Lands Minister Unveils Five Landmark Bills to Reform Land Governance
The Minister for Lands, Housing and Survey has announced an ambitious legislative agenda aimed at transforming land governance, housing, and coastal management in Solomon Islands.
Speaking in Parliament during the debate on the Speech from the Throne, the Minister said the Government plans to introduce five major bills that will strengthen customary land ownership, improve dispute resolution, modernise land ...administration, expand housing opportunities, and protect coastal and marine resources.
The proposed legislation includes the **Customary Land Governance Bill**, **Land Dispute Resolution Bill**, **National Housing Bill**, **Land Information System Bill**, and **Coastal and Marine Governance Bill**. The Minister described the package as one of the most comprehensive reform programmes ever undertaken in the lands sector.
According to the Minister, the reforms are intended to establish a land governance system that is transparent, fair, modern and inclusive, while safeguarding customary ownership and creating opportunities for sustainable national development.
The proposed Customary Land Governance Bill will seek to strengthen the legal recognition and protection of customary landowners, improve governance within customary landholding groups, and ensure communities receive equitable benefits from developments on their land. It also proposes the establishment of Community Trust Funds to support education, healthcare, infrastructure and future generations.
To address long-standing land disputes, the Land Dispute Resolution Bill aims to create a more accessible and culturally appropriate system by recognising the role of chiefs, traditional leaders, churches and local institutions in resolving conflicts outside lengthy court processes.
The Minister also said the Government intends to unlock land for inclusive economic growth by promoting transparent partnerships between investors and customary landowners across sectors such as agriculture, tourism, fisheries, mining and renewable energy, ensuring landowners receive fair recognition and equitable returns.
To modernise land administration, the proposed Land Information System Bill will establish a secure digital land information system designed to improve transparency, reduce fraud, and provide more reliable records for landowners, investors and government agencies.
The National Housing Bill will focus on improving access to affordable housing, strengthening housing policy and extending essential infrastructure and services to informal settlements, particularly in Honiara and other growing urban centres.
The fifth proposal, the Coastal and Marine Governance Bill, seeks to strengthen coastal management, protect customary sea rights, enhance community participation in environmental management and improve resilience to climate-related hazards.
Concluding his address, the Minister called on all Members of Parliament to support the reforms, saying the proposed legislation would strengthen customary ownership, promote peace, expand economic opportunities, improve housing and protect the environment for future generations.
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Minister Maelanga outlines ambitious vision to strengthen sport through provincial facilities, governance reforms and grassroots investment
BY RICHARD MENANOPO
The Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthen sports development across Solomon Islands, with plans to invest in sports infrastructure in the provinces while pursuing reforms to improve sports governance and administration.
Speaking during his reply to the Speech from the Throne in Parliament this week, Minister for Home Affairs Rev Manasseh Maelanga said sport remains one of the country’s strongest forces for national unity and social development.
“Sports continues to unite our people regardless of province, language or background. It is a fundamental uniting factor for our people,” Mr Maelanga told Parliament.
He said the Government wants to strengthen the country’s sporting framework by reforming the National Sports Council into a stronger institution capable of delivering sports development throughout the country.
“The development of a National Sports within our national culture and the reform of the National Sports Council towards a stronger institutional foundation for sports development across the country, must happen,” he said.
The Minister also stressed that sporting bodies will be expected to meet higher standards of governance and accountability.
“The Government will hold our sporting bodies into account and require a high level of commitment and standards from all sporting bodies,” he said.
Maelanga said the Government’s investment in sport will extend from grassroots participation through to elite athlete development, recognising sport’s wider contribution to youth development, healthier lifestyles, social inclusion and national unity.
He said the Government is determined to create an environment where athletes can excel internationally while becoming positive role models in their communities.
“I am adamant as the Minister responsible for Sport to see our athletes excel and win medals and be successful citizens in our communities,” he said.
To achieve that vision, the Minister said stronger sports administration and improved facilities will be essential, confirming that the Government is seriously considering building sports infrastructure in the provinces in the near future.
“We will be seriously looking into building sports infrastructures in our Provinces in the immediate future,” he said.
Maelanga also confirmed that the Ministry of Home Affairs will work closely with national sporting federations, schools, provincial governments and community organisations to strengthen sports governance and create more opportunities for participation throughout Solomon Islands.
The Government’s latest commitment comes as Solomon Islands continues to invest in grassroots programmes while national federations prepare athletes for regional and international competitions, highlighting the growing importance of strengthening sports systems and facilities across the country.
