Atu pleads guilty following plea
bargain, sentence on Fri
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
Knoxley Atu has pleaded guilty to unlawful assembly following a plea bargain with the prosecution over his alleged involvement in the November 2021 Honiara riot.
The matter came before the Honiara Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, where the prosecution applied under section 190 (2) (b) (i) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) to have the other seven charges against Atu withdrawn.
Magistrate Hollison granted the application, acquitting Atu of the seven charges, after which the prosecution tendered an amended charge of unlawful assembly.
Atu then entered a guilty plea to the remaining charge.
The guilty plea followed an agreement between the prosecution and defence to resolve the matter without proceeding to trial.
Atu had previously faced charges including managing an unlawful society, unlawful assembly and arson arising from the November 2021 Honiara unrest.
Following the guilty plea, Atu’s lawyer Lawrence Kwana of Honiara Lawyers proceeded with sentencing submissions and mitigation and asked the court to consider a non-custodial sentence.
Kwana told the court that Atu had reconciled with a former Prime Minister and was the sole breadwinner for his family.
The defence added that Atu was remorseful for what he had done and that his guilty plea was a significant acceptance of responsibility for his involvement in the November 2021 riot.
The court was also told that Atu’s family had moved to Honiara to be with him and support him throughout the court proceedings, with family members relying on him.
The defence further submitted that Atu had cooperated with police and had expressed regret over the events.
The prosecution, in response, referred to Atu’s record of interview with police, in which he acknowledged being part of the group of people involved.
However, the prosecution said Atu stated that he was in a meeting when the destruction during the riot occurred.
The defence maintained its request for a non-custodial sentence.
Magistrate Hollison adjourned the matter to August 14 at 9.30am for sentencing.
The November 2021 unrest resulted in widespread looting, arson and destruction of properties in Honiara, particularly in Chinatown, where a number of businesses and buildings were damaged or destroyed.
Several public facilities were also damaged or burnt during the unrest.
Special Prosecutor Mary Anne Zurenuoc from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) is prosecuting.
///Ends////
A proposed $1.5 million increase in office-rent funding for the Ministry of Forestry and Research has come under scrutiny at the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), with lawmakers questioning a $100,000-a-month rental arrangement and whether proper procedures were followed. The ministry appeared before PAC on Tuesday to defend its supplementary funding request. According to the 2026 [...]
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Strengthening connections between freshwater resilience and schools in Solomon Islands
As preparations continue for the official launch of the Solomon Islands component of PacFresH2O on Thursday, 13 August, the GIZ Pacific team and its partners are engaging with key government stakeholders to explore opportunities for collaboration and impact.
The GIZ Pacific team, led by Charlotte Siegerstetter, GIZ Head of Programme, PacFresH2O - Protecting Freshwater Resources for Increased Climate Resilience in the Pacific Islands, together with Dr Milika Naqasima Sobey, GIZ Senior Technical Advisor, and Elmah Panisi Sese, Country Manager of Live & Learn Solomon Islands, had the opportunity to meet with Linda Wate, Permanent Secretary Supervising for the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD), alongside Deputy Secretary Corporate Services Coldrine Kolae and Deputy Secretary Strategic Richard Adomana.
The meeting provided a valuable opportunity to learn more about the education sector in Solomon Islands, including the approximately 1,500 schools serving communities across the country, and to better understand the opportunities and challenges related to water, sanitation and hygiene in schools.
A key point emerging from the discussion was the importance of reliable access to water.
While infrastructure such as sanitation facilities is important, these facilities can only function effectively when a dependable water supply is available.
The discussion highlighted the need for solutions that consider water, sanitation and hygiene together and respond to the realities faced by schools and their surrounding communities.
The discussion also explored how PacFresH2O’s community-based approaches could complement existing efforts in the education sector.
Schools are an integral part of communities, and strengthening water and sanitation services in and around schools can have benefits that extend well beyond the classroom.
There is also an important opportunity to engage children and young people as agents of positive change.
The MEHRD leadership welcomed the engagement and expressed their appreciation to GIZ Pacific and its partners for reaching out to explore areas of potential collaboration.
As PacFresH2O moves towards its official launch in Solomon Islands, GIZ Pacific looks forward to continuing these conversations and working closely with the Government of Solomon Islands and its partners to identify practical, inclusive and community-driven solutions that strengthen freshwater resilience, water security, sanitation and hygiene.
PacFresH2O team visits Lambi Village in Solomon Islands
As preparations continue for the launch of the PacFresH2O Solomon Islands component, the GIZ Pacific team is travelling beyond Honiara to listen directly to communities and better understand their needs and priorities.
Charlotte Siegerstetter, Head of Programme for PacFresH2O, recently visited Lambi Village on the northwest coast of Guadalcanal, around 58 kilometres from Honiara, meeting with community members and learning about their everyday experiences and challenges, particularly around water access, resources and resilience.
For PacFresH2O, understanding local realities and learning from community knowledge is essential to ensuring that future interventions are relevant, inclusive and responsive to local priorities.
The visit to Lambi forms part of wider consultations ahead of the official launch of the Solomon Islands component on 13 August 2026.
PacFresH2O will work with communities and partners to strengthen freshwater security, climate resilience, water, sanitation and hygiene, with local voices at the heart of the work.
