BY NED GAGAHE

The Government is progressing key legislative reforms that aim to strengthen digital security and governance in the country.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Communication and Aviation (MCA), Alwyn Danitofea, confirmed this during a press conference with local media yesterday.

Mr Danitofea said the Ministry is currently reviewing both the Civil Aviation Act and the Telecommunications Act to address gaps in governance and improve regulatory oversight.

“We have identified a number of gaps, particularly in the telecommunications sector, and we are working to strengthen governance and ensure national security is properly addressed,” he said.

He revealed that a new Cybercrime Bill is also being developed following Cabinet approval, although drafting is still pending with the Attorney General’s Chambers.

“The instructions have already been prepared. It’s now a matter of translating those into a formal bill,” Mr Danitofea said.

He said that one of the key challenges will be raising public awareness about cybercrime, noting that many everyday actions could be considered offences under the proposed law.

“Things that people may see as minor, like accessing someone else’s phone without permission or taking photos without consent, could become offences under cybercrime laws,” he said.

Mr Danitofea said the reforms are intended to ensure the country keeps pace with the growing use of digital technology while safeguarding users and national systems.

He added that the Ministry is also considering improvements to the regulatory structure, including strengthening oversight mechanisms to prevent misuse of authority and enhance accountability.

“These reforms are important to make sure we have a secure and well-regulated digital environment,” he said.

Mr Danitofea said the Ministry aims to finalise the legislative review this year, with the new bill expected to be submitted to Parliament next year.

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BY NED GAGAHE

Land ownership issues and compensation claims are continuing to slow down aviation infrastructure projects across the country, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Communication and Aviation, Alwyn Danitofea, said.

Speaking to local media during a press conference yesterday, Mr Danitofea acknowledged that while significant progress is being made on airport upgrades, challenges relating to customary land remain a major hurdle.

“One of the biggest challenges we are facing is compensation for land and trees,” he said.

Mr Danitofea explained that the Government is required to follow strict policies, including those of development partners such as the World Bank, which mandate compensation for any assets affected by infrastructure projects.

“These include trees and other resources owned by landowners. In some cases, we are also dealing with land ownership disputes, which can delay the implementation of projects,” he said.

The Permanent Secretary said such issues are common across provincial airport developments, where customary land ownership is often complex and not formally documented.

He said that while the Government is committed to meeting its obligations to landowners, the process can be time-consuming and challenging, particularly in areas where ownership is unclear or contested.

Despite the setbacks, Mr Danitofea said the Ministry continues to work closely with stakeholders to resolve disputes and ensure projects move forward.

He said that upgrading aviation infrastructure remains a priority for the government, with projects underway at both Henderson International Airport and Munda Airport, as well as several provincial airports.

“These developments are important for improving connectivity and supporting economic growth, but we must also ensure that landowners are treated fairly in the process,” he said.

Mr Danitofea added that the Ministry remains confident that, despite the challenges, progress will continue as efforts are made to address land and compensation issues nationwide.

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The Government has revoked two key regulations relating to coconut and cocoa management under the Commodities Export Marketing Authority framework.

The repeals were announced in the latest Extra-Ordinary Gazette issued on April 30, 2026.

Minister for Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration, Manasseh Damukana Sogavare, revoked the regulations under Section 34 of the Commodities Export Marketing Authority Act, following recommendations from the Authority.

The first regulation repeals the Coconut and Coconut Product Management Fees Regulations 2026, which was previously issued as Legal Notice No. 162 of 2026.

The second regulation revokes the Cocoa (Amendment) Regulations 2026, previously issued as Legal Notice No. 163 of 2026.

Both repeal regulations took effect on the date of their publication in the Gazette.

The changes were formalised on April 28, 2026, and published as Legal Notice Nos. 175 and 176 in Supplement No. 25 of the Gazette.

The repeals are expected to impact regulatory arrangements governing coconut and cocoa products, though further details on implementation and industry implications have not been outlined in the notice.

Photo: Supplied

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Midwives across the country gathered yesterday to celebrate International Midwives Day.

The event was organised by the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health Department under the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS).

This year’s theme was “One Million More Midwives”. The celebration was held at the Honiara City Council Multipurpose Youth Hub Hall futsal court.

President of the Solomon Islands Midwives Society, Jessie Larui, said the event was to recognise the important role midwives play in caring for mothers, newborns and families.

She said the day is also a time to reflect on the hard work, dedication and compassion midwives show in their daily duties.

Mrs Larui explained that the theme highlights a global need for one million more midwives to meet growing demand.

“In the Solomon Islands, we need about 300 more midwives to properly serve our population,” she said.

She added that the theme is a call for action to address the shortage of midwives and improve maternal and newborn health services.