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BY RICHARD MENANOPO
The National Sports Council (NSC) has taken another step to improve workplace safety by recognising staff members who successfully completed a chemical safety training programme to strengthen safety practices across the country’s sporting venues.
According to information released through the NSC’s official media platform, 15 staff members received certificates on Thursday after completing the Chemical Safety Training Programme conducted by MYK Suppliers.
The recipients who are cleaners, venue managers and administration staff underwent the training on July 3.
From the training, they gained practical knowledge on how to safely handle, store and use workplace chemicals used to maintain NSC facilities.
While the programme focused on chemical safety, the broader objective was to reduce workplace risks and create a safer environment for staff, athletes, officials and members of the public who regularly use the council’s sporting venues.
Presenting the certificates, NSC Chief Executive Officer Alison Burchell congratulated the participants and encouraged them to apply what they had learned in their daily responsibilities.
“Chemical safety is an essential part of maintaining a safe working environment,” Burchell said.
She urged staff to continue practising safe handling procedures to help protect themselves, their colleagues and everyone who uses NSC facilities.
The training also highlighted the importance of professional development within the organisation, with the council continuing to invest in programmes that improve workplace standards alongside the delivery of sporting services.
Speaking on behalf of the participants, Rose Sala Olea said the training strengthened staff confidence and provided practical skills that will improve their work.
“The training has given us a much better understanding of how to use cleaning chemicals safely and correctly,” Olea said.
“It has increased our confidence and will help us carry out our work more safely while protecting ourselves, our colleagues and the facilities we look after.”
NSC also acknowledged MYK Suppliers for delivering the programme and for supporting the council’s efforts to improve workplace health and safety through practical training initiatives.
Although they often work behind the scenes, cleaners, venue managers and administrative staff play an important role to ensure national sporting venues remain safe, clean and operational for competitions, training sessions and community events throughout the year.
The Chemical Safety Training Programme was conducted on July 3 by MYK Suppliers. Fifteen NSC staff members successfully completed the course before receiving their certificates on Thursday, with the initiative forming part of the council’s ongoing commitment to workplace safety and staff development.
Photo credit: NSC
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BY TONY IROGA
The Solomon Islands Government will roll out its long-awaited Free Education Policy nationwide in 2027, a major commitment from the government which aims to remove financial burden on families and ensure that every child has equal access to education.
Moving the motion in Parliament this week, Prime Minister Matthew Cooper Wale said free education is a national reform that has been discussed in Parliament for many years and is now becoming a reality.
“This policy did not begin with this government. The case for free education has been made in this house for many years, first under the Sikua-led Government,” Prime Minister Wale told Parliament.
He acknowledged the heavy financial burden carried by parents across the country, saying many families struggle to keep their children in school.
“We all know the burden parents carry. Some pay several times their annual income to keep one child in school. Many must choose which of their children will be educated. That is the injustice this policy ends,” he said.
Wale stressed that free education is not a stand-alone initiative but forms part of the government’s long-term economic transformation agenda.
“Government’s free education policy does not operate in a silo. Free education is key to producing the highly skilled workforce our economy will need over the next thirty years, as we move into processing and manufacturing,” he said.
He said the policy must be viewed alongside investments in classrooms, teachers, laboratories and learning resources to ensure schools are ready to receive every child when the programme begins next year.
“These are being planned together, as parts of one vision,” Wale said.
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BY JOSES SAREN
Beyond installing 161 towers, the Solomon Islands National Broadband Infrastructure Project (SINBIP) has created 10,000 local jobs and trained 170 technicians.
This included hands-on training courses focused on communication operation and maintenance and eight special training sessions held to cultivate the local technical workforce.
The project was carried through collaboration between China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), Huawei, the Solomon Islands Ministry of Communication and Aviation (MCA), and Solomon Tower Company Ltd (STL).
China Harbour Engineering Company’s (CHEC) South Pacific Division Managing Director, Chen Wei and Chinese Ambassador Cai Weiming confirmed the details at the July 31 handover ceremony.
The project also established permanent technical support in the country. Huawei provided cutting-edge digital equipment for the network and stationed a permanent team of specialists to deliver full lifecycle technical services.
China Harbour Engineering Company has operated in the Solomon Islands since 2019. Over nearly eight years, the company has established a localised system for construction, compliance, and maintenance. CHEC previously completed major local infrastructure projects, including the Suava Bridge and the Munda Airport runway upgrade.
