BY INDY MAEALASIA

Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele says it is “encouraging” to see political parties gaining more visibility.

This trend has been particularly evident in the recent joint election, where parties actively hosted public forums to discuss their policies and extensively traveled across the country, leveraging media and social media platforms like Facebook.

Manele attributed this emerging visibility to the Political Parties Integrity Act.

“Political Parties are beginning to grow and becoming more noticeable in our political landscape,” he said.

Acknowledging that political parties face significant challenges such as finance, Manele said that such challenge is expected.

However, Manele emphasized that if the country commits to making sacrifices to grow political parties, this challenge can be overcome.

He further highlighted how fortunate political parties are free to participate in the electoral system, free to share opinions and ideology to citizens without restrictions imposed on them.

Manele added that this favourable environment in the country’s political landscape is made possible through the country’s constitution.

So far, 13 registered political parties have actively participated in the inaugural joint election earlier this year.

BY INDY MAEALASIA

PRIME Minister Jeremiah Manele says citizen participation is a cornerstone for a young democratic country such as the Solomon Islands.

In his keynote address, during the International Democracy Day on Tuesday, Manele said that citizen participation is demonstrated in the “representative democracy” exercised in the country. 

He emphasized that this reflected in the country’s National General Election held every four years that allow people to vote freely, a basis for fostering strong democracy.

“We, the people vote for our leaders, that includes the Members of Parliament, City Councilors, and members of the Provincial Assembly,” Manele said.

The Prime Minister also underscored the significance of inclusivity in the democratic process, noting that equal access is granted to women, the elderly, and people with special needs alongside able citizens.

 “This is important as everyone’s vote has the same value, and that all votes are counted,” he said.

Manele described Democracy Day as a special occasion for reflecting on the democratic principles that contribute to nation-building.

 In line with the theme “Celebrating 46 Years of Democracy: For the People, By the People” he said it is a time to review democratic principles and help progress the country into the future.  

He emphasised that “democracy is embedded in our constitution” granting each citizen fundamental rights.

“Our constitution ensures that everyone is entitled to life, liberty, security, and protection under the law, as well as freedoms of conscience, expression, assembly, and association,” he said.

He added that the right to privacy and protection from property deprivation without compensation are also safeguarded.

However, Manele acknowledged that these rights and freedoms are subject to limitations to ensure that the enjoyment of one person’s rights does not infringe upon the rights of others, particularly in the interest of public welfare.

Solomon Islands eyes acquisition of Y-12F aircraft from China

BY NED GAGAHE

In a move aimed at enhancing domestic air travel and cargo transport, the Solomon Islands government is considering the acquisition of a Y-12F aircraft from China.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Peter Shanel Agovaka, made the announcement in Parliament last week, responding to a query from Opposition Leader Matthew Wale.

Minister Agovaka highlighted that the Y-12F aircraft is uniquely suited for the Solomon Islands, capable of accessing all 22 domestic airstrips without needing to refuel while carrying a full cargo load.

This stands in contrast to the existing Twin Otter aircraft, which requires refueling, thereby limiting its cargo capacity.

“This acquisition will significantly improve the movement of our people and goods between provinces, helping to address the backlog of passengers,” Agovaka stated.

During the Prime Minister’s official visit to China in July, an MOU on the Aviation Sector was also signed between the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and the Ministry of Communication and Aviation (MCA) of the Solomon Islands.

This agreement is designed to foster cooperation in aviation, facilitating the exchange of best practices, information, and expertise.

“This partnership will enhance our aviation industry, which plays a critical role in connectivity, trade, and tourism,” Agovaka added.

-World Bank report launched today shows dire economic situation of Solomon Islands, proposes strategy to save our future

-If no improvement, by 2050 Solomons will only just reach Vanuatu’s economic level now, 2024

BY IRWIN ANGIKI

Solomon Islands needs to start improving now in order to avoid lagging far behind in development compared with the world and the region, a World Bank report has hinted.

One possible scenario is, if Solomons continues with business as usual, by 2050 we will reach the level where Vanuatu’s economy is at now, 2024.

But, if government wakes up and improves things, by 2040 we could reach the level where Indonesia’s economy is at now, 2024.

Finance Permanent Secretary McKinnie Dentana meanwhile told media on September 17th 2024 that these gaps in comparative development can be narrowed.

The ‘Solomon Islands: Country Economic Memorandum – Unlocking New Sources of Economic Growth’ Report which is set to be launched today by the World Bank and Government looks at the main barriers to sustainable economic development in the Solomon Islands.

It focuses on ‘cross-cutting challenges of economic geography and private sector development’.

During a pre-launch plug of the report yesterday, senior economists of World Bank and key authors of the report, Lodewijk Smets and Reshika Singh provided local media with the bigger picture.

Solomon Islands economy can be summarised perfectly by six features:

-Solomon Islands is a rural and dispersed economy

-Solomon Islands is urbanising at a fast pace

-The logging sector is in decline

-Non-logging sectors remain underdeveloped

-The formal private sector is small and largely based in Honiara

-Private sector faces several growth challenges

1. Solomon Islands is a rural and dispersed economy

Seventy-five percent of the Solomons’ population live in rural areas, across hundreds of islands. This small and dispersed population constrains the size of the local market and makes it challenging to get better incomes.

Large distances between populations, compounded by poor connectivity – poor quality roads, maritime infrastructure and shipping services and limited digitalization – and a high degree of exposure to natural disasters, make it costly to move goods, people, capital, and information within the country.

2. Solomon Islands is urbanising at a fast pace

Honiara’s population doubled in 10 years from 2009-2019, which represents one of the fastest rates of urbanisation in the world.

But, instead of delivering economic benefits, this rapid urbanisation gives rise to more economic problems such as increased urban under-employment along with the lack of structural transformation (services and infrastructure to allow for added value chain).

“Honiara is one of the fastest growing capitals in the world, and if we don’t have the capacity in government to deal with this massive influx, then we’ll have these problems,” media heard yesterday.

3. The logging sector is in decline

Logging contributes 22 percent of our gross domestic product (GDP), and in 2016 round log harvesting peaked at 3 million cubic metres. Last year, production dropped to 1.6 million cubic metres, which is still way above the sustainable threshold of 250 thousand cubic metres.

4. Non-logging sectors remain underdeveloped

The saying ‘Agriculture is the backbone of our economy’ is rendered hollow by the realities in the local sector.

Solomons suffers drastically from huge yield gaps in its main agricultural commodities, with none reaching even half of their potential.

With coconut, we only manage to harvest 33 percent of the potential (17,000 tonnes versus 54,000 tonnes). Banana fares worse at 0.3 percent.

In other sectors, we have an under-resourced coastal fisheries, limited tourism sector and small mining sector.

5. The formal private sector is small and largely based in Honiara

Eighty-five percent of businesses are in Honiara. Eighty percent of formal enterprises are micro, small and medium at 10 percent, and large enterprises at only 6 percent.

6. Private sector faces several growth challenges

The main obstacle for doing business is ‘Access to credit’, with corruption coming second.

Solomon Islands has one of the highest electricity tariffs in the world, but with low access to grid connectivity.

Regarding skills, 54 percent of workforce are under-educated.

With land, 80 percent is customary, and land registration is costly and lengthy, along with land disputes.

Recommendations

The World Bank proposes three growth strategies which government can help Solomon Islands salvage the dire situation it is in.

-Boost the rural economy – agriculture, fisheries – and connect them to urban markets.

-Support private sector development.

-Attract investment, especially foreign.