BY CHRISTOPHER LANDAU IS THE UNITED STATES DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE
The United States is a Pacific nation, and thus strong ties with the Pacific Islands are a top priority for our foreign policy.
On behalf of President Trump and Secretary Rubio, I’ve been honored to lead our diplomatic efforts in this vital part of the world. As Deputy Secretary of State, I’ve traveled to Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Palau, and Papua New Guinea. I’ve also welcomed Pacific leaders to Washington, including a recent visit by Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale. I spend so much time engaging the region because our Pacific partners are important to us.
I’m excited to embark soon on my third trip to the region, where I’ll be representing the United States at the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Summit in Palau, with follow-on stops in the Federated States of Micronesia, the Solomon Islands, and Kiribati. This trip underscores the unwavering U.S. commitment to the Pacific focused on our shared security and economic interests.
As the United States commemorates the 250 th anniversary of its independence, we celebrate our shared history and how our nation is enriched by the contributions of Pacific Islanders living in the United States, including those Americans in Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. As President Reagan once noted, “it’s not all foreign policy; America is part of the Pacific.”
As we look back to 1776 as a foundation for freedom in America and around the world, we are proud to share this foundation with the peoples of the Pacific Islands, many of whom fought side-by-side with Americans during World War II to defend freedom in places like Guadalcanal, Peleliu, and Tarawa. And we also are proud to share a common foundation of Judeo-Christian beliefs, which underpin strong civil society in our countries. I’ve appreciated that meetings with Pacific leaders often open with a prayer or blessing, and I’ve been privileged to worship alongside local communities during my travels in the region.
I’ve seen in my travels that Pacific Island nations continue to value the strength and mutual respect offered by partnering with the United States. When the United States works with sovereign nations to protect fish stocks, train law enforcement, or build infrastructure, we do so as true partners.
Nowhere is this partnership clearer than through our Compacts of Free Association with Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia, which advance regional security and prosperity. Evolving risks require reexamination of our defense and security ties with the Pacific Islands. Recent submarine-launched ballistic missile tests in the region unfortunately are just the latest example of why we must do so.
Strengthening U.S. commercial ties to support private sector-led growth in the Pacific is an imperative, as is bolstering the region’s disaster resilience. As we do so, we will promote “Trade Over Aid.” A great example of this approach is our work with the private sector and with Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and Taiwan to collectively ensure every single Pacific Island Forum country is connected to a trusted undersea cable network. Another is our reaffirmed commitment to the South Pacific Tuna Treaty, which for nearly four decades has supported jobs and livelihoods for Americans and Pacific Islanders.
Just in the last year, the United States connected Pacific leaders with more than 80 U.S. companies at an investment summit at the East-West Center in Honolulu, signed an Open Skies agreement with Samoa. We also entered into a critical minerals agreement with Cook Islands – now served by its inaugural U.S. Ambassador Jared Novelly – and agreed to a Framework for Strategic Cooperation with Papua New Guinea. And these are just a few examples. As I travel to Palau with an interagency delegation, we look forward to delivering concrete results for the people of the United States and the Pacific Islands on energy supplies, economic development, and regional security.
Strong U.S. ties with the Pacific make our country and the region safer, stronger, and more prosperous. As I prepare for my upcoming journey to the region, I believe our Pacific partners also subscribe to the view I shared at the Honolulu investment summit, that “what differentiates America from the rest of the world— our openness, transparency, trustworthiness, commitment to freedom and innovation, and free market capitalism—will continue to make us the global partner of first choice.”
The United States stands ready, willing, and eager to deepen its partnerships in the Pacific, and I return to the region with a hand of friendship outstretched to deepen our partnerships for the benefit of our peoples.
Asia is no longer just a distant region on the map it has become one of the most powerful gateways for Solomon Islanders seeking higher education, global exposure and future leadership. With Indonesia announcing 22 new scholarship recipients two weeks ago and China awarding more than 40 scholarships yesterday, more than 60 fresh Solomon Islands minds are preparing to embark on academic journeys across Asia.
China alone now hosts over 200 Solomon Islands students, a number that continues to grow each year. Put regional institutions aside for a moment , the momentum toward Asia is undeniable.
At the scholarship award ceremony in Honiara, Chinese Ambassador Cai Weiming delivered a message that resonated deeply with the students and the nation. He reminded the new scholars that education is not merely about earning a qualification, but about shaping character, building confidence and preparing to contribute meaningfully to Solomon Islands.
His words were both a challenge and a blessing:
“Treasure this rare opportunity to pursue your academic dreams. You are among the lucky few to obtain the opportunity to study in China.”
He quoted an old Chinese proverb, a powerful reminder of the discipline required for academic success:
“There is a path to the mountain of books, and diligence is the way; the sea of learning is boundless, and hard work is the boat.”
This message is not just for the 40 students in the room. It is for every Solomon Islander who dreams of rising through education.
Asia’s rise as a global education hub is transforming opportunities for Pacific students. China, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Singapore are investing heavily in: advanced research, science and engineering, medicine and public health, agriculture and aquaculture and technology and innovation
For Solomon Islanders, this means access to world-class universities, modern laboratories, diverse cultures and global networks.
