BY RODRICK DESURI
Auki
The Malaita Provincial Fisheries Office has successfully conducted a two-day mud crab farming and fattening training for community members at Heruiesi in Small Malaita.
The training, initiated by the Malaita Provincial Fisheries Office and funded by the Malaita Provincial Government, is believed to be the first community-level training of its kind conducted in the province.
The training aims to equip rural community members with practical knowledge and skills in mud crab farming, fattening and monitoring.
Senior Fisheries Officer, Mathew Isihanua said the training is an important first step towards introducing mud crab farming as a potential livelihood activity for rural communities.
He said participants were taught basic techniques for farming and fattening mud crabs, including proper monitoring and management.
“This training program was initiated by the Malaita Fisheries Office and funded by the Malaita Provincial Government. This is the first training of this kind to be implemented,” Mr Isihanua said.
He said the training attracted interest from community members, who showed willingness to learn more about mud crab farming.
Mr Isihanua said participants gained new knowledge and were also provided with mud crab cages to support their farming activities after the training.
He also highlighted the possibility of establishing a mud crab hatchery in the future, but said such a facility will require technical expertise, proper equipment and resources.
“In terms of setting up a hatchery for mud crab, it will need expertise and equipment for such a setup,” he said.
Mr Isihanua encourages the community to demarcate and properly manage areas designated for mud crab farming.
He said proper management of farming areas will be important to ensure the sustainability of the activity and to allow communities to benefit from mud crab farming as a potential source of income.
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South Guadalcanal MP Rollen Seleso urges Government to refine the existing revenue sharing bill and advance decentralisation Honiara, Solomon Islands – South Guadalcanal MP Hon. Rollen Seleso has urged the Government to build on existing work on provincial revenue sharing rather than starting the legislative process again from scratch. Responding to the Government’s plan to [...]
The post SELESO URGES GOVERNMENT TO BUILD ON EXISTING REVENUE-SHARING BILL appeared first on Tavuli News (Solomon Islands) .
BY DOUGLAS VAHIA
After years of exporting cocoa independently, David Kebu Jnr has partnered with the Commodities Export Marketing Authority (CEMA) as a cocoa agent, a move allowing him to focus on producing premium-quality cocoa while helping farmers in his area access a reliable market.
David’s decision continues a family legacy that began with his late father, David Kebu Senior, who worked closely with CEMA during the early years of the family’s cocoa business.
Through CEMA’s assistance, the elder Kebu was able to market his cocoa and obtain an export licence, laying the foundation for what has become a thriving family enterprise.
Since his father’s passing, David Jnr has taken over the family plantation on the fertile Guadalcanal Plains, where he is rebuilding and expanding the farm while sharing his knowledge with other cocoa growers.
His plantation has grown from 16 hectares to 20 hectares. As a skilled grafter, David has been rejuvenating older cocoa trees to increase production and improve the plantation’s long-term sustainability.
“From January I started working with CEMA, export taxes are too high for me when I export independently, so it is better for me to work as a CEMA agent. CEMA trained me in producing quality cocoa, and I want to give back,” said Mr Kebu Jnr.
Kebu Jnr said partnering with CEMA allows him to spend more time improving the quality of his cocoa instead of managing the challenges associated with exporting.
Maintaining quality standards throughout the supply chain is one issue David feels strongly about. He believes farmers deserve better returns for producing quality beans, which he says can only be achieved through proper grading and handling.
“Bulk mixing reduces quality, so good beans lose their value,” Kebu Jnr explained. “When quality cocoa is mixed with poor-quality beans, everyone loses.”
To maintain consistency, David has introduced a family-based management system on the plantation, with each family member responsible for specific blocks of cocoa. While different sections are managed individually, all harvested cocoa is processed centrally to meet the quality standards expected by CEMA and international buyers.
Many of the trees on his plantation date back to 1978. Rather than replacing them entirely, David is restoring the ageing trees through radical pruning and grafting techniques to boost productivity.
“I neglected the farm for too long,” Kebu Jnr admitted. “Now I’m rebuilding it and letting CEMA handle exports so I can focus on production.”
David expects the plantation to reach peak production around September as the cocoa season progresses.
Looking beyond his own farm, David hopes to become a trusted buying point for growers throughout the Guadalcanal Plains, purchasing cocoa from farmers between Metapona and Koli to give them easier access to CEMA’s marketing network while encouraging higher-quality production.
“I want to support farmers from Metapona to Koli, and we will produce for CEMA,” said Mr Kebu Jnr.
David’s story reflects CEMA’s Farmers First vision, which supports stronger partnerships with producers by improving market access, promoting quality production, and backing the long-term growth of the Solomon Islands’ cocoa industry.
Photo: Supplied
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BY TONY IROGA
The unprecedented good work of CEMA raising the livelihoods of thousands of farmers in the rural areas has been highlighted by government ministers in parliament.
The Commodity of Export Marketing Authority (CEMA) under its Farmers First initiative launched in April this year has touched and supported more than 10,000 copra/cocoa farmers including local buyers to date.
Since April this year, many farmers have taken to media to show their joy, appreciation and relief at CEMA’s Farmers First initiative which they said has brought stability in market and prices, and overall improved livelihoods for them, their families and communities.
The Speech from the Throne last week however had indicated that the new GREAT government was going to kill this momentum by returning CEMA’s functions to when it was defunct – mere regulatory body to facilitate and promote trade.
Speaking in parliament on Friday, August 7, Minister for Commerce (MCILI) Harry Kuma defended CEMA and clarified that CEMA will continue its good work to support local farmers.
“The Speech states that CEMA must not compete with the private sector and that it will deal only with regulatory affairs, trade facilitation, marketing and matters that facilitate and promote trade,” Kuma said.
“However, that principle must be read together with the full GREAT Coalition Policy Statement, the Policy Translation and Implementation Framework, the MCILI Corporate Plan and the practical realities facing indigenous rural producers.
