing to the broader economic stability of the country.

It said that MEHRD remains open to constructive dialogue and collaboration with relevant stakeholders to address the need for a permanent office rather than making unsubstantiated criticisms and allegations that do not contribute to cost-effective solutions to support MEHRD’s critical work in shaping the nation’s education sector.

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-KFPL queries fund government promised under ESP in 2020

-KFPL mentioned by the-PM Sogavare in his 2020 speech to launch ESP

-KFPL missing in recipients listed in Auditor General’s ESP Report 2024

BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The Kolombangara Forest Products Ltd (KFPL) has said it is still waiting for the $5 million government had promised under the economic stimulus package (ESP) in 2020.

This was revealed to the Opposition group when it visited KFPL last week under the office’s civic awareness programme to the Western province.

Former Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare had named KFPL as being earmarked to receive support under the ESP in his speech to launch the fund on May 4, 2020. Sogavare did not state any particular amount to be allocated to KFPL.

However, in the Auditor General’s ESP Report 2024, KFPL was missing.

KFPL pleaded with the Opposition Group to probe government over the missing $5 million (ESP) when the group visited the company’s site on Thursday last week, a statement from the Opposition last week said.

“KFPL was announced as a recipient, but we never received that promise,” KFPL told Opposition.

“We would like to raise this so that you (Opposition) can ask on our behalf what happened to the promise or whether someone has already received it on our behalf.”

KFPL also informed Opposition that despite operations being very tough lately, KFPL has continued to provide revenue to the government and meet community obligations.

In his speech to launch the ESP on May 4, 2020, then-PM Sogavare said that KFPL would be supported under a segment of the ESP called the Immediate Recovery Measures 2 (IRM 2).

$75 million was allocated for the IRM 2. And, KFPL was listed as one of companies to be supported, although no figure was given in Sogavare’s speech to say how much KFPL would receive.

“This component [IRM 2] of the package proposes equity injection into government owned or partly owned companies to enable them keep afloat and keep supporting the economy,” Sogavare said in his speech.

“Other privately owned large companies will also be assisted by way of export credit or other liquidity support through the banking system to maintain production and employment.

“These enterprises are important players and taxpayers in the economy.  This measure is a combination of direct grant and concessional finance and a total of SBD75 million is allocated towards this initiative. The breakdown of the proposed measure are: Solomon Airlines – $20 million (Grant and Concessional loan); Soltuna – $5 million; Support will also be provided to KFPL; Solomon Water – $5 million (Grant); DBSI – $20 million (Capital); CEMA – $2 million (Grant).”

In the ESP Report published by the Auditor General’s office on October 3, 2024, the same companies were listed as receiving funding, but KFPL was missing.

Under the Report’s ‘Part 9 – ESP distributions, 9.1 Payments to SOEs and DBSI’: Solomon Water – $5 million (Grant), CEMA -$2 million (Grant), Soltuna – $5 million, Solomon Airlines – $20 million (Grant and Concessional loan), and DBSI – $20 million (Capital).

Another area KFPL could have been paid under but missed was the grant for productive and resources sector.

This allocation saw a total of $135 million paid out, either through the Treasury corporate services imprest account, to constituency offices or directly to businesses.

Meanwhile, Opposition said during its visit to KFPL, the company appealed for government to be fair.

“The company’s tax exemptions have been removed, and we are also concerned with the unreasonable increase in license fees. The Government should be fair to everyone. KFPL has always supported schools, police, teachers and Churches when the Government cannot do so,” KFPL told the opposition group.

KFPL also informed the Opposition of the incidents of Malaysian loggers trying to enter KFPL land and attempting to carry out illegal activities, the statement said.

“The government must respect KFPL’s FTE,” KFPL told the Opposition.

The statement said Leader of Opposition, Matthew Wale acknowledged KFPL’s concerns and said he would bring these issues to the responsible stakeholders in Government.

KFPL is the country’s largest sustainable managed Forestry Company. It had been in operation since 1989 and has approximately 200 full-time staff and 1,800 contractors, one of the biggest private sector employers in the country, the opposition statement said.

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