The latest cohort will study across 30 universities in China, in fields such as: medicine, sociology, accounting, agriculture, aquaculture, software engineering, civil engineering, communication engineering, business administration and economics and trade
These are not just academic disciplines, they are nation-building tools.
Ambassador Cai also reminded the students that their role extends beyond the classroom. They are cultural ambassadors, carrying Solomon Islands’ identity, values and stories into one of the world’s largest and most diverse societies.
He encouraged them to: embrace new experiences, make friends, travel beyond their host cities, share Solomon Islands culture and learn from Chinese society
“Today, you will be serving as bridges between civilizations,” he said. A profound responsibility and a profound opportunity.
With over 200 Solomon Islanders already studying in China, and dozens more heading to Indonesia and other Asian countries, a new generation of leaders is emerging. Many former scholarship recipients have returned home to serve in: research, business, public service, education, engineering, health, agriculture
Their achievements prove the long-term value of these partnerships and the transformative power of education.
The 60 new scholars heading to Asia this month represent more than individual success stories. They represent the future of Solomon Islands, a future built on knowledge, global networks, and cultural exchange and disciplined academic pursuit.
Asia is rising. Our students are rising with it. And the nation will rise because of them.
BY PROFESSOR TRANSFORM AQORAU, VICE CHANCELLOR, SOLOMON ISLANDS NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
Papua New Guinea is the Land of the Unexpected. Tonga is the Friendly Islands. Fiji is the Land of Smiles. Vanuatu is the Land of the Happiest People.
And Solomon Islands?
Surely, we are now the Land of the Never-Ending Plot Twist.
We seem to possess an extraordinary talent for making international headlines—often for all the wrong reasons.
We switched diplomatic recognition to China and became the incubator of the geopolitical contest for the Pacific. Before that, some international commentators could barely find us on a map. Suddenly, everyone discovered a deep and historic friendship with Solomon Islands.
Delegations arrived. Aircraft landed. Agreements multiplied. Strategic analysts began explaining our own national interests to us.
Then came the security agreement with China. Canberra, Wellington and Washington collectively developed high blood pressure.
Then came the Shiprider Agreement—more strategy, more sovereignty, more lawyers and more diplomatic language that ordinary people needed another lawyer to interpret.
But now, toilet paper has capped the lot.
It beats everything else.
SBD6.18 million worth of toilet paper!
According to the Auditor-General’s findings reported by RNZ, the original toilet-paper contract was approximately SBD6.18 million—against an overall budget of only SBD300,000. It was later reduced to SBD1.89 million, which was apparently considered a bargain.
At those prices, this was surely no ordinary toilet paper. Each roll should have arrived in a government vehicle, escorted by police, wrapped in silk and embossed with the national coat of arms.
Perhaps it was four-ply sovereignty.
Perhaps every sheet contained a strategic policy.
Perhaps it was designed to wipe away procurement rules, financial controls and institutional memory.
The High Court has now ruled that expenditure from the Sports Solomons Fund was subject to the Public Financial Management Act. It also found that certain expenditure lacked lawful authority and that the blanket waiver of competitive tendering was beyond the NHA’s powers.
This is serious. Public money does not stop being public money merely because we are hosting a major event.
The 2023 Pacific Games were a proud national achievement. Our athletes ran, jumped and lifted weights. Unfortunately, parts of the procurement system appear to have staged their own events: hurdling financial controls, high-jumping over the budget and sprinting away from competitive tendering.
Our athletes finished their races in 2023.
Accountability is still running the marathon.
We can laugh at the absurdity, but the lesson is not funny. Special funds are not magical treasure chests. Major national events do not suspend the law. Public procurement must never become an expensive private adventure financed by taxpayers.
So let Papua New Guinea remain the Land of the Unexpected, Tonga the Friendly Islands, Fiji the Land of Smiles, and Vanuatu the Land of the Happiest People.
Solomon Islands has surely earned its own title:
The Land of the Never-Ending Plot Twist—where geopolitics is complicated, procurement is adventurous, and even the toilet paper comes with a multimillion-dollar storyline.
We have made headlines for many wrong reasons, but this one wipes the floor with everything that came before it.
You could not make it up.
But somehow, we always do.
PRIVATE VIEW: STATE CAPTURE OF MINERAL WEALTH - THE PRIME MINISTERIAL BETRAYAL | Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI) has strongly criticised the GREAT Government’s formation of private mineral holding companies, describing the move as a threat to transparency and public accountability. TSI Executive Officer Ruth Liloqula said the new structure could allow political leaders and senior government officials to control national mineral resources while also having private interests in the companies.
Read More Here: https://sundayisles.islesmedia.net/private-view-state.../
PRIVATE VIEW
Freedom 250: A New Chapter in America's Enduring Friendship with Solomon Islands
By Chargé d'Affaires of the United States of America P. Daniel O’Hara
This year, the United States marks the 250th anniversary of our Declaration of Independence, a milestone that invites reflection on the diplomacy that has carried our founding ideals across
generations.
As President Trump has said, "With a single sheet of parchment and 56 signatures, America began the greatest political journey in human history."
That journey has never been ours alone; it has been shaped by partners who share our belief in liberty, self-determination, the
rule of law, and the right to worship our Creator freely—partners like the Solomon Islands.