“The GREAT policy does not reduce CEMA to regulation alone. It expressly provides for commodity stabilisation, producer support, quality assurance, price information, trade coordination, and the reform—not the abolition—of existing price and freight support for copra and cocoa. It gives priority to remote island producers facing the highest freight costs and calls for a stronger mechanism to cushion producers from sharp price movements and maintain reliable trade. The implementation framework also provides for CEMA revitalisation and recapitalisation, review of the CEMA Act, a 10-year strategic plan and continued oversight of commodity marketing. MCILI’s Corporate Plan recognises CEMA as a statutory body facilitating commodity trade and exports and operating with commercial autonomy under Government oversight.”
Mr Kuma acknowledged CEMA’s duty to ensure there are thriving markets in remote communities where the private sector fails to serve.
“Sir, it may appear that there are many buyers in Honiara. In a remote community, the real question is whether any buyer arrives, whether the freight is affordable, whether scales and grading are fair, whether payment is timely, and whether the farmer has any genuine choice. Where those conditions are absent, there is a market failure. Government cannot call that a functioning private market and then leave the producer alone with it.
“The right reform is therefore not to remove CEMA’s capacity to support trade. It is to discipline that capacity through clear rules.
“Where private buyers are present, competitive and reliable, CEMA should facilitate, regulate standards, provide market intelligence, support certification, coordinate freight and form partnerships rather than duplicate their work. Where private markets are absent, unreliable or unable to serve remote producers; where an abrupt price collapse threatens rural incomes; or where aggregation is necessary to fulfil a credible export order, CEMA should retain the lawful capacity to intervene transparently in the public interest.”
In his speech on Friday, August 7, Communication and Aviation (MCA) Minister Frederick Kologeto praised CEMA for its Farmers First initiative which is continuing to help farmers, especially copra and cocoa.
“I’m happy for the Minister of Commerce, for the CEMA, giving more money to the farmers,” Kologeto said.
Mr Kologeto, who is also president of People First Party (PFP), had appealed to landowners to open up their lands for development in partnership with government.
He lauded hard-working landowners who are reaping benefits by working together with government, which include the farmers who are benefiting a lot through their engagements with CEMA.
The Farmers First initiative began in April this year, which has been CEMA’s major success story since its revitalisation in 2021.
Under Farmers First, nearly 11,000 farmers including local buyers have benefited since April – a space of five months.
Dozens of farmers have shared their success stories in the media about how the Farmers First initiative has helped them thrive in a regulated environment and protect them from the risks of a high competitive field.
Under Farmers First, CEMA is ensuring markets for farmers in remote communities, through landing crafts and buyers, removing the expensive costs of transportation for the farmers.
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BY CHARLES STENNETT
The Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI), is in support of the government’s plan to establish a Sovereign Wealth Fund as a means to address shocks and for the government to use the fund’s interest to finance portions of the national budget.
Responding to a question raised by the former Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele during the Public Accounts Committee, PAC hearing yesterday on the Supplementary Bill before the committee, Central Bank Governor, Dr. Luke Forau said the Sovereign Wealth Fund is a good concept and it should not only come from one sector, the mining sector, but other sectors as well.
“It must be from all extractable natural resources. We should take some money from them and put it in the Sovereign Wealth Fund. It should not be restricted to only one sector but to all our commodities. We have minerals, forestry, fisheries and other sectors, all of these should be covered under the Sovereign Wealth Fund”
He explained that the Sovereign Wealth Fund should be used during rainy days and to address shocks when they arise.
Governor Forau added that during normal times, the government can use the fund’s interests to finance its budget.
“Basically, the fund is for rainy days so if there’s a shock, that’s the time to use the Sovereign Wealth Fund and also when the days are normal, the government should use the interests of the fund to finance the budget”. Dr Forau said.
He added that there should be a legislation to govern this fund.
The GREAT government is pushing forward to establish a Sovereign Wealth Fund as part of its reforms.
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Honiara, Solomon Islands – South Guadalcanal MP Hon. Rollen Seleso has welcomed the Government’s proposal for a Sovereign Wealth Fund but says the framework must guarantee legally enforceable benefits for customary landowners and provinces.
Hon. Seleso said he supported the principle of strengthening State participation in mining, increasing downstream processing and ensuring the country’s mineral wealth benefits Solomon Islanders.
“The wealth of this nation must serve the many and not the few,” he said.
However, he questioned how much of the returns flowing into a proposed Sovereign Wealth Fund would reach the customary landowning communities where mineral resources are located and the provinces that bear the environmental costs of resource development.
He also questioned what governance arrangements would protect the Fund from political pressure during future budget cycles.
Hon. Seleso called on the Government to explain what legislation will establish the Fund, when that legislation will be tabled and whether Parliament will see the proposed framework before Cabinet endorses it.
He also called for clarity on what “equitable benefit-sharing” will mean in legally enforceable terms.
“In the experience of Guadalcanal, benefit-sharing that is not written into law and independently audited becomes benefit-sharing that is negotiated away,” he said.
“A Sovereign Wealth Fund without a benefit-sharing law is a Fund for the State. Our people need both.”
Hon. Seleso said the proposed reforms provided an opportunity to ensure Solomon Islands’ mineral wealth delivers lasting benefits to the communities and provinces that host and support resource projects.
[ENDS]
– OPPOSITION PRESS
The post SELESO: SOVEREIGN WEALTH FUND MUST BENEFIT LANDOWNERS AND PROVINCES first appeared on Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) .
BY IRWIN ANGIKI
Prime Minister Matthew Wale has defended his government’s policies and actions responding to Opposition scrutiny in parliament, saying his government is bringing in true change which has evaded Solomon Islands for decades.
Closing the three-day debate on the Governor General’s Speech from the Throne on Friday, Mr Wale addressed questions and accusations by the Opposition Leader. Wale noted the striking similarity in the speeches by the members of opposition, jibing whether their speeches were penned by the same person.
Wale cleared misconceptions raised by Opposition on GREAT’s policies and actions, noting most of Opposition’s accusations are problems GREAT inherited from the previous administration rooted in past governments.
He said since coming into power, his government has been busy righting the wrongs of past governments in both foreign and domestic fronts.