GIZ
East Central Guadalcanal Constituency Gets
$100k for sanitation support from PRC
The East Central Guadalcanal Constituency (ECGC) office has recognized the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Honiara for its generous support of $100,000 to improve sanitation in the constituency.
The funding follows a project endorsed and put forward by the constituency office, under the Member of Parliament and Honourable Minister for Provincial Government Alfred Lazarus Rina, requesting the Embassy to support the Marena Reforestation and Conservation Association (MRCA) Community-led Sanitation Project in ECGC.
It is common knowledge that many rural areas still lack reliable water supply and proper sanitation.
This affects people's health and living standards, damages the environment, and slows down socio-economic progress.
Improving safe and fair access to water and sanitation is a national development priority, in line with UN Sustainable Development Goal 6.
The financial support will go toward the sanitation project aimed at improving community health and the environment.
Speaking for MRCA during a recent formal handover ceremony, Chairman Reuben Masu'u expressed profound gratitude to the Chinese Embassy for its support.
He also thanked Hon. Alfred Rina, MP, and the constituency office for helping secure the funding support.
Mr Masu'u said this support marks an important step for community development, especially for MRCA and its members and the wider constituency.
He highlighted that the project would reduce waterborne and sanitation-related illness, improve living standards, and involve women and youth in community development, adding it would also serve as a model for nearby communities, who could learn from it and apply similar approaches in their respective villages.
He further said that the project would support MRCA's future plans, including its awareness and conservation programs, describing it as one of the first projects of its kind in the community to bring in a proper, structured sanitation system – setting a benchmark for rural infrastructure development.
MP for ECGC, Hon. Alfred Rina, encouraged all communities and stakeholders in the constituency to strengthen their commitment to community development.
He commended MRCA for taking the lead and urged other groups to do the same.
The PRC Embassy in Honiara continues to support water and sanitation projects across rural Solomon Islands, through the Rural Sustainable Development Program, implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development.
- MRD
Houenipwela Chairs Forum
Foreign Ministers Meeting
Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Hon. Rick Houenipwela has chaired the Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting, where Forum Foreign Ministers considered key regional issues and priorities.
The meeting was held at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in Suva, Fiji last week.
In his opening remarks, Minister Houenipwela acknowledged the important role of the Foreign Ministers Meeting in supporting the work of the Pacific Islands Forum and in preparing for discussions at the Leaders level.
Minister Houenipwela highlighted the importance of continuing to work together as a region, noting the changing regional and global environment and the need for Pacific countries to remain united in addressing issues of common concern.
He also emphasised the importance of Pacific-led approaches and ensuring that the priorities of Pacific island countries remain at the centre of the region’s work.
The Minister noted that the meeting provides an opportunity for Foreign Ministers to exchange views, strengthen cooperation and provide guidance on issues that are important to the Forum and its members.
As Chair of the meeting, Minister Houenipwela reaffirmed Solomon Islands’ commitment to working collectively with Forum members in advancing the region’s priorities.
The outcomes of the Foreign Ministers Meeting will contribute to the ongoing work of the Pacific Islands Forum and preparations for the Forum Leaders Meeting to be held in Palau, September 2026.
--MFAET PRESS RELEASE
‘I feel guilty, but I’ve learned’
North Guadalcanal mothers discover the power of breastfeeding
For young mothers gathered at Good Samaritan Hospital in North Guadalcanal, World Breastfeeding Week became more than a celebration. It was an opportunity to learn, reflect and better understand how breastfeeding can give their children a healthier start in life.
Mothers attending postnatal check-ups at Good Samaritan Hospital Wednesday last week were given practical information on the importance of breastfeeding as health workers and partners took the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week campaign directly to the community.
A team from the Guadalcanal Province Health Division, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Live & Learn and UNICEF used the occasion to engage with mothers who turned out in numbers for their postnatal appointments, sharing information on breastfeeding practices and the role breast milk plays in protecting children from illness.
For Edith Kusele, a young mother of two, the awareness was an eye-opening experience.
“Hearing some of the presentations today, as a young mother I feel guilty because I didn’t follow some of these things. I didn’t even seek help from nurses, but now I’m happy because I’ve learned a lot about the importance of breastfeeding,” she said.
UNICEF Nutrition Officer Salome Namohunu told mothers that breastfeeding is one of the most important ways they can give their children a healthy start in life.
“Breastfeeding ensures that every baby receives the best start in life. Breastfeeding is the best and safe natural food for babies, and it is readily available,” she said.
Namohunu highlighted the importance of exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of a baby's life, explaining that breast milk provides the nutrition and protection babies need to grow strong and healthy.
She also stressed that breastfeeding should be viewed as more than simply a feeding choice.
“Breastfeeding is more than a feeding choice. The choice to breastfeed your child is a powerful act of love and the first child protection you can give your child against all forms of sickness,” Namohunu said.
She urged mothers to begin breastfeeding as soon as possible after birth, particularly during the first critical 24 hours.
Health Promotion Officer with Guadalcanal Province Health Division, Smith Neremola, said the campaign was deliberately taken to the community so mothers could access information where they live and receive services.
“In celebrating World Breastfeeding Week, we would like to come down to the community level purposely to share information on the importance of breastfeeding,” Neremola said.