As we celebrate Freedom 250, a global initiative honoring the ideals that have guided America since 1776, we have enjoyed celebrating with Solomon Islanders – watching and playing sports, celebrating shared culture and business opportunities, and giving tours of our Founders Museum.
American diplomacy protects U.S. interests while advancing peace, security, and prosperity for our partners, and nowhere is that partnership more alive today than in Solomon Islands.
Since Prime Minister Matthew Wale took office three months ago, his government moved with energy to reinvigorate ties with the United States, and we have welcomed every step.
As Secretary Rubio said, "If you believe in the rule of law, the consent of the governed, and the progress of science and commerce, then you are a disciple of the American Revolution."
The Government for Reform, Empowerment, Accountability, and Transformation [GREAT] embodies that spirit, and results are visible.
In May, we signed a Development Finance Corporation Investment Incentive Agreement, opening the door for American private capital to support development that brings high standards
and respects local communities across the country.
Days later, a U.S. Trade and Development Agency delegation explored new infrastructure opportunities with government and private sector partners.
Not every foreign investment serves Solomon Islanders' best interests, and our partnership helps this government protect Solomon Islands’ land, natural resources, and finances
from those who would exploit them.
The Millennium Challenge Corporation's Threshold Program shows what steady, results-driven partnership looks like, strengthening land tenure, tourism investment, and forestry protection.
In March, MCC's Forest Value Enhancement Project helped establish the nearly 25,000-acre Yato Conservation Area, the country's largest protected area.
In April, the government and National Providence Fund committed to co-investing in a new hotel near Munda Airport, with MCC derisking 20 percent of the cost to spur tourism.
That same month, after Tropical Cyclone Malia made landfall, the United States provided emergency shelters, safe drinking water, sanitation services, and relief supplies to storm-affected residents of Western and Choiseul Provinces.
We have also deepened our commitment to protect sovereignty and combat networks that smuggle drugs, resources, and people.
Last week, during the visit of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Harriet Lane, our governments signed an agreement that strengthens Solomon Islands' ability to patrol its own waters.
In May, the U.S. Forest Service trained 40 rangers from nine provinces to ensure foreign investors do not illegally extract Solomon Islands' natural riches, while NOAA and the Coast Guard continue helping the Forum Fisheries Agency protect the tuna shoals that sustain both our economies.
Our defense relationship, anchored in World War II history continues to flourish.
In June, we signed an agreement to enable the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency to continue bringing
home American servicemembers missing since the war. USPACOM has expanded training for the RSIPF's Explosive Ordnance Disposal Department, now a regional leader that recently helped Tuvalu document underwater unexploded ordnance.
Since 2011, the United States has spent nearly SBD 100 million on UXO removal, and last month Deputy Secretary of State
Christopher Landau announced nearly SBD 50 million in additional funding during Prime Minister Wale's visit to Washington.
Beyond shared history and democratic values, I am encouraged by the growing ties between our people, rooted in a common faith and values.
I was honored to worship alongside so many of you this year, across many provinces and denominations, and to see how deeply faith sustains community life here, as it does at home.
Since reopening in 2023, our Embassy has tripled exchange programs for Solomon Islanders to build skills and networks, while U.S. agencies provide training and equipment supporting self-reliance, including a U.S. Geological Survey partnership installing earthquake monitoring stations to protect Pacific communities for generations.
I am glad the new government, many of whose ministers fondly recall their education by Peace Corps volunteers, has formally asked for Peace Corps teachers to return.
Secretary Rubio has said that "each generation brought America closer to the principles of its founding"— the same is true of friendships between nations.
The United States has remained a steadfast partner to the Solomon Islands and, under governments eager to build together, that partnership enters a promising chapter.
Freedom 250 is not simply a look back at 250 years of independence; it is a launchpad for the next 250, built through partnerships like this one.
Today, we reaffirm what has never wavered: our commitment to the Solomon Islands, our respect for its sovereignty and its people, and our confidence that, together, we can achieve great things ahead.
PRIVATE VIEW COLUMN
Six Months In: A Candid Update from Your National Carrier
By Matt Findlay,
CEO, Solomon Airlines*
When I took on the role of CEO of Solomon Airlines almost six months ago, I was realistic. I had done my homework, examined the business, recent history, the operating environment, the considerable challenges and opportunities. I think I can make a difference for positive change.
I arrived, with a clear 100-day plan and a set of priorities designed to stabilise the airline, strengthen our partnerships, and set a course for growth.
In this column, I intend to be up front with the people of Solomon Islands about how those six months have actually unfolded, because our national carrier belongs to all of us, and I believe you deserve an honest account rather than a polished one.
A plan overtaken by events
The truth is, that 100-day plan did not, or rather could not, survive the world as it turned out to be. On 28 February, 14 days after I started, war broke out that would go on to trigger the largest global fuel crisis in modern history.
For an airline, fuel is not just a major cost line, it is survival itself, typically our single largest operating expense. Almost overnight, the assumptions underpinning our budgets, our route economics, and our fleet planning had to be redrawn.
What made this crisis different from the fuel shocks our industry has weathered before, was its scale and its speed. Prices moved sharply and unpredictably, supply lines that airlines around the world had relied on for decades were disrupted, and every carrier from the largest global network airlines to small island operators like ourselves, was forced into the same reckoning at the same time.