Framing his response in 10 parts, Wale found himself uttering during his speech phrases such as “look in the mirror”, “people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones” on what he termed as hypocrisy by members of the opposite side who had been part of previous governments.
PM Wale also told parliament of corrupt practices in previous governments such as taking money from businesses to hold loyalty among MPs and other practices which amount to elite and state capture leading to compromised governments.
Wale said GREAT will get rid of this ‘business as usual’ culture.
Fiscal credibility – what a Speech from the Throne is, and what it is not
Most Opposition speeches questioned why the Speech from the Throne did not contain details on how government would finance its reforms.
Wale reminded Opposition not to confuse the speech from the throne with an appropriation bill.
“A Speech from the Throne is not an Appropriation Bill. It is the statement of the Government’s programme, including its legislative agenda. It sets direction. The numbers follow in the instrument our Constitution and our Public Financial Management framework prescribe for numbers, and that instrument is the Budget,” Wale said.
Wale also reminded parliament that previous governments have never included detailed costing and framework in their speeches from the throne. Former prime ministers include opposition leader Manasseh Sogavare and opposition member Jeremiah Manele.
“In the Speeches from the Throne delivered under the Honourable Leader’s own prime ministership, and in the Speeches delivered under the last two Governments in which he served, not one annexed a costed medium term fiscal framework to the programme it announced. Not one,” Wale said.
Free Education – the promise, the questions, and the answers
PM Wale defended the GREAT government’s free education policy, stressing that its purpose is to ensure no child is denied schooling because of family poverty.
He noted that both sides of the House support this principle, with the main disagreement concerning implementation, cost and sustainability.
Opposition had questioned the viability of GREAT’s free education plan.
Wale explains that the policy’s precise definition, coverage and relationship with existing education laws are still being finalised, with legislation and full costing to be presented during the year-end Budget session before any funds are spent.
He admitted that the policy would weigh heavy on government’s recurrent expenditure, but reassured that essential sectors such as health, roads, rural development and law and order will not be left behind.
Wale rejected Opposition’s assertion that free education would replace quality education, saying both would be achieved simultaneously.
“On the question of quality, Mr Speaker, I say this with conviction: the choice the Honourable Leader placed before the House, between free education and quality education, is a false choice, and this Government rejects it. Access to education and access to quality education are both achievable, and neither will be traded for the other.”
Wale rejected Opposition’s claim that donor funding for the free-education policy would infringe on sovereignty, saying the same donors have supported education for many years without any such happening.
“Let us speak the reality: our development partners are today, and have been under every Government represented in this House, among the biggest supporters of education in Solomon Islands. That support did not compromise our sovereignty yesterday, and it does not compromise it today.”
Wale however agreed with Opposition that sustaining the policy would eventually be borne by the government, saying his government is ensuring this with its revenue reforms to ‘plug leakages’ in government’s finances, broadening revenue base and slowly absorbing the cost of free education.
The foreign policy reset – the anchor, and the ninety days
In his speech on Wednesday, August 5, Opposition leader Manasseh Sogavare had mocked the prime minister on his various international trips commencing just two weeks after taking office, dubbing it as ‘90 days around the world’.
PM Wale told parliament that his international travels were not an adventure, rather a trip to ‘correct’ Solomon Islands’ foreign relations according to its ‘friend to all, enemy to none’ principle.
He said recent geopolitical alignment by previous administrations had eroded trust from some partners which has negatively translated on the daily lives of our people through development finance, infrastructure, labour mobility, investment and security cooperation.
Trust, Wale said, is Solomon Islands’ main bargaining chip in its foreign relations.
Wale also clarified that the matter of Bougainville was brought up by PNG prime minister James Marape in their bilateral talk.
Opposition leader Sogavare in his speech earlier had insinuated that PM Wale had brought up the sensitive issue of Bougainville with Marape.
“In Port Moresby, he opened the door to conversations on Bougainville,” Sogavare said.
PM Wale said the legacy of Sogavare’s government is the stadium facilities, something he was also thankful for. But, Wale said these infrastructures have since cost government $60 million a year to maintain.
GREAT’s legacy on the other hand would be universal education of the young people of Solomon Islands which would bring lasting national benefits, Wale said.
“Concrete depreciates, Mr Speaker. An educated people appreciates, generation upon generation. That is the difference between the two legacies before this House, and this Government has chosen its side of it,” Wale said.
The partnership with Australia – what exists, and what does not yet exist
Wale said negotiations on the proposed treaty-level partnership with Australia remain at a very early stage and that no draft text currently exists for Parliament to examine.
He said it would be premature and irresponsible to release details of an agreement that has not yet been developed, emphasising that informing the public that discussions have begun is appropriate and reflects a proper sequence rather than secrecy.
The proposed partnership aims to strengthen regional security by addressing gaps in surveillance and intelligence, improving coordination among existing security arrangements, and creating a more coherent regional security framework while fully respecting Solomon Islands’ sovereignty, Wale said.
He rejected suggestions that the initiative threatens national independence, maintaining that its purpose is to enhance, rather than diminish, the country’s ability to safeguard its own interests.
Wale reassured parliament that GREAT would follow process and bring the treaty to parliament when ready.
“When a text takes shape, it will be vetted by the Attorney General’s Chambers. It will go to the Government Caucus. It will go to Cabinet for approval, as our standing process for treaties requires. And it will come to this Parliament. There is nothing in this partnership that needs the dark, Mr Speaker.
“Australia is our nearest neighbour, our largest development partner, and an old friend; an instrument with such a partner is precisely the kind of instrument that gains from the light, and it will receive the light at the point in its life when there is something real to shine it on,” Wale said.
The Investment Incentive Agreement with the United States – the record restored
Wale defended the Investment Incentive Agreement signed on May 23, 2026 as a carefully safeguarded framework designed to unlock development finance while preserving Solomon Islands’ sovereignty, laws and taxation system.
He acknowledged Sogavare’s own recognition that projects financed under the agreement remain fully subject to Solomon Islands taxes and domestic laws, including those governing customary land, the environment, labour, mining, public health, and criminal justice.