Chen Wei described SINBIP as a landmark concessional loan project following the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the Solomon Islands. It also marks China Harbour’s first national-level digital infrastructure project in the country.
The project was delivered as a public-private partnership involving two governments, CHEC, Huawei, and Solomon Telekom Company Limited. To manage the infrastructure long-term, the Solomon Islands Government created a new state-owned enterprise called Solomon Tower Limited in 2024.
China Harbour committed to providing ongoing warranty support and rapid fault response alongside MCA and Huawei. Chen Wei expressed readiness to deepen future cooperation in transport, digital infrastructure, and public works.
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Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI) has called for the summary dismissal of public officers who continue to receive salaries despite failing...
The post ‘No Work, Full Pay’: TSI Demands Sackings appeared first on In-depth Solomons .
BY CHARLES STENNETT
The Government for Reform, Empowerment, Accountability and Transformation (GREAT) will, for the first time, deploy fifty agricultural officers in all the constituencies, demonstrating the government’s commitment to bring agricultural services closer to rural communities.
Speaking in Parliament in a Motion to thank the Governor General for the Speech from the throne, Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development (MALD) Franklyn Derek Wasi outlined the Ministry’s priorities to strengthen service delivery and transform the agriculture sector.
Mr Wasi said the initiative is a major reform that aims to ensure farmers across the country have direct access to technical advice, extension services, and modern farming knowledge without having to travel long distances to provincial centers.
“We are committed to posting agriculture officers to all 50 constituencies so that farmers can access technical services closer to home. This is a practical step that will bring government services directly to our rural communities. Every constituency will benefit from the presence of an agricultural officer dedicated to supporting farmers and rural communities” he said.
The deployment forms part of the Ministry’s implementation of the National Agriculture Development Plan 2026–2030 and complements broader reforms, including strengthening agricultural institutions, expanding farmer training, promoting climate-smart agriculture, and improving research and innovation.
Agricultural officers will play important roles to provide technical assistance, promote improved farming practices, support disease and pest management and link farmers with government programmes and market opportunities.
The initiative is also expected to improve communication between the Ministry and rural communities, ensuring agricultural policies and programmes respond to the needs of farmers throughout the country.
Minister Wasi reaffirmed that agriculture remains the backbone of the rural economy and a key driver of national development.
He said the deployment of agricultural officers to all constituencies reflects the Government’s determination to build a modern, productive and resilient agriculture sector that benefits every Solomon Islander.
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by Georgina Maka’a The High Court recently ordered a Honiara lawyer and his two clients to jointly repay more than...
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BY CHARLES STENNETT
The Parliamentary Opposition had made its position clear on legislations the government plans to introduce in Parliament in relation to taxation, conduct of foreign relations and constitutional amendments.
Opposition leader Manasseh Sogavare made the stance clear when speaking in Parliament on Wednesday in a motion to thank the Governor General for the speech from the throne delivered on Tuesday.
Mr Sogavare said, “We will not support the legislation of consumption taxes on the ordinary citizens of this country while the largest resource extractors continue to negotiate their positions in private.”
He said the Opposition will also oppose treaty-level commitments without parliamentary scrutiny and the constitutional amendment the government plans to introduce in Parliament.
“We will not support treaty-level commitments entered on behalf of this nation without the informed consent of the Members whom the people of Solomon Islands have elected to give or withhold that consent.
“And we will not support any amendment to the Constitution of Solomon Islands whose purpose or effect is to place the survival of a Government beyond the reach of this Parliament and, through this Parliament, beyond the reach of the people,” Sogavare said.
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BY TONY IROGA
Education and Human Resources Development Minister Stephen Kumi has admitted that the Government’s free education policy will be challenging to implement, but says the reform is necessary to ensure every child in Solomon Islands has equal access to education.
Contributing to the Motion of Thanks to the Governor-General’s Speech from the Throne in Parliament on Wednesday, Mr Kumi said the Government remains committed to deliver free education despite the challenges ahead.
“Free education is painful, but change is coming. It will be painful, but these are the changes we must make,” Kumi told Parliament.
Minister Kumi said the policy is a government-funded initiative that aims to remove tuition fees and reduce the financial burden on families while giving every child the opportunity to attend school regardless of their family’s income or where they live.
“Free education provides hope that no child will be denied learning because of poverty,” he said.