We were far from alone in this. But for a carrier serving some of the most remote and fuel-cost-sensitive routes on earth, with limited scale to absorb shocks and few alternative suppliers to turn to, the margin for error has always been thinner, and the impact hit harder and has lasted longer than many of our larger counterparts have experienced, or will continue to grapple with.
During this same period initially, Solomon Islands experienced a transition of Government. As with any significant national change, a number of our international partners sought reassurance regarding the continuity of our operations and long-term plans.
An important part of my role has therefore been maintaining close engagement with Government, our commercial partners and industry stakeholders to reinforce confidence in Solomon Airlines.
Throughout these discussions, we have consistently been able to demonstrate that the airline remains committed to serving the people of Solomon Islands while continuing to operate as a reliable and trusted aviation partner.
This experience has reinforced the importance of continuing our transformation and strengthening the airline so that it remains resilient, commercially sustainable and well positioned for future growth.
I point out, that each time I have reached out to my counterparts at government, regardless of their persuasion – the same has been said, and I have been able to confidently repeat – “we have the support of government.” But more so than ever – change is now needed at the airline, and that’s my determination.
Meeting our people, and making tough calls
Early in my tenure as Solomon Airlines CEO, I made it a priority to meet directly with our staff - engineers, cabin crew, ground handlers, reservations teams, and our support staff across our network. And many will tell you, I’ve been to some places, and met staff, who have never met a CEO before.
Rennell comes to mind. Conversations I had there, shaped my understanding of the airline far more than any briefing paper ever could. They also made clear that stabilising this airline would require tough choices, and that those choices could not be one-off decisions made in the first 100 days and then set aside.
They are choices we continue to work through, week by week, as circumstances evolve. I do not take these decisions lightly. They affect people's livelihoods and their families, and I am conscious of that with every decision that we make.
But an airline that avoids hard choices in a crisis, is an airline that does not survive the crisis, and my responsibility is to ensure this airline's long-term future as much as it is to lead its present operation. That means it is also a responsibility to the people of the Solomon Islands.
A complex web of stakeholders
Running a national carrier requires engaging with an unusually wide range of stakeholders – government ministers, their departments, regulators, lessors, insurers, fuel suppliers, codeshare and interline partners, foreign carriers operating in our market, aircraft manufacturers, and of course the travelling public.
Each of these groups asks its own questions, through its own lens, and each expects answers addressing its own concerns. A lessor wants to understand their asset risk and if we can fly often enough to generate the income required to pay for the lease.
A regulator wants to understand safety and compliance. A government wants to understand service continuity to remote communities. A passenger simply wants to know when their flight will fly.
Global aviation is a genuinely complex industry, and I don't think the level of complexity is always widely understood outside of it. Decisions that look simple from the outside - delaying a route, grounding an aircraft, adjusting a fare, are usually the result of dozens of interlocking commercial, safety, and regulatory considerations.
Part of my commitment to transparency including through the opportunity of this article is to help close that gap in understanding, even where the full picture cannot always be shared in real time.
Operating on an international compliance platform
It is also worth the public understanding just how much regulatory ground Solomon Airlines has to cover.
We operate across multiple international jurisdictions, and with that comes multiple, sometimes overlapping, sets of civil aviation regulations, safety oversight, and compliance obligations that we must meet simultaneously and continuously.
Very few businesses in Solomon Islands and, I would suggest, very few state-owned enterprises anywhere, operate across as many international regulatory environments as we do.
This is not a complaint; it is simply the operating reality of running an international airline out of a Pacific nation, and it is a responsibility our teams take very seriously.
But it does mean that Solomon Airlines by necessity, operates on a higher and more demanding compliance platform than most other Solomon Islands companies, and that adds real cost, time, and complexity to almost everything we do.
Fleet challenges, old and new
Alongside these external pressures, I also inherited a number of long-standing stakeholder and fleet challenges that could not be wished away.
Our Dash-8 has faced an extended period out of service for maintenance, placing real strain on our domestic schedule.
A leased aircraft, a Twin-Otter, has been returned to its lessor as part of an agreement we couldn’t change.
And another Twin-Otter has remained stranded overseas for an extended period, a situation we continue to work through.
Most recently, one of our A320 aircraft, sustained fuselage damage while in the care of a long-standing and highly valued partner of ours.
I want to be clear: this partner has moved quickly and in good faith to work alongside us on the repair, and that partnership matters to us.
But the reality is that the repair itself is major. This situation has added a further, unplanned layer of pressure onto an airline already managing a very demanding environment.
I raise this to provide context, as I believe the public conversation about our airline should be grounded in fact, and what we’re doing to rectify it.
Turning strategy into a plan for the road ahead
Amid all of this, there has also been genuine cause for optimism. I have had encouraging meetings with our new Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Mathew Cooper Wale, who has asked us, rightly, to think and act strategically rather than reactively. That challenge has sharpened our focus.
What began six months ago as a 100-day plan has, through everything this year has thrown at us, matured into something more considered: a full strategy for the airline's future, which with refinement from the Board & Management we are calling ‘Survive, Thrive, Overdrive’.