Wale clarified that Cabinet had approved the signing, and that negotiations had been done by the previous government. He said the agreement would be brought to parliament and welcomed scrutiny by relevant committees.
He argued that rejecting the agreement would have prevented the United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) from providing loans, guarantees, insurance or investment in Solomon Islands.
The Shiprider Agreement – what was actually signed on July 28
Wale defended the Shiprider Agreement with the US as a practical tool for strengthening Solomon Islands’ maritime sovereignty and law-enforcement capacity – not surrender control to a foreign power.
He said similar agreements operate across 12 Pacific countries and with more than 60 countries worldwide, emphasising that Solomon Islands retains authority over operations, with its officers and laws governing enforcement actions in its waters.
Under the arrangement, the US provides vessels, aircraft, fuel, surveillance and operational reach while Solomon Islands provides the sovereign authority and decisions necessary for enforcement.
“Operations occur when Solomon Islands asks for them; our officers embark; our laws are enforced; and law enforcement decisions and actions in our waters remain, at every point, under Solomon Islands authority. The United States supplies what we do not have, cutters, aircraft, fuel, surveillance, reach; and Solomon Islands supplies what only Solomon Islands can supply: the sovereign authority, and the sovereign decision,” Wale said.
PM Wale said he would bring the agreement before parliament for scrutiny, but will not delay enforcement of the shiprider agreement because the threats that it targets are ongoing.
“I will likewise cause the text of the Shiprider Agreement to be made available to this House, and the committees of this Parliament are welcome, as they are always welcome, to examine it within their mandates. What I will not do, and I say this plainly but without heat, is undertake that no operation will occur in our waters until every committee process has run its course, because the poachers in our Exclusive Economic Zone will not suspend their operations while we deliberate, and every month of delay is measured in stolen fish, lost revenue and emboldened criminality,” Wale said.
The 1991 Status of Forces Agreement – reading the whole instrument
PM Wale defended the 1991 Agreement on the Status of United States Forces saying the agreement preserves Solomon Islands’ primary criminal jurisdiction as the general rule, with limited exceptions concerning offences against US personnel or property and acts performed in official duties.
He said the agreement applies only when US forces are present in Solomon Islands with the Government’s authorisation and can be terminated with six months’ notice.
Opposition leader Sogavare had warned in his speech that the two agreements (the 1991 agreement and the shiprider agreement) opened the door to continued presence of US military in the Solomons. Sogavare also asked government to table the two agreements.
“The Shiprider Agreement, read together with the 1991 Status of Forces Agreement, does not create a formally named United States military base in Solomon Islands.
“But it may create something for which our language of debate is not yet ready, a distributed access regime, a system of recurring, rotational, protected United States armed-forces presence in our waters, at our ports, in our airspace and on our facilities, without a single flagpole ever being planted,” Sogavare said.
Wale rejected this suggestion saying GREAT will review the 1991 agreement and other inherited security instruments including the controversial 2022 security pact with China.
The Public Service – merit, transition, and the way forward
PM Wale defended the termination of several senior public servants using the clause 22(j) when GREAT came into power, saying it was a clause created and implemented by previous governments including Opposition leader Sogavare’s.
He maintained that government acted lawfully under those existing provisions.
Wale also acknowledged that the Public Service Commission has constitutional responsibility for appointments and discipline and says GREAT will respect that authority.
Acting appointments have therefore been made to maintain continuity, while permanent appointments will proceed through the Commission’s merit-based processes, Wale said.
The constitutional amendments – correcting the record on intent
PM Wale argued that the Government’s proposed constitutional amendments are intended not to weaken parliamentary accountability or protect the Prime Minister from no-confidence motions, but to address the deeper causes of political instability in Solomon Islands.
Opposition leader Sogavare had said in his speech, “What is proposed is a constitutional amendment, to be brought before this Chamber before the end of this year, designed to constrain the circumstances in which a Government of Solomon Islands may be removed by a vote of this Parliament.”
Wale rejected the Opposition Leader’s assertions, noting that no Bill or specific clauses have yet been tabled and therefore should not be speculated in advance.
Wale said government’s proposal will target Solomons’ politicking culture which include ‘grasshopping’, weak party structures, shifting parliamentary loyalties and the influence of outside money in political contests as major sources of instability.
The disease is illicit money past governments have entertained – cash from foreign business interests to hold loyalty, Wale said.
“A government purchased is a government owned, and it is not owned by the people of this country.
“That is why the constitutional amendments are to stop Members jumping sides in the ‘national interest’ and, within the same period, jumping back, again in the ‘national interest’. That is the business-as-usual status quo this country is sick of, and every Member of this House has watched it happen,” Wale said.
PM Wale also announced that GREAT will table five bills that give parliament autonomy, and had been ready for 10 years but previous governments had not been interested in passing: the Constitutional (Amendment) Bill; Parliamentary Service Commission Bill; Parliamentary Corporation and Precincts Bill; Public Financial Management (Amendment) Bill; and the Parliamentary Evidence Bill.
To lead is to serve
In closing PM Wale reiterated that the obstacles and challenges Opposition had cited in its scrutiny are excuses for the status quo which GREAT is here to change.
“All the obstacles and challenges the Honourable Leader has cited in this debate have long been the excuses for the status quo. The cost that cannot be borne, the capacity that does not exist, the risk that must be avoided, the time that is not yet right: this country has heard every one of them, decade after decade, and they have always arrived dressed as prudence and departed leaving nothing behind,” Wale said.
He reminded the House of the country’s motto ‘To lead is to serve’ saying people of Solomon Islands will judge the works all 50 members of parliament by this standard.
By CHARLES STENNETT
The Central Bank of Solomon Islands, CBSI, has projected a favorable economic outlook for Solomon Islands in the latter part of 2026 and a pickup in 2027.
Speaking before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) hearing today, Governor of the Bank, Dr. Luke Forau said the economic outlook for 2026 and beyond is projected to improve to 3.4 percent in 2027, supported by the resilience of economic activities although risks remain tilted to the downside due to the Middle East crisis which will have an impact if it escalates further.