Kumi said the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) has established a Free Education Taskforce to oversee the technical work needed before the policy is fully rolled out.
He said the taskforce is developing the free education policy, implementation framework, financing arrangements, governance systems, legislative requirements and stakeholder consultations.
He said specialised consultants, supported by development partners, have also been engaged to strengthen policy development, education financing, grant management systems and implementation planning.
“These activities have already been incorporated into the Ministry’s 2026 Annual Work Plan and supported through budget allocations, while a supplementary budget has also been requested to support the preparatory stage,” he said.
The Minister stressed that free education alone will not improve learning outcomes unless schools are adequately equipped.
“Free education must also be accompanied by quality education. Eliminating school fees alone will not deliver the desired outcomes unless schools are adequately resourced,” he said.
He said Government must ensure classrooms are properly equipped, learning materials are delivered on time, teachers receive adequate training and support, and school infrastructure continues to improve, particularly in rural and remote communities.
Kumi also welcomed the Government’s plan to establish a separate Ministry of Higher Education, Skills Development, Research and Innovation, describing it as a strategic reform rather than simply an administrative change.
“This is not merely an administrative exercise, but a strategic reform that recognises school education and higher education as two distinct sectors requiring dedicated leadership and focused investment,” he said.
He explained that MEHRD will continue to oversee early childhood, primary and secondary education, while the proposed new ministry will focus on universities, colleges, scholarships, research, innovation, and technical and vocational education and training (TVET).
Kumi said the Government is also prioritising curriculum reform by strengthening Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education and expanding technical and vocational training.
He revealed that revised primary and junior secondary curricula are nearing completion, while reviews of senior secondary and early childhood curricula are already underway.
“By 2027, Solomon Islands will have a coherent curriculum framework from early childhood education through to Year 12,” he said.
The Minister said technical and vocational education should no longer be viewed as a second-choice pathway.
“The Government does not see technical and vocational education as a second option, but as an equally valuable pathway that equips students with practical skills essential for national development,” he said.
Kumi also outlined several education bills currently being developed to modernise the country’s education system, strengthen governance, improve quality assurance and support digital transformation.
Despite the progress being made, he acknowledged major challenges remain, including the long-term financial sustainability of free education, increasing demand for classrooms, teacher shortages, digital connectivity, rural access and the need for stronger education legislation.
He thanked development partners, churches, schools and communities for their continued support.
“Together, we are building a stronger education system that will benefit generations to come,” Kumi said.
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MP Seleso warns government its free education policy would become a great national disappointment if fail
BY IRWIN ANGIKI
Member of Parliament for South Guadalcanal Rollen Seleso has honed in on the GREAT coalition’s free education policy, warning it could turn out to be a national disappointment if government fails to deliver.
Mr Seleso warned that since government had declared it, people in rural and urban areas across the country now know only one thing – starting January next year education will be free, five months away.
And, since government has not been forthcoming with critical details on how it will roll out this ambitious plan, Seleso joined his Opposition colleagues in casting doubt on government delivering.
The Speech from the Throne by the Governor General on Tuesday this week said GREAT’s free education policy is the flagship of government’s social programme.
“Preparations are under way for nationwide implementation in 2027, for no child should ever be turned away from a classroom because of the poverty of their parents,” Governor General Sir Rev David Tiva Kapu said.
“The Education Act 2023 provides a strong foundation and is being rolled out, with capacity-building reaching more than 300 school principals. The Ministry is being restructured, and a new Ministry of Higher Education, Skills Development and Research will carry our young people from the classroom to the workplace. Teachers in primary, secondary and early childhood education have received new salary structures, with the technical and vocational sector to follow from August. A $300-million project with the Asian Development Bank will modernise the Years 10 to 12 curriculum; and further partnerships will advance teacher development and bring technology into learning.”
Giving his reply yesterday in parliament, MP Seleso on the outset said he supported the idea of free education.
However, he was wary of the consequences once government’s policy is not delivered according to people’s expectation or worse if it fails – because government had already declared ‘free education’ and people are looking forward to it.
“A commitment of this magnitude has been placed before the nation as a declaration rather than as a plan. This is dangerous!
“Mr Speaker, our people do not read Cabinet papers. They do not read Treasury submissions. They do not read the Education Act 2023 or the Education Regulations 2024.
“They do not know what a recurrent commitment of one point three or one point four billion dollars does to the health vote, to the agriculture vote, or to the rural road vote.