It is a strategy reflecting the phased reality of where we are and what we must do: first stabilising the airline through the pressures I have outlined here, next building the platform to thrive commercially, and ultimately positioning Solomon Airlines to grow at pace for the benefit of the country and more widely the region we share in the Pacific.
This revised strategy document is almost ready. With consultation with the government and with their blessing of support, we intend to roll it out within a short period, with further detail and advice to follow as it is finalised.
Thank you, and looking ahead
To the people of Solomon Islands who fly with us, wait for us, and depend on us to connect their communities: we thank you for your patience and understanding during a period that has tested us in ways few could have predicted. I do not take your patience for granted.
Looking ahead, I am genuinely optimistic about what comes next for Solomon Airlines. We look forward to working closely with our government, airline and industry partners to grow our services and deliver the kind of customer experience the people of Solomon Islands deserve.
The first six months have been about survival and stabilisation. The next chapter is about building forward deliberately, transparently, and together.
//END//
PRIVATE VIEW
The Strength of a Nation: Where Leadership Meets Service
Leadership creates direction; workers create transformation.... Parliament creates policy; public servants create impact. The strength of government is measured not only by those who govern, but by those who serve.
National Priorities Must Guide Salary Decisions: Frontline Workers and Nation Builders Deserve Greater Recognition A nation is not built by decisions alone; it is built by the people who give those decisions life.
Leadership provides vision, establishes priorities and creates the framework for progress. However, the true measure of leadership is revealed through the dedication of those who carry that vision into the daily realities of the people.
Parliament may debate, deliberate and enact laws, but the success of those laws depends upon the people who implement them.
Teachers educate the next generation. Nurses and health workers preserve life. Police officers protect communities.
Public servants transform government policies into practical services that reach the people.
The strength of government rests not only upon the authority of those who hold office, but also upon the commitment and professionalism of those who serve within its institutions. Government is strongest when leadership and service work together — when those who provide direction recognise, respect and empower those who deliver transformation.
The question facing our nation is not whether leaders and public officers should receive fair and reasonable remuneration.
Every person who dedicates their life to serving Solomon Islands deserves fair consideration for their responsibilities and contribution.
The deeper question is one of national priority: Who carries the greatest responsibility for the daily wellbeing and future development of our nation, and should our salary system reflect that responsibility?
Members of Parliament hold an important constitutional responsibility. They represent the people, make laws and provide national leadership. Their role in shaping the direction of the nation must be respected.
However, national leadership is not carried by elected representatives alone.
Every day, thousands of Solomon Islanders deliver the essential services upon which our people depend.
Nurses and health workers stand at the frontline of protecting lives.
They care for mothers, children, elderly citizens and communities, often under challenging conditions and with limited resources.
Teachers carry the responsibility of preparing the next generation.
The doctors, engineers, leaders, entrepreneurs and professionals of tomorrow are shaped within today’s classrooms.
Investment in education is therefore an investment in the future of Solomon Islands.
Police officers and security personnel protect law and order, maintain stability and respond to situations that affect the safety and security of our communities.
Public servants, including technical officers, administrators, planners, engineers and other professionals, are the machinery through which government decisions become reality.
Without a capable and committed public service, national plans remain only ideas on paper.
For this reason, salary decisions must reflect the true foundations of national progress. A fair national remuneration policy should give priority to: 1.Health workers — because the life and wellbeing of our people depend upon their service. 2.Teachers and education workers — because they build the human capacity that determines our future. 3.Police and security services — because peace, safety and stability are essential foundations for development. 4.Technical and professional public officers — because their expertise enables government programmes and national projects to succeed. 5.General public servants — because they sustain the daily operations and delivery of government services. 6.Political leadership — recognising its constitutional importance and responsibilities, while ensuring remuneration decisions remain balanced with national economic realities and the needs of the wider population.
The concern expressed by many citizens is not that Members of Parliament should be denied fair remuneration. Public leadership carries important responsibilities and must be properly recognised.
The concern is that national priorities must also strengthen those who directly provide essential services to the people.
A nation’s budget is a reflection of its values. When resources are limited, priority should be given to the sectors that protect lives, educate children, maintain communities and build the foundation for long-term national development.
Solomon Islands must therefore continue towards a comprehensive and independent remuneration framework that considers all sectors together — measuring responsibility, workload, qualifications, hardship, cost of living and contribution to national progress.
The future of Solomon Islands depends upon supporting those who carry significant responsibility for the wellbeing, stability and progress of our people.
However, recognition cannot be measured by salary alone. A nation must also consider whether its resources are being directed towards creating the conditions that allow its people to serve effectively.
A government does not serve its people merely by increasing the cost of administration; it serves by strengthening the systems, institutions and infrastructure that improve the lives of its citizens.
A nurse cannot deliver quality healthcare without a functioning clinic.
A teacher cannot provide quality education without a proper learning environment.
A police officer cannot effectively protect communities without the necessary resources to perform their duties.
Where salary increases are constrained by national financial realities, investment should also be directed towards strengthening the foundations of public service delivery.