He said the awareness covered breastfeeding during the first 24 hours after birth, the first six months of a child's life and how mothers can continue breastfeeding during emergencies and disasters.
The sessions also provided mothers with an opportunity to reflect on their own experiences.
Mother and teacher Caroline Matangani said awareness programmes such as the one held at Good Samaritan Hospital are important because some mothers may lack information about appropriate feeding practices.
She said mothers are often a baby's first point of contact and have an important responsibility to ensure their children are properly fed and cared for.
“Awareness like this is very important to teach these mothers so that they know the importance of breastfeeding and feed their children,” Matangani said.
The 2026 World Breastfeeding Week comes with the theme, ‘Breastfeeding for a sustainable start in life: strengthen what works.’ It forms part of broader efforts by health authorities and partners to strengthen community understanding of breastfeeding and encourage practices that support child survival, growth and development. World Breastfeeding week celebration this year is supported by Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
The campaign also aims to ensure mothers are better prepared to breastfeed in the critical early period after birth and during challenging circumstances, including disasters.
For the mothers who gathered at Good Samaritan Hospital, the message was clear: breastfeeding is not simply about feeding a baby—it is one of the earliest and most powerful ways a mother can protect her child.
ENDS///
PAC questions Commerce Ministry over $6.119m supplementary funding request covering operations, border systems and development projects. The Public Accounts Committee has questioned the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration over a $6.119 million supplementary funding request under the 2026 Supplementary Appropriation Bill. According to the ministry’s presentation to the committee, the request comprises $3.119 [...]
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BY DOUGLAS VAHIA
THE Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey appeared before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) this morning, 11th August, seeking an additional $956,430 under Head 18, entirely for rental costs at its new office premises in Honiara.
Permanent Secretary, Mr. Stanley Waleanisia, told the Committee that the Ministry moved out of its old building in April last year after a technical assessment found the structure, more than 50 years old, unfit for use and contaminated with asbestos.
The PS said the original rent allocation of $5.38 million had been used partly to settle outstanding payments on the old building, leaving insufficient funds to cover the new tenancy. The current request, he said, is needed to cover rent through to the end of the year.
During the hearing, the PAC Chair, MP Dr Paul Popora Bosawai raised concerns over rental arrangements across government more broadly, questioning whether some payment structures where a company unrelated to the registered landowner collects rental income on a property complies with land law.
The Ministry’s team acknowledged this was a new issue for them and agreed to investigate and report back to the Committee.
The Chair noted the concern was not isolated to the Ministry of Lands, but applies to other ministries’ rental budgets within the supplementary bill.
The PS also told the Committee that the Ministry intends to construct a new building on the site of its old premises, rather than renovate, citing land scarcity in Honiara.
He raised the possibility of a joint multi-storey complex shared with ministries handling related functions, such as Environment or Traditional Governance, similar in concept to the Prime Minister’s Office building.
Committee members, including the Leader of the Independent Group, welcomed the proposal, while criticising the Government’s broader pattern of high rental expenditure across ministries.
Members urged stronger policy direction towards consolidating ministries with overlapping functions into shared, government-owned premises, to reduce what was described as a significant leakage of government revenue through rental costs.
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作者:道格拉斯·瓦希亚
土地、住房和测量部今天上午(8月11日)出现在公共账目委员会(PAC)面前,寻求在第18项下额外956,430美元,全部用于在霍尼亚拉新办公室的租金。
常务秘书斯坦利·瓦莱安西亚(Mr. Stanley Waleanisia)告诉委员会,该部在去年4月搬出了旧建筑,因为技术评估发现这座超过50年的建筑不适合使用,并且受到石棉污染。
常务秘书表示,原始租金拨款538万美元部分用于结清旧建筑的未付款项,导致没有足够的资金来支付新租约。他说,目前的请求是为了覆盖到年底的租金。
在听证会上,PAC主席、国会议员保罗·波索瓦伊(Dr. Paul Popora Bosawai)对政府更广泛的租赁安排表示担忧,质疑一些支付结构是否符合土地法,即某些与注册土地所有者无关的公司收取物业租金。
该部团队承认这是他们面临的新问题,并同意进行调查并向委员会反馈。
主席指出,这一担忧并不仅限于土地部,而是适用于其他部门在补充预算中的租赁预算。
常务秘书还告诉委员会,该部打算在旧办公地点上建造一座新建筑,而不是进行翻新,理由是霍尼亚拉土地稀缺。
他提出了与处理相关职能的部门(如环境部或传统治理部)共享的多层综合大楼的可能性,概念类似于总理办公室大楼。
委员会成员,包括独立小组的领导人,欢迎这一提议,同时批评政府在各部门的高租金支出模式。
成员们呼吁加强政策导向,将职能重叠的部门整合到共享的政府拥有的场所,以减少被描述为通过租金成本造成的政府收入重大流失。
Island SunPolitics & Government政治与政府·2026-08-11Original ↗原文 ↗
PM Matthew Wale welcomes Satsol’s investment and rural expansion plans, backed by reforms aimed at more affordable telecom services. PRIME Minister Matthew Wale today received a courtesy visit from the executive and shareholders of Satsol Company. During the meeting, Satsol Chief Executive Officer Pawel Smalinksi updated the Prime Minister on the company’s current operations, achievements [...]