“We have projected 2027 to grow by 3.7 percent assuming that commodity productions will recover from the adverse conditions experienced in 2026 and return to a more normal level.” Dr Forau said.
Dr Forau said the service sector, government spending and donor assistance is expected to support the projected growth.
“The service sector is expected to remain the primary driver of this growth and supported by increased government spending and continued donor assistance and may be a recovery in exports as well.” CBSI Governor added.
He however warned that weather conditions such as El Nino and other factors will continue to have effects on some of the country’s main export earning commodities and the overall economic outlook.
“The lingering effects of El Nino on agriculture and fisheries outputs may continue to be felt during the first half of 2027”
“The downside will mainly come from climate-related events such as El Nino, global Oil prices, weak prices for our exportable commodities, especially copra and cocoa and continued inconsistent inter island shipping services which could weigh in on production, export earnings and domestic demands.” Governor of Central Bank said.
Dr. Forau said that Central Bank revised its 2026 economic outlook three times due to varying factors.
“This year we initially projected growth to 3.8 percent and because of the Middle East Crisis, we also revised our projection to 3.4 percent because of Tropical Cyclone Maila and with the continued crisis in the Middle East we revised our growth downward again to 3 percent and may be by the end of the year we may revise it again if the Middle East Crisis continue” Dr. Forau Said.
In 2026, Dr. Forau said exports in the first half of 2026 went down by 20 percent based on agricultural exports particularly copra and cocoa.
“On the other hand Dr. Forau said imports grew by 4 percent reflecting high imports on machinery and basic manufactured goods resulting in a trade deficit of SBD$191 million dollars” Dr. Forau said.
On Lending, the Central Bank Governor said there has been an increase in commercial bank lending to the private sector and that Solomon Islands has a very high rate of non-performing loans.
“The private sector lending grew by 2 percent to about 3 billion dollars in the first half of 2026 mainly to the distribution sector especially in retailing, personal loans and agriculture”.
“Despite the increase in lending, we have seen also an increase in asset quality over non-performing loans to 11 percent from 7.9 percent. By regional standard, this is very high. Non-performing loans should be around 5 percent but despite that, the banks continue to show profitability, well capitalized and well liquid” Dr Forau said.
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By DOUGLAS VAHIA
The Labour Division of the Ministry of Commerce, Industries, Labour and Immigration has formally revoked the Prohibition Notice on mining activities at Pit One, allowing Gold Ridge Mining Limited (GRML) to resume operations at the site, subject to compliance with all applicable legal, safety and operational requirements.
The revocation follows a detailed presentation made by GRML to the Labour Division on 4th August, regarding the localized slope movement that occurred at the mine site on 27th July.
In GRML presentation stated that the Company outlined the activation of its Mine Emergency Response Plan and the full sequence of emergency response and site management measures undertaken following the incident. GRML also submitted a set of technical documents, including its Open Pit Slope Stability Study, Gold Ridge Project Feasibility Study, Mine Emergency Response Plan, Open Pit Slope Online Monitoring System Proposal, and a Geotechnical Assessment Report on the open pit slope instability.
Following its review, the Labour Division found the Company’s report to be comprehensive and sufficiently detailed. It also determined that the emergency response to the incident was timely, and that the site management and response measures taken were appropriate and compliant. The Division further considered the Company’s proposed technical remediation and management measures to be practical and capable of implementation, and confirmed that GRML had completed the required corrective actions in line with its rectification guidance.
GRML stated that on the morning of 7th August, Labour Division officers conducted a follow-up site inspection at the mine to verify the implementation of the corrective measures and to physically assess the area affected by the slope movement.
Based on the Company’s presentation and the findings of the site inspection, the Labour Division approved the revocation of the Prohibition Notice for Pit One, clearing the way for mining activities to resume in the affected area.
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BY NED GAGAHE
THE Government has collected around SBD$219 million more than its year-to-date revenue target, with total collections reaching about 60 percent of the annual revenue target by July.
Dokekana made the disclosure as the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) begins its scrutiny of the 2026 Supplementary Appropriation Bill , with the Ministry of Finance and Treasury appearing before the committee this afternoon.
Dokekana said revenue collections up to July were 13.4 percent above the year-to-date budget, describing the performance as a positive sign for the country’s revenue position.
“Up to July last month, we have collected around more than 13.4 percent above the year-to-date budget,” Dokekana told the committee.
“That equates to around $219 million above the budget.”
He said the Government had already collected about 60 percent of total projected revenue, leaving 40 percent to be collected during the remaining five months of the year.
Dokekana attributed the strong performance mainly to mining revenue and improvements in tax compliance.
He said joint activities between Customs and IRD had also contributed to the increase, including work to examine valuations and share information held by Customs and the Central Bank.
This, he said, had enabled the authorities to issue more accurate tax assessments and collect additional revenue from taxpayers.
The Commissioner also told PAC that the Government’s tax reform programme was continuing and was expected to be completed by 2027.
The reform covers both legislative and administrative changes aimed at strengthening the tax system.
As part of the reforms, IRD is planning a major increase in its workforce.
Dokekana said the number of staff is expected to increase from the current 181 to 258 by next year.
He said the additional staff would give IRD greater capacity to undertake revenue collection activities.
The Commissioner said the upward trend in revenue collection was a good sign, particularly with mining revenue contributing significantly to the increase.
He also pointed to improved control over exemptions as another factor contributing to the stronger revenue performance.
Dokekana’s appearance before PAC comes as the committee continues its examination of Government’s financial performance and expenditure.
The revenue figures provide a more positive outlook for Government finances, although the Commissioner’s comments indicate that mining revenue and improved compliance have been key drivers of the current increase.
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BY JOSES SAREN
Mining royalty rates will rise and fall with global gold prices under a new sliding-scale system announced by the government.
Minister for Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification Derrick Rawcliffe Manuari revealed the reform in his response to the Speech from the Throne in Parliament on Thursday.
Under the new system, royalty rates paid by mining companies will move directly with international gold prices.