For the health sector, this may include: • repairing and rebuilding deteriorating rural clinics; • ensuring reliable supplies of essential medicines and medical equipment; • improving accommodation for nurses and health workers serving in rural and remote areas; • providing the facilities required for healthcare workers to serve with dignity and effectiveness. For the education sector, priority may include: • improving classrooms and school infrastructure; • providing teaching resources and learning materials; • supporting teachers serving in isolated and disadvantaged communities. For police and other essential services, investment may include: • improving operational facilities; • providing necessary equipment and resources; • ensuring officers serving in difficult locations have appropriate support.
The principle is simple: a worker’s effectiveness depends not only on salary, but also on the environment, tools and resources available to them.
A salary increase alone cannot compensate for a damaged clinic without medicines, a classroom without learning resources, or an institution without the capacity to function effectively.
National development therefore requires a balanced approach. Fair remuneration must be accompanied by investment in the systems, infrastructure and resources that enable our people to serve effectively.
The prosperity of a nation begins with the prosperity of its people. When teachers are supported, children are empowered. When nurses are equipped, lives are protected. When public servants are strengthened, government becomes more effective. When people prosper, the nation prospers.
The measure of government success is not only how much it pays its officers, but how well it equips them to deliver meaningful outcomes for the people of Solomon Islands.
Public funds must always be directed towards the greatest national benefit — strengthening both the people who serve and the institutions through which they serve.
Leadership gives direction. Service gives that direction meaning. Investment gives that service strength. Together, they build the nation.
— By The Philosopher Above the Waves
PRIVATE VIEW
The Strength of a Nation: Where Leadership Meets Service
Leadership creates direction; workers create transformation.... Parliament creates policy; public servants create impact. The strength of government is measured not only by those who govern, but by those who serve.
国家优先事项必须指导薪资决策:前线工作者和国家建设者应获得更大的认可
一个国家不是仅靠决策建立的;而是由那些赋予这些决策生命的人所建立。
领导提供愿景,确立优先事项并创造进步的框架。然而,领导力的真正衡量标准在于那些将愿景带入人民日常现实的人的奉献。
议会可能会辩论、审议并制定法律,但这些法律的成功取决于实施它们的人。
教师教育下一代。护士和健康工作者维护生命。警察保护社区。
公共服务人员将政府政策转化为能够惠及人民的实际服务。
政府的力量不仅依赖于那些担任公职者的权威,也依赖于在其机构内服务的人的承诺和专业精神。当领导与服务共同合作时,政府最为强大——当提供方向的人认可、尊重并赋权于那些实现变革的人。
我们国家面临的问题不是领导者和公职人员是否应获得公平合理的报酬。
每一个致力于服务所罗门群岛的人都应获得对其责任和贡献的公平考虑。
更深层次的问题是国家优先事项:谁对我们国家的日常福祉和未来发展承担最大的责任,我们的薪资体系是否应反映这种责任?
议会成员肩负着重要的宪法责任。他们代表人民,制定法律并提供国家领导。他们在塑造国家方向中的角色必须得到尊重。
然而,国家领导并不仅仅由选举产生的代表承担。
每天,成千上万的所罗门群岛人提供着我们人民所依赖的基本服务。
护士和卫生工作者站在保护生命的前线。
他们照顾母亲、儿童、老年公民和社区,常常在艰难的条件下,资源有限。
教师肩负着培养下一代的责任。
明天的医生、工程师、领导者、企业家和专业人士在今天的课堂上成长。
因此,对教育的投资就是对所罗门群岛未来的投资。
警察和安全人员保护法律和秩序,维护稳定,并应对影响我们社区安全的情况。
公共服务人员,包括技术官员、行政人员、规划师、工程师和其他专业人士,是政府决策变为现实的机器。
没有一支有能力且有责任心的公共服务队伍,国家计划将仅停留在纸面上的想法。
因此,薪资决策必须反映国家进步的真实基础。一个公平的国家薪酬政策应优先考虑:1.卫生工作者——因为我们人民的生命和福祉依赖于他们的服务。2.教师和教育工作者——因为他们培养决定我们未来的人力资源。3.警察和安全服务——因为和平、安全和稳定是发展的基本基础。4.技术和专业公共官员——因为他们的专业知识使政府项目和国家计划得以成功。5.普通公共服务人员——因为他们维持政府服务的日常运作和交付。6.政治领导——承认其宪法重要性和责任,同时确保薪酬决策与国家经济现实和更广泛人口的需求保持平衡。
许多公民表达的担忧并不是希望国会议员被剥夺公平的薪酬。公共领导承担着重要责任,必须得到适当的认可。
担忧在于,国家优先事项也必须加强那些直接为人民提供基本服务的人。
一个国家的预算反映了其价值观。当资源有限时,应优先考虑保护生命、教育儿童、维护社区和为长期国家发展奠定基础的领域。
因此,所罗门群岛必须继续朝着一个全面和独立的薪酬框架迈进,该框架将所有领域结合在一起——衡量责任、工作量、资格、艰辛、生活成本和对国家进步的贡献。
所罗门群岛的未来取决于支持那些承担重大责任以确保我们人民的福祉、稳定和进步的人。
然而,认可不能仅仅通过薪水来衡量。一个国家还必须考虑其资源是否被用于创造条件,使其人民能够有效服务。
一个政府并不是仅仅通过增加行政成本来服务其人民;而是通过加强改善公民生活的系统、机构和基础设施来服务。
护士无法在没有正常运作的诊所的情况下提供优质医疗。
教师无法在没有适当学习环境的情况下提供优质教育。
警察在没有必要资源来履行职责的情况下无法有效保护社区。
在国家财政现实限制薪水增长的情况下,投资也应指向加强公共服务交付的基础。
对于卫生部门,这可能包括:• 修复和重建恶化的乡村诊所;• 确保基本药物和医疗设备的可靠供应;• 改善在乡村和偏远地区服务的护士和卫生工作者的住宿;• 提供医疗工作者以尊严和有效性服务所需的设施。对于教育部门,优先事项可能包括:• 改善教室和学校基础设施;• 提供教学资源和学习材料;• 支持在偏远和弱势社区服务的教师。对于警察和其他基本服务,投资可能包括:• 改善操作设施;• 提供必要的设备和资源;• 确保在困难地点服务的警员获得适当支持。
原则很简单:一个工人的工作效率不仅取决于薪水,还取决于他们所处的环境、可用的工具和资源。
单靠薪水的增加无法弥补没有药品的诊所、没有学习资源的教室或没有有效运作能力的机构。
因此,国家发展需要一种平衡的方法。公平的报酬必须伴随着对系统、基础设施和资源的投资,以使我们的人民能够有效地服务。
一个国家的繁荣始于其人民的繁荣。当教师得到支持时,孩子们就会得到赋能。当护士得到装备时,生命就会得到保护。当公务员得到加强时,政府就会变得更加有效。当人民繁荣时,国家也会繁荣。
政府成功的衡量标准不仅在于它支付给官员的薪水多少,还在于它如何有效地装备他们,以便为所罗门群岛的人民提供有意义的成果。
公共资金必须始终用于最大的国家利益——加强服务人员和他们所服务的机构。
领导提供方向。服务赋予方向意义。投资增强服务的力量。三者共同构建国家。
— By The Philosopher Above the Waves
VIEW-POINT: Temotu Provincial Ministers' Housing Allowance — A Call for Accountability, Resources, and Capacity