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BY JOSES SAREN
The Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC) has questioned the Office of the Governor-General over its $1,027,245.70 supplementary budget request for the 2026 financial year, with particular scrutiny directed at the procurement of a new standby generator and travel arrangements for the Governor-General.
Appearing before the committee yesterday, Private Secretary to the Governor-General, Mr Rawcliff Zeza, accompanied by Deputy Private Secretary Maxwell Banyo and Principal Accountant Samson Konari, defended the supplementary allocation which brings the office’s total budget to over $13.3 million for 2026.
The bulk of the supplementary request falls under “Maintain and Non-Residential Buildings” at $377,425.70, primarily for a new standby generator. Mr Zeza told the committee that the current generator, installed during the time of former Governor-General Sir Nathaniel Waena, is more than 15 years old and is experiencing frequent mechanical issues.
However, PAC members raised concerns about both the cost and the procurement process. PAC Chairman Dr Paul Bosawai questioned whether proper load assessment had been conducted for the 88 kVA Cummins generator, emphasising that the Governor-General’s residence and office have significant power demands.
Committee member MP Peter Shanel Agovaka also questioned why only a single quotation had been obtained, contrary to the Public Finance Management Act’s requirement for three quotes. Mr Zeza acknowledged that they had secured only one quotation, estimating the generator’s cost at approximately $380,000, but indicated willingness to seek additional quotes.
Agovaka suggested that solar energy could be a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative, noting that the amount requested could potentially power the entire establishment.
The supplementary budget also includes $100,000 for public servants’ local fares and $519,820 for local other costs, covering airfares and sea fares for officials accompanying the Governor-General on provincial visits.
Mr Zeza explained that three tours were originally planned: a visit to Malaita for the consecration and ordination of Reverend Maelanga, the opening of a police station at Shortland, and the Governor-General’s annual leave travel to his home village.
When questioned about the use of domestic vessels for gubernatorial travel, Mr Zeza clarified that the patrol boat remains the preferred mode of transport, but contingency arrangements are necessary when the patrol boat is unavailable, such as during overseas maintenance.
PAC Chairman Dr Bosawai raised broader concerns about the government’s financial classification system, noting that the generator procurement was posted under “Maintain and Non-Residential Buildings” rather than a dedicated capital expenditure category. He recommended that the Office of the Governor-General create new chart of accounts for specific activities to improve transparency and facilitate auditing.
Principal Accountant Samson Konari acknowledged the concern, stating the office will take steps to address the issue and ensure proper classification in future budget submissions.
The PAC hearing forms part of the committee’s examination of the 2026 Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2025, with the committee continuing to scrutinise budget allocations presented by government ministries and agencies.
Photo credit: NPSI
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BY LORETTA B MANELE
Ministry of Rural Development (MRD) has requested a supplementary of $1.869 million to support annual rental costs for 150 constituency offices and a additional $50m for each of the 50 constituencies.
MRD Permanent Secretary John Noroa Misite’e made the request when he and his team recently appeared before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to have their budget scrutinised under the 2026 Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2026.
Before speaking to the committee, PAC Chairman, Dr Paul Popora Bosawai said the committee notes that MRD’s bill is SBD$51,869,000 in additional supplementary funding split between the recurrent operations and development grant.
Presenting the ministry’s request, MRD PS, Misite’e said they have 150 constituency offices who have a contract with the public service and there are other benefits come under that contract that they also need to look after.
He said they have also negotiated with the Ministry of Public Service (MPS) to have some conditions improved within the contract to which they have done.
Misite’e said currently, the ministry has 4.9 million in original budget to cover mostly rental.
However, he mentioned that the initial drafting of the contract did not cater for rental support for constituency offices hence, their request for a supplementary of $1.869 million to cover annual costs.
“All the contracts are aligned and catered for rental support for every constituency offices so we dealing with 150 constituency offices.
“So, we are requesting a total of $1.869 million to cover for that sub-head,” he said.
Misite’e then moved on to the development budget head and requested a additional $50m for all 50 constituencies.
“On the development budget head, we ask for an additional 50 million and that is in distribution for constituencies which will have 1 million each increase for budget this year,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary gave two reasons for the request.
He said the first basic explanation for this request is because the country was economically hit hard this year and this affected local implementation at national level and in terms of constituency delivery.
“If we look at the delivery of the constituency development program, it is a very costly exercise to cover 50 constituencies.
“So, this year based on the downturn global economic situation, we have seen fuel prices very high. If we talk about delivery to eastern Solomons, additional 1m will cover the shipping cost.
“The logistics of this program is quite expensive as well. So that is the reason why we request an additional 1 million for each constituency,” he said.
Misite’e said the second reason is this is the ministry’s support towards the Maila recovery.
“We were hit hard by the recent cyclone and almost half of SI has been affected from the Western block down to Isabel and South and eastern Guadalcanal were also affected,” he said.
Misite’e emphasised that this is part of the government’s contribution to recovery as well which can be allocated through different sectors.
He said the support can be allocated through sectors whether productive, essential, social and cross sectors to support specifically those constituencies or specific areas in terms of infrastructure or other necessary inputs in the recovery phase of Cyclone Maila.