“They do not know that the word ‘free’ in a Speech from the Throne is not the same thing as the word ‘free’ in a school fee ledger. They do not know which levies remain lawful, which boarding costs remain payable, or which uniform, transport and boat fares remain with the parent.
“They know one thing only – the Prime Minister said education will be free.”
Seleso told parliament that while legislators are debating GREAT’s free education policy, people in the rural areas have already adjusted their households towards free education in 2027.
“In the villages of South Guadalcanal, that sentence has already been converted into a household plan. A father has already decided he need not plant the extra cocoa this season. A mother has already told her daughter that she will return to Form Three next year.
“A family that had been setting aside what little it could each month for school fees has already spent it. Those decisions are being taken now, in this month, on the strength of a policy that does not commence until 2027, and whose machinery does not yet exist.”
Seleso blamed GREAT’s premature announcement of its fee-free plan for this, labelling it as irresponsible leadership.
“It is irresponsible to announce an entitlement to a population that has no means of testing it before the costing is published, before the legislation is drafted, before the classrooms are counted, and before the teachers are trained.
“Which fees are abolished, and which are not. Which years of schooling are covered, and which are not. What a parent will still be required to pay. When it begins. And what happens in a year in which the revenue does not arrive.
“Because if those limits are discovered by a parent at a school gate in January 2027, rather than disclosed by the Government in August 2026, then this House will have manufactured a grievance where it intended to confer a gift.”
With just five months to go, the apparent lack of infrastructure to support GREAT’s free education is another concern, Seleso said.
Seleso asked government three things.
1) Focus most of the free education on rural and provincial schools to avoid mass migration to urban areas like Honiara.
2) Provide the multi-year fiscal costing of the free education policy – annual cost, revenue plan, sensitivity analysis, contingency plan.
3) Timeframe of how long external donors will support the programme, and what happens when they leave.
Seleso’s sentiments echoed that of Opposition leader Manasseh Sogavare when he gave his reply to the speech from the throne on Wednesday.
Mr Sogavare said government has never answered opposition’s practical questions to its free education policy.
The definition question – what does fee-free mean? Does it apply only to schools directly owned and administered by the Solomon Islands Government and the provincial governments, or does it extend also to church run schools and other authorised education providers? Does it cover tuition fees only, or does it also cover boarding fees, food, utilities, dormitory costs, uniforms, transport, excursions, and extra-curricular activities? These are, with respect, entirely different policies with entirely different price tags.
The cost question – Independent analysis places the recurrent cost of a broad fee-free policy in the order of SBD 1.3 billion a year, against a total national budget in the range of $4-5 billion. That is not a marginal adjustment. That is a very substantial recurrent commitment, and the country is entitled to see the numbers. Where is the full costing? Where is the year-by-year projection through the medium-term fiscal framework? Where is the analysis of what other sectors such as hospitals, roads, rural development, jobs, law and order will be affected by the reallocation this policy will require? Every dollar committed to one sector, Mr Speaker, is a dollar not available somewhere else.
The quality question – If this Government intends to remove fees at the same time as the school system is absorbing that intake, then it must also explain how it intends to fund the additional classrooms, the additional teachers, the additional dormitories, the teacher housing, the sanitation and water supply, and the learning materials on which real education depends.
The donor dependence question – If the fee-free policy is to be financed, in whole or in significant part, through external support in its opening years, then the country has the right to know what happens in year five, in year seven, in year ten, when donor priorities shift, when external financing declines, or when the political weather in a distant capital changes.
The implementation question – some 300 school principals are now being trained. That is welcomed. But training principals is not the same as opening schools. What is the assurance to those principals, and to their communities, that their schools will not open in January 2027 with more children, no fees, and no compensating transfer from Treasury? What is the assurance to the school authorities such as the churches, the community education authorities, whose books this Government has not yet, on the public record, opened? What is the plan for the fee income those schools currently rely upon and which the State must now replace? These are not obstacles to reform. They are the substance of reform.
Meanwhile, in his Motion speech on Wednesday Prime Minister Matthew Wale reiterated government’s will to deliver the free education policy.
“Mr Speaker, regarding education, free Education Policy will be implemented nationwide in 2027. This policy did not begin with this Government. The case for free education has been made in this House for many years, first under the Sikua-led Government.”
While he has not come out with details demanded by Opposition on the fee-free policy, PM Wale has hinted on areas it would cover.