The Temotu Provincial Government through the Office of the Premier acknowledges the public concerns raised regarding the $18,000 quarterly housing allowance provided to Temotu Provincial Ministers for residence in Lata, the provincial seat and capital of Temotu Province. Recent social media posts raised that a number of Ministers continue to reside primarily in their home communities, attending provincial duties only during scheduled meetings. This situation raises serious questions about accountability, value for public money, and the effective functioning of the provincial government. The Electorates Position Effective governance in Temotu Province requires three interconnected elements: presence, resources and capacity. Disregarding or eakening any of the three undermines the entire system. 1. On Presence and Accountability The housing allowance was established on the clear condition that Ministers reside in Lata to ensure accessibility to constituents, public servants, and government partners. This also enables daily oversight of provincial projects; and maintain coordination with the Premier's Office. If Ministers are collecting this allowance while residing elsewhere, this constitutes a breach of the conditions under which public funds are disbursed. The Provincial Assembly, in collaboration with the Ministry of Provincial Government, must conduct an immediate audit of allowance claims and enforce compliance with residence requirements. Public funds come with public obligations. 2. On Resources and Working Conditions The public of Temotu recognize that Lata's administrative infrastructure — including office facilities, transport, equipment, and staffing — may be insufficient to support effective ministerial work. Thus simply demanding presence without enabling conditions risks creating frustrated, ineffective leaders. Therefore, the Provincial Government and National Government must jointly assess whether Ministers are being provided the tools necessary to govern once they are in Lata. Where gaps exist, they must be addressed as a matter of priority. Residence without resources is insufficient; resources without residence is wasteful. 3. On Capacity and Long-Term Effectiveness The Provincial Government Act confers specific powers, responsibilities, and financial authorities on Members of the Provincial Assembly and Ministers. Too often, these powers are underutilized not because of bad faith, but because of limited exposure to legislative frameworks, budgeting processes, and project management. This calls for a structured capacity-building program — including induction training, refresher trainings, legal literacy on the Provincial Government Act, and ongoing mentorship — to ensure that Ministers can translate their presence and resources into tangible outcomes for the people of Temotu. What Electorates Are Calling For. In light of concerns raised by fellow Temotuans and explanations made the Hon Premier, it would be appropriate that actions are taken for an Immediate Audit: The Provincial Assembly with the Ministry must review all housing allowance disbursements and verify Ministerial residence in Lata. Where conditions are not met, appropriate recovery and disciplinary measures must follow. Secondly there is a real need for Infrastructure Assessment: A joint Provincial-National Government assessment of Lata's administrative readiness, with a clear plan to equip Ministers to work effectively from the provincial capital. Third is Capacity Investment: The Ministry should avail dedicated funding and institutional support for MPA induction, refresher roles training, financial management training, legal literacy training and governance mentorship. Fourth is meaningful actions on transparency: The Ministry and Provincial Assembly must require Public reporting on allowance compliance, resource allocation, and training outcomes to rebuild public trust in provincial institutions. Conclusion The $18,000 quarterly housing allowance is not an entitlement per se. It is a conditional investment in governance. The people of Temotu Province are entitled to leaders who are present, equipped, and capable. This is not a choice between holding Ministers accountable and supporting them with resources. It is a demand for all three: presence, resources, and capacity. Remove any one, and the stool falls. The Electorates must therefore urge all stakeholders — the Provincial Assembly, the Ministry of Provincial Government, the National Government, and the Ministers themselves — to act on this matter with the urgency it deserves. End. Chief Johnson Levela Reef Islands, Temotu Province. Former Temotu Premier and Former Speaker.