The PAC hearing is being held to consider and scrutinise ministries budget under the 2026 Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2026 before it is brought forth to Parliament for debate and approval.
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BY NED GAGAHE
Member of Parliament for Shortlands Constituency, Isikeli Vave Jnr, has joined the GREAT Coalition Government, further strengthening the Government’s numbers in Parliament.
Vave was formally welcomed into the coalition yesterday by Prime Minister Matthew Wale and Marovo MP Chachabule Amoi, the Prime Minister’s office confirmed in a press statement this afternoon.
Prime Minister Wale welcomed Vave’s decision, saying the Shortlands MP had demonstrated confidence and trust in the GREAT Coalition and its leadership.
Wale said he looks forward to Vave making a positive contribution to the Government Caucus and supporting the coalition’s reform agenda.
In response, Vave reaffirmed his full support for the GREAT Coalition Government and its leadership.
As part of his new role within the Government, Vave will chair the Cabinet sub-committee responsible for planning activities for the country’s 50th Independence Anniversary.
The inclusion of the Shortlands MP brings the Government’s numbers to 32 Members of Parliament.
Vave’s move is expected to further consolidate the Government’s position as it continues to advance its reform programme and prepare for the country’s 50th Independence Anniversary celebrations.
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BY JOSES SAREN
The Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs (MWYCFA) appeared before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) yesterday to defend a modest $225,290 supplementary budget, as members questioned whether the allocation reflects the ministry’s vast demographic responsibilities.
The funds, which appear in both the 2025 and 2026 Supplementary Appropriation Bills, are sourced from UNICEF and designated for three key activities: reviewing the National Children’s Policy 2023-2028, developing a Monitoring and Evaluation framework, and commemorating the 30th anniversary of Solomon Islands’ ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).
According to the 2026 Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2026, the $225,290 is broken down into consultancy fees ($64,000 for each of two consultants), printing and stationery ($8,000), publicity and promotions ($550), conferences, seminars and workshops ($4,500), with additional allocations under a separate subhead for venue hire ($8,000), and local fares ($4,000). The original estimates for all these items were zero, indicating the entire amount is donor-funded.
MWYCFA Permanent Secretary, Aaron Pitaqae, appearing before the committee for the first time in his new role, explained that while the Children’s Day celebrations were completed last year, the policy review and M&E framework development were carried forward into 2026 due to time constraints in identifying suitable consultants. The review of the National Children’s Policy has since been completed, with the M&E framework still ongoing and expected to be finalised before the year ends.
The 2025 Supplementary Appropriation Bill (No. 1 of 2026) confirms that the same $225,290 was originally appropriated in the 2025 financial year, with the explanatory note stating the funds were for various activities that are aligned to the 2025 and 2026 Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs Annual Work Plan.
Committee members expressed concern that the ministry’s budget does not reflect the enormous demographic it serves. PAC Chairman MP, Dr Paul Popora Bosawai noted that the ministry’s coverage is “huge”, encompassing women, youth, children, and family affairs, with the official definition of youth in Solomon Islands ranging from 15 to 34 years of age.
Permanent Secretary Pitaqae confirmed that children make up approximately 40 percent of the population, while youths account for nearly 70 percent—figures that overlap given that the youth category includes older children. Leader of the Independent Group and MP for Central Guadalcanal, Peter Shanel Agovaka, pressed the ministry on whether it maintains reliable data on children and youths across the country to inform planning and budgeting.
“When you review the policy, is there any data on how many children are in the country?” Agovaka asked.
“That’s important for planning purposes and how you strategise to ensure these children are looked after,” he said.
The PS assured the committee that the ministry is working closely with all nine provincial divisions and maintains sufficient data to inform policies and planning, including provincial-level statistics.
The Chairman urged the ministry to advocate for a substantially larger budget in the upcoming Appropriation Bill, arguing that the ministry’s work is fundamental to the nation’s future.
“Your ministry is very important, very fundamental to the future of this country.
“Seeing the small budget, I encourage your team to increase the budget because the range is quite widened, and the coverage is quite huge. If we don’t look after our youths, it’s really a time bomb for us,” Dr Bosawai said.
He noted that if youth programmes are not adequately funded, the burden will fall on other ministries, citing the Ministry of Police, which spends approximately $1.5 million annually just to feed inmates.
Member for Hograno/Kia/Havulei, MP Jeremiah Manele questioned whether Solomon Islands is up to date with its CRC reporting obligations. Ministry officials confirmed that the country ratified the CRC on 10 April 1995 and that the ministry is currently working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through its UN Desk to prepare for the next reporting dialogue, awaiting the list of issues to be shared with the state.
The committee also heard that the ministry is progressing work on the Traditional Governance, Customary Law, and TSM (Traditional Socio-Economic System) Bill, with a consultant engaged to draft the legislation following a task force recommendation to pursue a standalone bill rather than amending the Provincial Government Act. The ministry aims to complete this work by the end of the year.
Responding to questions about the breakdown of the $225,290 allocation, the PS clarified that two consultancy fees of $64,000 each were for local consultants engaged to work on the M&E framework and the National Children’s Policy review—both highly qualified and experienced Solomon Islanders.