This means the Government will collect a bigger share of profits when gold prices are high.
Companies will still pay a fair rate when prices are low, keeping investment attractive.
Minister Manuari said the framework would improve fiscal certainty and bring Solomon Islands in line with international best practice on mineral royalties.
The reform is part of the same Mineral Resources Bill that introduces the Government’s 25 per cent equity stake in mining projects and the “No Pay, No Ship” export rule, reported by Island Sun yesterday.
Alongside the royalty change, the Government will build two new laboratories to check mineral exports independently.
The National Mineral Assay Laboratory will verify the value and quality of ore before it leaves the country.
The National Geochemical Laboratory will confirm mineral grades, support environmental monitoring and check that royalty payments match what is actually being exported.
Both labs are designed to be internationally recognised, meaning their results can be trusted by investors and buyers overseas.
Minister Manuari said the labs would strengthen the Government’s ability to independently verify what mining companies report, rather than relying only on company figures.
Currently, the Government has limited in-country capacity to test ore grades and verify royalty payments independently.
The new labs are intended to close that gap and reduce the risk of underpayment or revenue leakage.
No cost or completion timeline for the two laboratories was given in the Minister’s statement.
The reforms are expected to come before Parliament as part of the wider Mineral Resources Bill.
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Government to Use SIMHL for Up to 25% State Equity in Mining Projects
The Government will use the proposed Solomon Islands Minerals Holding Limited (SIMHL) to take direct equity stakes of up to 25 per cent in strategically significant mining projects under reforms proposed in the new Mineral Resources Bill.
Minister of Mines Derrick Manuari outlined the proposed reforms in Parliament this week while contributing to the debate on, and expressing his support for, the Governor-General’s Speech from the Throne.
Manuari said the reforms would fundamentally change how Solomon Islands participates in and benefits from the development of its mineral resources.
Under the proposed State Equity Participation Framework, SIMHL will be empowered to exercise statutory back-in rights of up to 25 per cent equity in eligible mining projects.
The Minister said this would allow the State to benefit beyond royalties and taxation by also receiving dividends and benefiting from the long-term capital growth of successful mining operations.
“The GREAT Coalition Government has further strengthened the proposed Mineral Resources Bill through five strategic policy reforms that fundamentally redefine the manner in which Solomon Islands will govern, develop and benefit from its mineral wealth,” Manuari said.
He said the reforms are intended to establish a modern and transparent mining sector that promotes responsible investment while ensuring Solomon Islanders receive a greater and more enduring share of the wealth generated from the country’s natural resources.
The proposed framework will also establish a Mining Equity Participation Fund to support the acquisition and management of State equity interests in mining projects.
According to Manuari, the framework will further strengthen the participation of customary landowners in mineral development.
Another key component will be the establishment of an independent National Mineral Assay Laboratory.
The laboratory will provide internationally recognised services for ore verification, mineral valuation, quality assurance and royalty verification.
Manuari said the package of reforms represents a significant shift in the Government’s approach to mineral resources—from being a passive resource owner to becoming an active participant in the mining economy.
The proposed Mineral Resources Bill is part of the Government’s broader effort to reform the mining sector and ensure that future mineral development delivers sustainable and broader benefits to the State, customary landowners and the people of Solomon Islands.
The government, through the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration, has reaffirmed its commitment to placing Indigenous Solomon Islanders at the centre of the country’s economic development.
Delivering his speech in response to the Speech from the Throne in Parliament this week, Minister Hon. Harry Kuma said government policies such as the “First Bite, Better Bite” business principle are designed to give locals priority access to business opportunities, government procurement, and economic benefits within reserved business sectors.
He stressed that the policy is not intended to discourage foreign investment, but rather to ensure that economic development strengthens local ownership, participation, and capability.
“The Ministry will therefore advance the review of reserved business activities, the new MSME legal framework, reforms to Company Haus, cooperative development, and provincial business support.
“Our task is to create a pathway from informal business activity to a resilient and bankable business, from a small cooperative to a reliable supplier, and from a local producer to a competitive exporter,” he said.
He added that government procurement must become part of this pathway so that a greater share of public expenditure helps build capable local enterprises, while ensuring value for money and maintaining integrity.
The Minister further emphasised that government procurement must also help build capable local businesses rather than exclude them.
“We should not train local businesses and then design procurement systems that automatically exclude them. Protecting our local companies shouldn’t mean they never have to work hard to improve.
“When we give local businesses special treatment, we must also give them training, clear rules, new ideas, and high standards,” he said.
Minister Kuma also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building local companies that are strong enough to compete, grow, employ workers, and eventually sell to the rest of the world.
ENDS//
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政府通过商业、工业、劳工和移民部(Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration)重申了将土著所罗门岛民置于国家经济发展中心的承诺。
在本周国会对王座演说的回应中,哈里·库马(Hon. Harry Kuma)部长表示,政府的政策,如“第一口,最好口”(“First Bite, Better Bite”)商业原则,旨在优先给予当地人商业机会、政府采购和保留商业领域内的经济利益。
他强调,该政策并不旨在阻碍外国投资,而是确保经济发展加强当地的所有权、参与和能力。
“因此,商业部将推进对保留商业活动的审查、新的中小微企业(MSME)法律框架、公司事务所(Company Haus)的改革、合作社发展和省级商业支持。
“我们的任务是创造一条从非正式商业活动到有韧性和可融资的商业,从小型合作社到可靠供应商,从地方生产者到具有竞争力的出口商的路径,”他说。
他补充说,政府采购必须成为这条路径的一部分,以便更大比例的公共支出帮助建立有能力的当地企业,同时确保物有所值并保持诚信。
部长进一步强调,政府采购还必须帮助建立有能力的当地企业,而不是将其排除在外。
“我们不应培训当地企业,然后设计自动排除它们的采购系统。保护我们的当地公司并不意味着它们不需要努力改进。
“当我们给予当地企业特殊待遇时,我们也必须给予它们培训、明确的规则、新的想法和高标准,”他说。
库马部长还重申了政府致力于建立足够强大的当地公司,使其能够竞争、增长、雇佣工人,并最终向世界其他地区销售的承诺。
结束//
该文章最初发表于所罗门岛广播公司(Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation,SIBC)。
Prime Minister Hon. Matthew Wale says the Government has taken steps to strengthen fiscal discipline and stop long-standing leakages in public finances.