Commentary By William Crawley Australia Amidst the shifting global landscape, Tuvalu faces an existential crisis due to rising sea levels and the submersion of its territory. At this critical juncture, Tuvalu needs to re-examine its diplomatic strategy. Decades of diplomatic relations with Taiwan have failed to yield substantive development, shifting toward cooperation within the international...
By Dr Philip Tagini [As originally published on Ma’aboto LinkedIn] Public finance is often treated as a technical system. It is placed in the language of budgets, warrants, procurement rules, acquittals, audits, and compliance reports. These instruments are necessary because, without them, public money becomes exposed to misuse, waste, and disorder. But they can also conceal...
CALL FOR IMPROVEMENT CUSTOMER SERVICE Dear Management of Bank South Pacific (BSP) I am writing as a concerned and loyal customer to express my concerns regarding the quality of customer service provided by BSP in the Solomon Islands.My intention is not to criticize the bank unfairly, but to encourage improvements that will benefit all customers....
PRIVATE VIEW
Do Not Let Geopolitical Disputes Hijack the Blue Pacific
By William Crawley
in Australia
In 2026, the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leader Meeting (PIFL...
By William Crawley in Australia In 2026, the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leader Meeting (PIFLM) will kick off in Palau. Under the theme “Building Economies: Life, Action, Unity (BELAU)”, PIFLM carries the region’s deep aspirations for green transformation, climate change response, and implementation of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent in the post-pandemic...
It’s time for Palau to change its diplomatic relations with Taiwan
Private View
By Oliver Brown, Australia
A significant dynamic in the recent international diplomatic world, Lai Ching-Te’s visi...
OPINION PIECE| By Oliver Brown, Australia A significant dynamic in the recent international diplomatic world, Lai Ching-Te’s visit to Eswatini, has been frustrated by the fact that it is not only a normal visit, but also a deep shift in the global geopolitical balance. For Palau, it provides a strategic revelation of the value of...
By Jay Stead Ngaham The governments of the United States and Solomon Islands should work together to publicly identify and assess any remaining World War II chemical weapons storage or disposal sites on Banika Island in the Russell Islands, Central Islands province. Historical records indicate that chemical warfare munitions, including mustard gas-filled artillery shells and...
Dear Editor – I am writing to express my concern about the poor garbage collection services in Honiara City and residential areas. This issue is becoming a serious problem for the health and wellbeing of the public. In many parts of Honiara, rubbish bins are often left uncollected for long periods of time. As a result, rubbish...
Dear Editor – I am writing to express my deep concern about the increasing pollution in Honiara. As a concerned student, I believe environmental pollution has become a critical issue in our beautiful capital city. Pollution is now seriously affecting both our environment and public health. Roadsides, drains, rivers, and coastal areas are increasingly filled with...
Reflections on the Prime Minister’s Announcement under The GREAT Government By Dr Michael Ha’apioCommonwealth Climate Finance Adviser, Government of Kiribati 1. Introduction The recent announcement by the Prime Minister under The GREAT Government—Government for Reform, Accountability, Empowerment, and Transformation—to introduce free education is one of the most encouraging and forward-looking policy decisions for Solomon Islands...
对总理在伟大政府(The GREAT Government)下宣布的反思
作者:迈克尔·哈阿皮奥博士(Dr Michael Ha’apio)
基里巴斯政府气候金融顾问
1. 引言
总理在伟大政府(Government for Reform, Accountability, Empowerment, and Transformation)下最近宣布引入免费教育,这是所罗门群岛最令人鼓舞和前瞻性的政策决定之一......
Dear Editor – I would like to express my view on the important role of youth in nation building in the Solomon Island. Our youths are the future leaders in our country, their contribution in our society is very crucial for national development. Our nation Solomon Island population is built on with youth, and many youths have energy, talent and...
Dear Editor – I’ am Namita, a student studying DG101 at the university of the South Pacific (USP) in Fiji. I’m respectfully asking to please publish this in your platforms as it a requirement for our course assessment. I wish to draw attention to one of the most pressing challenges we faced in our country: youth unemployment. With a...
Dear Editor – As one of the students of the University of South Pacific (USP), I am writing to express my deep concern about the living conditions of people residing in the dumping ground at Ranadi. It is very disturbing to see families, including young children, living in such an unhealthy and unsafe environment. The dumping site...
Celebrating 124 years of Methodism By Nelson H U Boso, Noro Town, Roviana, Western Province Roviana Lavata, or much of the Western Region (including Lauru), will once again come together in an array of historical focussing in the coming week or so. They will come together to remember a great event that occurred in Roviana 124...
庆祝卫理公会124周年
作者:Nelson H U Boso,诺罗镇,罗维亚纳,西部省
罗维亚纳拉瓦塔,或西部地区的大部分(包括劳鲁),将在接下来的一周左右再次聚集在一起,回顾一个发生在罗维亚纳的伟大事件,124年前......