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Temotu Province has thrown its support behind the reform agenda of the GREAT Coalition Government. Temotu Premier Stanley Tehiahua made...
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BY NED GAGAHE
THE Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has questioned the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification (MMERE) over SBD21.69 million in advanced warrants spent on the Tina River Hydropower Development Project in 2025.
The funds are now being presented for appropriation under the 2026 Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2026, effectively seeking Parliament’s approval to regularise money that has already been spent.
The issue came before the PAC during its hearing with the Ministry, where Deputy Secretary Corporate Services Chris Honu Bauro explained the sources and intended expenditure of the funds.
According to the Ministry’s submission, the advanced warrants total to SBD21,689,513.36.
Of this amount, approximately SBD19.04 million came through the Australia-Pacific Partnership and the World Bank for implementation of the Tina River Hydropower Development Project.
A further SBD2.65 million was provided by the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) for implementation of the Tina River Hydro project.
Mr Bauro told the Committee that the larger funding component covered consultancy fees, audit fees and training fees.
The DFAT funding, meanwhile, covered a range of operational and capital expenditure, including office rental, electricity, telephone expenses, consultations, tribal consultations, IT support, office equipment, maintenance, motor vehicles, stationery, computer hardware and software, advertising, printing and photocopying.
The expenditure attracted questions from PAC members, particularly over the significant amount allocated to audit and consultancy-related costs.
Committee member, MP for Hograno/Kia/Havulei, Jeremiah Manele questioned the Ministry on whether it could provide a detailed breakdown of the audit fees paid during 2025.
Mr Bauro said the Tina Office has its own compliance and procurement arrangements.
He further informed the Committee that, according to information received from the Deputy Project Manager, a firm in Papua New Guinea had been engaged for audit purposes.
He said the Ministry will provide the Committee with a breakdown of the costs.
“We can offer that information thereafter,” Mr Bauro told the Committee.
The PAC also sought information on the overall status and cost of the Tina River Hydropower Project, which has been under development for several years.
Mr Bauro told the Committee that the project remains on track for the first quarter of 2028, but acknowledged that its cost had become a concern.
He said he was not in a position to provide detailed information on the project’s costs and suggested that a presentation by the Project Manager and the Minister would be useful for the Committee.
The issue of the audit report also emerged during the hearing.
The Committee asked whether the audit report had been completed and was available.
Mr Bauro confirmed that the report was not available at the time of the hearing.
PAC Chair, Dr Paul Popora Bosawai, said the Committee expected to receive the audit report, particularly given that funding had been appropriated in the 2025 Appropriation Bill for audit work.
The Committee said technical questions will be sent to the Ministry for written responses.
The hearing was held as part of the Committee’s consideration of the 2026 Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2025, which seeks to regularise expenditure incurred during 2025 before the Bill is taken to Parliament for formal approval.
The Tina River Hydropower Project is a major national infrastructure project intended to increase renewable electricity generation and reduce Solomon Islands’ reliance on diesel-generated power.
The PAC has indicated that it wants further information from the Ministry on the expenditure before completing its consideration of the Bill.
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Minister Derrick Manuari opens regional geohazard meetings in Honiara, focusing on early warnings, seismic monitoring and resilience. Honiara, 11 August 2026: The Minister for Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification, Derrick Rawcliffe Manuari, yesterday officially opened three major regional meetings on geohazards and early warning systems at the Heritage Park Hotel in Honiara. The meetings are [...]
The post MINISTER MANUARI OPENS KEY REGIONAL GEOHAZARD MEETINGS IN HONIARA appeared first on Tavuli News (Solomon Islands) .
BY IRWIN ANGIKI
The Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration (MCILI) is seeking $6,119,000 additional funds in the 2026 Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2026.
The parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has cautioned MCILI not to duplicate roles of other ministries.
Appearing before PAC yesterday, the MCILI team led by Permanent Secretary Riley Mesepitu said the ministry has ongoing national initiatives and programmes that it is supporting.
MCILI is seeking $6.119 million in supplementary funding for 2026, divided between $3.119 million in recurrent expenditure and $3 million for development projects.
Mr Mesepitu said the recurrent funding will support corporate services ($1.27 million), immigration’s border management system ($1.75 million), and company house equipment ($99,000), ensuring essential services continue effectively.
“There is a need of the ministry especially for the essential service providers like the immigration office and other relevant offices that support it and work with other stakeholders like police and border security.
“In terms of the border management system, I think it is quite a very important function and engagement by our immigration division. Also, we all know that the border management system is now currently being implemented, so our immigration division really needs support,” Mesepitu said.
The development support budget will fund approved value-added and downstream processing projects supporting SMEs, indigenous businesses, agriculture, fisheries, commerce, technology, and forestry.
Mesepitu said the $3million is smaller than the total cost of all their projects approved by the Ministry’s tender board, however said they plan to add the remaining cost in next year’s budget.
“For the Ministry of Commerce, it’s an ongoing activity, and it’s actually in line of the policy priority areas. Most of them are in the support to businesses, indigenous businesses, how we can be able to support our SMEs and get our locals to come in and participate actively in activities. Our ongoing support under the subvention and grant is directly focused to supporting these initiatives.”