“The total number of midwives trained in Solomon Islands was 272. Forty of them resigned to migrate overseas, 40 of them retired, 13 are deceased, leaving only 179 midwives currently practicing in the country,” she said.

She said that midwives make only 10.5 percent of the nursing workforce.

“The ratio is 2.09/ 10,000 population. Today we gather to celebrate and honor the work, dedication and expertise of midwives and their immeasurable contribution in providing crucial care to mother’s newborn to health system worldwide, raise awareness, advocate for increased investment and call on government and decision makers to take action to support and sustain midwifery workforce in the country,” Mrs Larui said.

Mrs Larui said investing in midwives today will lead to healthier mothers, safer births and stronger communities in the future.

She also thanks government officials, development partners, NGOs, Solomon Islands National University, UN partners, and church and community leaders for their continued support.

Photo credit: John Houanihau

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) acknowledges the critical shortage of midwives, with only 179 currently serving across the country, far below the projected need outlined in its national health workforce strategy.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Medical Service (MHMS) Pauline McNeil said the country requires at least 401 doctors, nurses, and midwives by 2031, but progress towards this target remains slow due to multiple challenges.

She highlighted that the current health workforce stands at nearly 3,000, which is insufficient to meet the demands of a rapidly growing population.

“At the same time, financial and economic constraints are limiting the government’s ability to expand services, infrastructure, and the supply of essential medicines,” she said.

McNeil said the government is taking steps to address the gap, including expanding midwifery training programs through Solomon Islands National University, particularly its School of Nursing, Medicine and Health Sciences.

“Funding for in-service training has also increased significantly, rising from $2 million annually to $5 million last year, and $4.5 million this year. The move aims to ensure health workers are better trained and equipped to deliver quality care,” she said.

“Infrastructure development is also underway, with the Naha Birthing Centre expected to open by mid-year to ease pressure on the National Referral Hospital. The project is supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), alongside ongoing expansion at Kilu’ufi Hospital in Malaita province,” she added.

McNeil said that the ministry is working on a retention policy in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Service to improve working conditions and remuneration for health workers.

She said the government remains committed to strengthen midwifery services as a national priority and to ensure sustainable investment in maternal and newborn health.

Photo credit: John Houanihau

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BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

SOLOMON Islands Resource Company Limited (SIRCL) is reportedly continuing operations on disputed land at Suma despite a High Court ruling ordering the company to cease its activities there.

Reports reaching Island Sun indicate that the mining company is still using Suma as a storage site for soil extracted from its prospecting activities at Zaho in Isabel Province.

Earlier this year, the High Court declared the lease agreement between SIRCL and Suma landowners void, and ordered the company to remove all machinery and vacate the site.

Following the ruling, SIRCL entered into a new agreement with landowners at Zaho and shifted its primary operations.

However, concerns have emerged that the company has continued to use Suma as a dumping and storage area for soil materials—an action landowners argue directly contradicts the court’s directive.

Tensions have since escalated between the company and customary landowners. In a recent incident, landowners detained a company boat and engine, resulting in a police case.

In an earlier confrontation, landowners also blocked a landing craft from loading soil samples at Suma, citing the High Court order as the basis for their actions.

Landowners claim SIRCL’s continued presence demonstrates a disregard for both the court ruling and the rights of resource owners.

They have also raised concerns over environmental damage allegedly caused by the ongoing soil storage.

Calls are now mounting for authorities to intervene urgently, with landowners warning that failure to act could lead to further escalation of the dispute.

Photo: Supplied

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Clerk advises MPs of Parliament meeting on May 7 to ‘consider’ motion of no-confidence against PM Manele

BY IRWIN ANGIKI

Parliament will sit tomorrow, May 7, for the motion of no-confidence against Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele.

A letter by the Clerk to Parliament Jefferson Hallu, posted on the national parliament Facebook page yesterday, advised members of parliament on the meeting.

“Please be advised that the 1st sitting of the 4th meeting of the 12 Parliament will convene on May 7th, 2026 at 9:30am at the Parliament House, Honiara, purposely to consider the motion of no-confidence in the Prime Minister,” the letter, subject ‘PARLIAMENT SITTING – MAY 7 2026’, said.

Mr Hallu has not responded to Island Sun enquiries.

PM Press Secretariat yesterday confirmed to Island Sun that PM Manele had by 12 noon yesterday fulfilled his part as ordered by the Court of Appeal to ensure Parliament meets no later than May 7.

Notably, there was no press statement by the PM Press Secretariat or Government Communication Unit (GCU) announcing the PM having advised the Governor General to call parliament, and likewise the GG convening parliament to sit on May 7 from the PM’s advice.