In his closing remarks in response to the Speech from the Throne yesterday, the Prime Minister said the Government is actively closing gaps that have allowed revenue to “quietly haemorrhage” through discretionary tax exemptions and unexamined arrangements.
“What I can tell the House today is the direction of travel. The leakages in our public finances are being plugged,” he said.
Prime Minister Wale highlighted a key reform announced by the Minister of Finance and Treasury on 17 June.
And that is, he said the termination of all resource-sector tax exemption Memoranda of Understanding, alongside the restoration of the Revenue and Customs Exemption Committee as the sole lawful authority for granting exemptions.
“This decision restores integrity to our revenue system,” the Prime Minister said.
“It ensures that exemptions are no longer granted through discretionary arrangements but through a transparent and lawful process.”
Prime Minister Wale welcomed the Opposition Leader’s support for the reform.
He said such consensus reflects the importance of protecting national revenue.
“That decision is what fiscal honesty looks like in practice,” Prime Minister Wale said.
“It is the foundation on which this Government will rebuild the fiscal buffers our country needs.”
The Prime Minister emphasised that these measures mark a critical step towards strengthening public finances, restoring accountability and ensuring that government revenue is safeguarded for the benefit of all Solomon Islanders.
[end]
OPMC statement
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Construction of the Australia-funded Seghe Market has reached 75 per cent completion, and is on track to deliver a climate-resilient...
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Prime Minister Matthew Wale says the Government has taken steps to strengthen fiscal discipline and stop long-standing leakages in public...
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Rick Houenipwela says the 55th Pacific Islands Forum in Palau will operate under an open invitation arrangement The upcoming 55th Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders Meeting in Palau will operate under an open invitation arrangement for invited participants, according to Solomon Islands Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade Rick Houenipwela.& Responding to questions on [...]
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Rick Houenipwela urges Pacific unity and stronger regional leadership in managing global partnerships and priorities Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Rick Houenipwela, has called on Pacific Foreign Ministers to strengthen regional ownership in managing external partnerships while addressing priorities affecting Pacific communities. Speaking as Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Foreign Ministers [...]
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BY LORETTA B MANELE
The Great Coalition Government is facilitating investment in commercial domestic feed milling, poultry breeding facilities and additional hatcheries.
Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development (MALD), Franklyn Wasi announced this during his ministerial response to the Speech from the Throne in parliament on Wednesday.
Speaking on the livestock industry, he said the industry offers enormous potential to improve nutrition, reduce imports and increase incomes.
Wasi stressed that the Government is committed to raising the production of local poultry meat and eggs so people can access nutritious protein more affordably.
“The GREAT Coalition Government is committed to increasing local production of poultry meat and eggs so that our people can access nutritious protein at more affordable prices,” he said.
The minister said to achieve this, they are facilitating investment in commercial domestic feed milling, poultry breeding facilities and additional hatcheries.
Wasi said these investments will address longstanding supply constraints and reduce dependence on imported breeding stock.
He mentioned that at the same time, they are revitalizing the national pig breeding programme through improved genetics and artificial insemination, while also progressing the development of national cattle and small ruminant breeding centres.
Wasi said these initiatives will strengthen livestock production and create new opportunities for rural households.
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BY JOSES SAREN
The Government will take up to twenty-five per cent stake in big mining projects and cut electricity costs to around 15 US cents (approx. SBD $1.20) per kilowatt-hour under major reforms.
For years, the country has watched its minerals leave our shores while foreign companies took most of the profits, Minister for Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification Derrick Rawcliff Manuari says that will change.
He announced the reforms today in his response to the Speech from the Throne in Parliament.
Manuari said under the new Mineral Resources Bill, the Government can own shares in major mining developments through a new company called Solomon Islands Minerals Holding Limited.
This means Solomon Islands will get a share of the profits, not just royalty payments. It also means landowners will have a stronger say in how mining is operated on their land.
Manuari said the Bill also introduces a “No Pay, No Ship” rule in which mining companies must pay all royalties before any minerals leave the country which will stop companies from avoiding payments.
The minister said Government will also reserve alluvial mining — the kind of mining done on riverbanks and small-scale operations — for Solomon Islanders only.
On energy, Manuari said the Government wants to cut electricity costs through renewable energy investment as families in Honiara pay some of the highest electricity bills in the Pacific.
The Tina River Hydropower Project is expected to change that, cutting costs by up to 40 per cent.
Manuari said the Government’s commitment goes beyond the capital as thousands of families across the islands still have no access to electricity.
He said the Government will roll out solar systems, mini-grids and community power solutions to reach rural villages.
“No Solomon Islander should be left behind simply because of where they live,” Minister Manuari told Parliament.
He stressed that electricity changes lives because with it, children can study at night, nurses can deliver babies safely, small businesses can grow and communities can stay connected.
Manuari said the Ministry will also reform electricity laws to make sure pricing is fair and transparent.
He said water security is also a priority, with investment in boreholes and water systems for provincial centres.
Manuari said the reforms are about making sure mining benefits all Solomon Islanders and brings hope to rural communities.
“Our responsibility is not simply to regulate these sectors, but to ensure that they improve the lives of every Solomon Islander.
“Above all, it gives hope to rural communities that they too are part of our nation’s development journey,” he said.
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WALE PUSHES ECONOMIC CHANGE | Prime Minister Matthew Wale says Solomon Islands can build a stronger economy by changing the policies that have limited growth for many years. Speaking in Parliament, PM Wale said the country's small economy is the result of decisions made over more than 40 years, not its destiny. He said the GREAT Coalition Government is introducing reforms to ensure the nation's wealth benefits all Solomon Islanders instead of only a few. "Our ambition is clear: that within the next 20 to 30 years, Solomon Islands will stand among the middle-income countries of the world, not by the charity of others, but through the disciplined harvest of our own God-given wealth," PM Wale said. The Prime Minister said the success of the government's reforms will be measured by whether they improve the lives of ordinary families, farmers, fishermen, market vendors and unemployed graduates. "We are shifting to a model where the harvest of our land and seas is processed by Solomon Islander hands, on Solomon Islands soil, for Solomon Islander families," he said.