PAC Chairman Dr Paul Popora Bosawai, MP for North Guadalcanal, noted ambiguity in MCILI’s explanatory note under its submission for the $3million, questioning who ‘non-public servants’ referred to, cautioning MCILI on financing businesses which do not pay tax.
“Who are these individuals, and are they the owners of the indigenous businesses, and do you have a criteria that are they contributing to the tax? Or do you have tax written certificate that you give them this project? We have learned that there are businesses that continue to be financed without contributing to the tax.”
Mr Bosawai also cautioned MCILI on replicating roles of the Ministry of Agriculture (MAL) and Foreign Affairs ministry (MFAET).
“The [Ministry of] agriculture do the production, you industrialise it, and then the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the external trade access to market.
“You also replicate some of the things that the Ministry of Agriculture is doing, rather than you focus on industrialising. You also focus in growing, to which I think you should focus in industrialising than replicating what agriculture has done.
“You’re also replicating the mandate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade with market. They are the ones who should access markets, so that you can concentrate in industrialising like rice industry,” Bosawai said.
Mesepitu agreed that all the productive sectors need to work and align together to disseminate their functions and services according to what they’re supposed to do.
“Currently the ongoing consultation with our policy unit, plus the productive sectors, those are the areas that we are looking for and looking into improving,” he said.
In 90 days since change of government in mid-May this year, PS Mesepitu said their ongoing discussions have come up with five priority areas.
Priority 1 – national production and import substitution.
Priority 2 – land reform and productive partnership.
Priority 3 – indigenous enterprise development and business protection.
Priority 4 – national connectivity and market access.
Priority 5 – provincial growth corridors and investment zones.
“Under priority one, MCILI at the high level, we’re supposed to lead the import substitution policy, local manufacturing, SME development, value addition and industrialisation.
“Under priority number two, the Ministry’s involvement is to develop investment frameworks and public-private community partnerships to unlock productive investment.
“Priority number three is the indigenous enterprise development and business protection. What the Ministry is supposed to do is to lead the indigenous business protection, business reforms, procurement reform, SME financing and enterprise development.
“Under the priority four, national connectivity and market access, we try to see how best we can work and do the linking between other productive sectors, for instance the ministries of Agriculture and Fisheries. But what we’re going to do here is we support the e-commerce platforms, trade facilitation and domestic market access systems. So, our export and promotion division is working very closely with external trade, within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“Priority number five is on the provincial growth corridors and investment zones. This is where the Ministry will lead the development of the investment zones, the industrial estate special economic zone for that matter, and investment promotion. So that’s at a high level and what we are currently working towards,” Mesepitu said.
Photo credit: NPSI
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BY IRWIN ANGIKI
Solomon Islands does not have a database dedicated to the country’s labour workforce, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration (MCILI) has said.
MCILI told the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) yesterday that it is depending on data from the National Provident Fund (NPF) to give them an indication of the labour workforce.
PAC member, Peter Shanel Agovaka, MP for Central Guadalcanal, had asked MCILI if it had the database.
“Do we have data that tells us how many people in Solomon Islands are properly or officially employed so that we can have that data?” Mr Agovaka asked.
MCILI Permanent Secretary Riley Mesepitu said no.
“Currently I must say that I think there is no real data that we have to actually capture the labour workforce that we have in this country.
“What we based our or collect our information is from the Solomon Islands National Providence Fund data, but from labour division itself, no,” Mesepitu said.
Mesepitu however said a labour workforce database should be available soon, with the ministry’s labour division working to create one.
“We are working during our work programmes, policies have been put into place and our Commissioner of Labour and his team are working very hard to do the labour database survey.
“So as soon as that is completed, we will be able to start to see the labour data of this country.
“When it is ready, after it goes through the cabinet and through our Minister, we’ll share with everybody. But we are hoping to get that study completed,” Mesepitu said.
MCILI is seeking additional $6.119 million through the 2026 supplementary appropriation bill 2026 – $3.119 million in recurrent expenditure and $3 million for development projects.
The MCILI team led by PS Mesepitu presented their case before PAC on Monday this week.
In October 2025 the Fund announced nearly 62,000 active members.
Photo credit: NPSI
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BY NED GAGAHE
The GREAT Government has a total of 58 political appointees, according to an updated government document cited by the Island Sun.
The list covers political appointments within the Prime Minister’s Private Office, policy and Cabinet committees, Caucus, special envoys and ambassadors, and the Prime Minister’s specialist advisory team.
Secretary to Prime Minister Dr Melchior Mataki earlier told the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that the number of political appointees within the Government has increased to 54 positions, with 21 new positions created under the current administration.
However, the updated government document puts the total number of political appointees at 58.
The document shows that most of the 58 appointees have signed their contracts, with their contract dates recorded between May and August 2026.
However, four appointments are still being finalised, with the appointees listed as appointed but are yet to sign or have their contracts completed.
Among the political appointments are senior positions within the Prime Minister’s Office, including Special Secretary to the Prime Minister, Deputy Special Secretary, Press Secretary, Private Secretaries and National Security Advisor.
The Prime Minister’s policy machinery also has political appointees serving as policy secretaries and deputy policy secretaries across the Social, Resource, Productive, Fundamental, and Energy and Environmental sectors.