In his Independence Day speech Wale said it covers early childhood to tertiary level.
“My government has committed itself to progressively introducing free education from Early Childhood Education through Technical and Vocational Education and Training and the Solomon Islands National University starting in January 2027,” Wale said.
Launching GREAT’s policy on July 6, Wale said government will invest in teachers, improve school infrastructure, expand technical and vocational education, strengthen Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), support higher education and research, and improve literacy and numeracy.
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The Solomon Islands Under-16 men's football team has secured qualification for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Qatar, achieving a historic milestone for the nation's youth football.
The qualification marks a proud moment for Solomon Islands football and reflects the hard work, dedication, and talent of the young squad and their coaching staff. As they prepare to take on the world's best, the nation celebrates this remarkable achievement and looks forward to seeing the team represent Solomon Islands on the global stage.
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M-SELEN Launches SINU Tuition Fee Promotion to Support Higher Education in Solomon Islands
M-SELEN has launched a new tuition fee payment promotion aimed at supporting students pursuing higher education while reinforcing its commitment to financial inclusion and community development in the Solomon Islands.
The promotion, which offers SI$22,000 in tuition fee support, is open to students making their Solomon Islands National University (SINU) tuition fee payments through the ...M-SELEN Wallet. The initiative reflects M-SELEN's ongoing commitment to investing in opportunities that make a meaningful difference in the lives of Solomon Islanders.
For many students and families, meeting the cost of tertiary education can be a significant financial challenge. Through this promotion, M-SELEN hopes to ease some of that burden while providing students with a convenient, secure and accessible way to pay their tuition fees.
Speaking on the initiative, Majidul Haque, Head of M-SELEN, said M-SELEN believes supporting education is an investment in the future of the Solomon Islands.
"At M-SELEN, we believe our responsibility goes beyond providing digital financial services. We are committed to supporting initiatives that improve the lives of our customers and contribute to the development of our country. Education opens doors to opportunity, and through this promotion we are proud to provide meaningful support to students and their families while making tuition fee payments easier and more accessible."
The tuition fee promotion forms part of M-SELEN's broader commitment to supporting education, advancing financial inclusion and creating opportunities for communities across the Solomon Islands.
Students are encouraged to pay their tuition fees using their M-SELEN Wallet during the promotional period for the opportunity to benefit from the SI$22,000 tuition fee support initiative.
For more information, customers can visit the M-SELEN Facebook page or contact M-SELEN Customer Care by calling 123 or via WhatsApp on 7433113.
About M-SELEN
M-SELEN is the Solomon Islands' licensed mobile money service operated by Telekom Digital Limited. The platform enables customers with a secure and convenient way to send and receive money, pay bills and merchants, purchase airtime, and access a growing range of digital financial services through their mobile phones.
M-SELEN Launches SINU Tuition Fee Promotion to Support Higher Education in Solomon Islands
M-SELEN推出了一项新的学费支付优惠,旨在支持追求高等教育的学生,同时强化其对金融包容性和社区发展的承诺。
该优惠提供了22,000所罗门元的学费支持,面向通过M-SELEN Wallet支付所罗门群岛国立大学(SINU)学费的学生。该举措反映了M-SELEN持续致力于投资于能够对所罗门群岛人民生活产生积极影响的机会。
对于许多学生和家庭来说,承担高等教育的费用可能是一个重大的经济挑战。通过这项优惠,M-SELEN希望减轻部分负担,同时为学生提供一种方便、安全和可及的学费支付方式。
M-SELEN负责人Majidul Haque在谈到这一举措时表示,M-SELEN相信支持教育是对所罗门群岛未来的投资。
“在M-SELEN,我们认为我们的责任不仅仅是提供数字金融服务。我们致力于支持改善客户生活并促进国家发展的举措。教育为机会打开了大门,通过这项优惠,我们很自豪能够为学生及其家庭提供有意义的支持,同时使学费支付变得更容易和更可及。”
这项学费优惠是M-SELEN更广泛承诺的一部分,旨在支持教育、促进金融包容性并为所罗门群岛各社区创造机会。
鼓励学生在促销期间使用M-SELEN Wallet支付学费,以便有机会受益于22,000所罗门元的学费支持计划。
有关更多信息,客户可以访问M-SELEN的Facebook页面或拨打123联系M-SELEN客户服务,或通过WhatsApp联系7433113。
关于M-SELEN
M-SELEN是由Telekom Digital Limited运营的所罗门群岛许可的移动支付服务。该平台为客户提供了一种安全便捷的方式,通过手机发送和接收资金、支付账单和商户费用、购买话费,并访问日益增长的数字金融服务。
Kirakira Wharf reaches 90% completion, boosting maritime transport and economic growth in Makira-Ulawa Province Construction work on the Kirakira wharf structure in Makira-Ulawa Province (MUP) has reached 90% toward its full completion. The remaining works include the approach road upgrade and protection that features designs to withstand natural elements. Development of onshore facilities, mainly the [...]