It is unclear whether the PM advised the Governor General (GG) to call parliament, or directly advised the Speaker to call parliament. Constitutional convention the PM advises the GG, who in turn calls parliament to meet.

Opposition Leader urges Speaker not to tarry

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Matthew Wale yesterday before 12 noon published a letter addressed to Speaker of Parliament Patteson Oti urging him to refrain from using parliament’s standing order 7(2) and further delay parliament from sitting on May 7.

Mr Wale’s letter was a response to his meeting with Speaker Oti on Monday afternoon this week in which the Speaker reportedly made known his intention to apply standing order 7 (2) and delay parliament beyond May 7.

Wale said: “I wish to express my views on the position you wish to take in respect of the recent Court of Appeal judgement and the mandamus order made against the Prime Minister to convene Parliament on or before 7th May 2026.

“I understand correctly, your view is that the order does not apply to you or your office, and therefore you intend to set the date to debate the pending Motion of No Confidence any time after 13 days as stipulated in Standing Order (SO) 7(2) once you received notification to convene Parliament.

“For this reason stated hereunder, I urge you to reconsider your intention,” Wale said.

A writ of mandamus, by definition, is a court order commanding a government official, lower court, or agency to perform a mandatory, non-discretionary public duty they have failed or refused to do.

The Opposition Leader reminded the Speaker that SO 7(2) does not empower him to action his intended plan.

“SO 7(2) is a procedural provision directed to the Clerk’s duty (not yours), to give Members notice once a meeting date exists; it does not confer any power on you to determine when Parliament should meet. The constitutional power to convene Parliament lies exclusively with the Governor-General acting on the Prime Minister’s advice, and the SO cannot alter or qualify that constitutional arrangement,” Wale said.

“Accordingly, SO 7(2) cannot be relied upon as a basis to delay, suspend, or refuse a meeting that has been duly summoned under the Constitution.

“Your role, as Speaker, commences when Parliament is lawfully sitting; it does not extend to controlling or postponing the convening of Parliament. Any question of notice is a matter for the Clerk to administer and, in cases of urgency, for the Governor-General on advice to address.

“It follows that you cannot invoke any powers under SO 7(2) to delay a constitutionally convened meeting of Parliament,” Wale said.

Wale also cautioned the Speaker on his ‘assertion’ that there is no state of emergency to warrant the shortening of notice period.

“In light of the order of the Court of Appeal directing the Prime Minister to ensure that a meeting of Parliament is convened on or before 7 May 2026, SO 7(2) has no bearing on the timing or validity of that meeting.

“Your assertion that there is no state of emergency to warrant the shortening of the notice period is erroneous. The relevant SO does not refer at all to a state of emergency. It merely refers to ‘in cases of emergency’, and the Court found that there is an emergency.

“Accordingly, SO 7(2) cannot be relied upon by you as a basis to delay, suspend, or refuse the meeting required both by the Constitution and by the Court of Appeal’s order.

“You have no authority over the convening of Parliament and cannot interpose procedural notice requirements (for noting MPs of fixed meeting dates) to frustrate compliance with a constitutional summons and a binding court order,” Wale said.

Court of Appeal orders

On May 1 the Court of Appeal dismissed the challenge by the Attorney General to the High Court’s ruling of April 14 ordering the Prime Minister to call parliament.

The Court of Appeal ordered the Prime Minister to take all legal steps to call parliament to meet no later than Thursday, May 7.

The order adds that the Prime Minister must take these steps by 12 noon May 5 (yesterday).

Eight-week political impasse

This week marks the eighth since the political crisis began when the People First Party led the mass walk-out from the Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT) including 12 government ministers.

This left GNUT with a minority of 22 members of parliament.

Prime Minister Manele refused to cave in to calls by the new majority opposition coalition for him to resign, even after a motion of no-confidence had matured in parliament on March 23.

The Governor General rendered himself a spectator when he announced on March 18 that he did not have the authority to convene parliament. He said this in his response to a petition by the opposition coalition for him to call parliament.

At this time, PM Manele had not announced when he would call parliament to face the motion of no-confidence, saying he would do so at an ‘appropriate’ time. However, media cited his statement in a press conference on February 2 this year that he intended to call parliament in the later part of the second quarter of 2026, either May or June.

The opposition coalition took the matter to the High Court on March 26 seeking judicial review to compel PM Manele to call parliament.

On April 14, the High Court ruled that PM Manele should convene parliament within three days.

On April 15, the Attorney General filed an appeal with the Court of Appeal, the highest court in the land.

On April 16, the Court of Appeal ruled a stay on the High Court order for the prime minister to call parliament within three days.

The Court of Appeal heard the matter from April 22-23. On Friday, May 1, it delivered its ruling.

As of last night, opposition coalition numbers remain at 27, while GNUT with 23.

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