BY TONY IROGA
Minister for Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration and MP for North West Choiseul, Harry Kuma, has outlined an ambitious agenda to strengthen local businesses, improve access to finance and create more employment opportunities for Solomon Islanders.
Speaking in Parliament today during his contribution to the Motion of Thanks to the Governor General’s Speech from the Throne at the opening of the First Meeting of the First Session of the 12th Parliament, Mr Kuma said the Government is committed to placing indigenous Solomon Islanders at the centre of economic development.
Minister Kuma said one of the Ministry’s priorities is expanding access to finance for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and rural businesses.
“Many Solomon Islanders are capable entrepreneurs, but are excluded by the structure of finance. They may own equipment, boats, crops or business contracts but lack registered land that banks accept as security,” Kuma said.
He said reforms will allow productive assets and reliable cash flows to be recognised as collateral while strengthening the Development Bank of Solomon Islands’ lending capacity, improving credit information systems and expanding microfinance and financial literacy programmes.
Kuma said the Government’s “Solemnization” and “First Bite, Better Bite” policies are designed to ensure indigenous Solomon Islanders receive greater access to business opportunities and economic benefits.
“Indigenous Solomon Islanders must stand at the centre of the economy, not at its margin,” he said.
The commerce minister said local businesses should be supported but must also become competitive.
“We don’t want businesses that survive only because competition is blocked. We want Solomon Islands companies that are strong enough to compete, create jobs and eventually export to international markets,” Kuma said.
He said the Government is determined to end the country’s dependence on exporting raw materials by promoting downstream processing in industries such as coconut, cocoa, fisheries, forestry and other agricultural products.
Kuma said developing processing industries requires reliable infrastructure, affordable electricity, transport, finance, skilled workers, certification and market access.
He pointed to plans for a regional coconut processing hub and the Bina Harbour processing project as examples of the Government’s industrialisation strategy.
The Minister also highlighted the importance of export promotion, saying the Ministry will strengthen market intelligence and help local producers meet international standards required by markets in Japan, Australia and the European Union.
On digital transformation, Kuma said e-commerce, mobile money and digital payment systems would help rural businesses reach wider markets.
“Digital trade must become a practical tool for inclusion, not another service available only in Honiara,” he said.
Kuma said the Government is also reviewing the Foreign Investment Act to improve investor confidence while protecting reserved business activities for Solomon Islanders.
He revealed that the Ministry is working towards establishing special economic zones to encourage investment, create jobs and boost exports.
Employment reforms will also be a key priority, including apprenticeships, trade testing, technical training and the introduction of a new legal minimum wage.
“A minimum wage should provide a fair floor below which dignity cannot fall,” Kuma told Parliament.
He said the Ministry will also strengthen workplace safety, labour inspections and the trade dispute system while ensuring overseas labour mobility programmes continue to benefit the country’s economy.
Kuma said immigration services will be modernised through improved border management, e-visas and biometric systems to support both national security and economic growth.
The Ministry also plans to strengthen consumer protection by improving product standards, updating legislation and enforcing fair trading practices.
Kuma acknowledged that reforms are also needed within his Ministry.
He said outdated legislation, weak data systems and limited provincial outreach remain challenges that will be addressed through better planning, digital systems and stronger performance monitoring.
The Minister also called for improved attendance and punctuality across government ministries to reduce absenteeism and improve public service delivery.
Concluding his speech, Kuma reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to delivering the Government’s economic agenda.
“We will work with the private sector, stand with farmers where markets fail, welcome responsible investors, protect workers and consumers, and measure our success by exports achieved and livelihoods improved,” Kuma said.
He concluded by thanking the Governor General for delivering the Speech from the Throne and pledged his support for the Government’s programme.
BY CHARLES STENNETT
The Government for Reform, Empowerment, Accountability and Transformation (GREAT) will, for the first time, deploy fifty agricultural officers in all the constituencies, demonstrating the government’s commitment to bring agricultural services closer to rural communities.
Speaking in Parliament in a Motion to thank the Governor General for the Speech from the throne, Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development (MALD) Franklyn Derek Wasi outlined the Ministry’s priorities to strengthen service delivery and transform the agriculture sector.
Mr Wasi said the initiative is a major reform that aims to ensure farmers across the country have direct access to technical advice, extension services, and modern farming knowledge without having to travel long distances to provincial centers.
“We are committed to posting agriculture officers to all 50 constituencies so that farmers can access technical services closer to home. This is a practical step that will bring government services directly to our rural communities. Every constituency will benefit from the presence of an agricultural officer dedicated to supporting farmers and rural communities” he said.
The deployment forms part of the Ministry’s implementation of the National Agriculture Development Plan 2026–2030 and complements broader reforms, including strengthening agricultural institutions, expanding farmer training, promoting climate-smart agriculture, and improving research and innovation.
Agricultural officers will play important roles to provide technical assistance, promote improved farming practices, support disease and pest management and link farmers with government programmes and market opportunities.
The initiative is also expected to improve communication between the Ministry and rural communities, ensuring agricultural policies and programmes respond to the needs of farmers throughout the country.
Minister Wasi reaffirmed that agriculture remains the backbone of the rural economy and a key driver of national development.
He said the deployment of agricultural officers to all constituencies reflects the Government’s determination to build a modern, productive and resilient agriculture sector that benefits every Solomon Islander.
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Transparency SI urges tougher action on absenteeism after audit reveals nearly $1 billion lost in public service inefficiency Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI) welcomes the release of the Auditor General’s audit report Solomon Islands Government Attendance Management Policy. TSI as a tax-payer is gravely concerned with the findings of this report. The findings show a public [...]
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