The list also includes appointments to the Cabinet Monitoring Cabinet Committee, Legal and Legislative Committee, Finance and Economic Committee and the Government Caucus.
The Caucus structure has a number of political appointees serving in research, political liaison, administration and logistics positions.
The list also includes four special envoys and ambassadors—Youth Ambassador Maverick Seda, Women Ambassador Regina Lepping, Ambassador and Special Advisor for Climate Change Diplomacy and Environmental Affairs Fred Siho Patison, and People with Disabilities Ambassador Grace Hilly.
The Prime Minister’s specialist advisers include Communications Specialist Harry Zoleveke and Health and Medical Specialist Dr Edgar Pollard.
The appointments come as the GREAT Government continues to establish its political, policy and administrative support structures following its formation.
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BY CHARLES STENNETT
Solomon Islands Media Fraternity will miss one its veteran member and a pioneer in independent media, George Atkin Aeta’i, who passed on in his home village, Tawatana, Makira-Ulawa province this morning.
The late Atkin was a veteran journalist in Solomon Islands, having worked in various mainstream media outlets in Solomon Islands such as the Solomon Star Newspaper, Island Sun Newspaper and the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation, SIBC.
He pioneered the establishment of private and independent newspapers starting off with the Kiokio Nius followed by the Melanesian Nius weeklies which were short lived.
His third attempt was the Solomon Toktok Newspaper which he established in 1977, a year before the country’s independence in 1978 until it stopped its publications in March 1992.
In his earlier years he explained why he changed the names of his publication and settled with Solomon Toktok Newspaper.
“I chose the name Kiokio, a coastal kingfisher because the bird relay messages.
This evolved into Melanesia Nius, to cover the Melanesian group countries in the South Pacific as it was becoming a regional bloc to be reckoned with in the 970s. Fiji and Papua New Guinea had become independent while Solomon Islands and Vanuatu were in the process of gaining independence from their colonial rulers. But the scope was too wide for me to cover and so I decided to drop that name and focus on just the one country, my own. I founded Solomon Toktok,” Late Atkin recalled.
Late Atkin single-handedly ran Solomon Toktok, collecting and writing stories, soliciting for advertisement, delivering papers, taking photographs, administering accounts and banking, newspaper wrapping, paste-ups or lay-out, a job he hated most.
He did all these task as trial and error because his training background was on broadcast journalism.
The task was not easy and had to turn to others for help like the late Ashley Wickham and the late Welshman Teilo.
He had to recruit and train staff to fill the many roles the young paper was emerging into like the recruitment of his wife, a nurse by profession as the chief reporter.
The hardship of managing a new newspaper with a different perspective of being independent had its many difficulties, the late Atkin had to endure.
They include, lack of government support as it was viewed then as confronting for politicians, scarcity of people with professional media experience, high overhead costs as there were no computers then, insufficient revenue from advertising, subscriptions and sales, the lack of a chief reporter and the lack of news reporters and graphic artist workers who worked long hours with small salaries.
Despite the hardships, Late Atkin explored all avenues available to him to keep the paper running by sending cadet reporters for overseas training, securing a loan to buy printing machines, in-laws assist in funding a dedicated building for the paper to cut office rent and friends to do marketing.
The many challenges took a toll on him including his marriage.
“The effort needed to establish and sustain a business in such a challenging environment took its toll. I was exhausted and my marriage did not survive the journey.
After my family relocated to New Zealand, I stayed on and tried to keep Solomon Toktok for another eight years and with the competition with another emerging Newspaper, the Solomon Star, I finally decided to close down Solomon Toktok in March 1992 and rejoined the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation, SIBC” late Atkin recalled.
But the impacts of independent media, pioneered by journalists like late Atkin had some effects in the region.
Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu followed on from the footsteps of Solomon Toktok with journalists setting up independent newspapers, as their countries’ governments like Solomon Islands in those days operated broadcast services and published information services publications.
In his line of service to media in Solomon Islands, Late Atkin was the first President of the Media Association of Solomon Islands, MASI from 1985–1989.
After the closure of Solomon Toktok, late Atkin worked with the mainstream media outlets in Solomon Islands like the Solomon Star, Island Sun and SIBC, and was the freelance reporter for AFP and wrote stories for Radio New Zealand International and Radio Australia and had been a political appointee.
He returned to his home province, Makira-Ulawa in the early 2020s and stayed home until his passing on the 11 th of August 2026 from a short illness.
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Minister Rick Houenipwela reaffirms Solomon Islands’ commitment to g7+ priorities on peacebuilding, resilience and development. Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Hon. Rick Houenipwela met with the Secretariat of the g7+ on Monday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade (MFAET) headquarters in Honiara. The g7+ Secretary-General, Dr. Helder da Costa, is [...]
The post HOUENIPWELA REAFFIRMS SOLOMON ISLANDS G7+ COMMITMENT appeared first on Tavuli News (Solomon Islands) .
外交与对外贸易部长霍恩·里克·霍恩尼普维拉(Hon. Rick Houenipwela)于周一在霍尼亚拉的外交与对外贸易部(MFAET)总部与G7+秘书处进行了会晤,重申了所罗门群岛对G7+在和平建设、韧性和发展的优先事项的承诺。
该文章最初发布在Tavuli News(所罗门群岛)上。