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SINU ATSA Invites Students,
Staff to 2026 Rally
The Adventist Tertiary Students Association (ATSA) at Solomon Islands National University (SINU) has invited all Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) students, friends, mentors, and staff to attend the SINU ATSA Rally 2026 this weekend - Saturday 8th August.
Held under the theme "Resilience with Jesus," the rally aims to provide a day of worship, fellowship, inspiration, spiritual renewal, and vision sharing, encouraging participants to strengthen their faith and support one another in Christ.
The event will take place this Sabbath at the Panatina Pavilion.
The morning session will run from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., followed by the afternoon session from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
According to the organisers, the programme will feature worship and inspirational messages, student-led praise and worship, staff participation, fellowship and networking, as well as vision sharing and encouragement.
Participants are also encouraged to bring their "five loaves and two fish"—their gifts, talents, testimonies, and willingness to share—to inspire and bless one another throughout the gathering.
Organisers say the rally is an opportunity to grow stronger in Jesus, build lasting friendships, and empower one another to serve with faith and purpose while fostering a united Christian community at SINU.
The invitation is open to everyone, with organisers encouraging all interested people to attend and be part of the special gathering.
The event is inspired by the Bible verse Philippians 4:13: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Fr Maelanga Calls for Urgent Action
to Restore Order in Honiara
By TIMOTHY INIFIRI JNR
Solomon Star, Honiara
Minister for Home Affairs Fr Manasseh Maelanga raised concerns about lack of discipline and respect with in Honiara city which continues to deteriorate.
Speaking in Parliament this week, the East Malaita Member of Parliament [MP] said; "There is also a growing perception that order and discipline within the city are weakening."
He went on to highlight the disturbance from drunkards and those playing loud music in the communities.
“The unchecked use of loud music and other forms of public disturbance demonstrates the need for stronger enforcement of municipal by-laws and greater respect for the rights of others."
He further stressed that alcohol abuse has become "a significant contributor to anti-social behaviour, domestic violence, disorderly conduct and public disturbances."
Fr Maelanga further stated that petty theft and other minor crimes are also increasing.
"Closely associated with this is the rise in petty theft and other minor criminal activities that affect ordinary citizens, businesses and visitors alike.
“These offences erode public confidence, discourage investment, and create a climate of insecurity that is inconsistent with the aspirations of a modern capital city."
Fr Maelanga said these issues are linked to wider challenges facing the city.
"They are symptoms of broader challenges associated with rapid urbanisation, population growth, unemployment, inadequate urban planning, limited housing, and increasing pressure on municipal services."
He said addressing these problems requires a coordinated national response involving the Honiara City Council, the Guadalcanal Provincial Government, the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF), relevant government ministries, traditional leaders, churches, communities and the private sector."
Fr Maelanga welcomed the Government's commitment to review the Honiara City Act, strengthen the city's governance, improve financial management, enhance waste management in partnership with Guadalcanal Province and extend essential services to informal settlements.
"These reforms provide an important opportunity to modernise the governance of our capital and establish a framework that is responsive to current realities and future growth," he said.
Describing Honiara as the political, administrative, commercial and diplomatic centre of Solomon Islands, Maelanga said everyone has a responsibility to ensure the city is "clean, safe, orderly, resilient and well-managed."
He said transforming Honiara will require strong leadership and effective partnerships.
"The transformation of Honiara City will therefore require bold leadership, hard decisions and effective partnerships.
“If we are to build a capital city worthy of our nation's future, we must act decisively today to restore order, improve infrastructure, strengthen public services and create a city that every Solomon Islander can be proud to call their capital."
Fr Maelanga said the Honiara City Council and Guadalcanal Provincial Government must work closely together to improve financial management, municipal administration, waste management and the delivery of essential public services.
The Minister added that enforcement agencies also need greater support in maintaining law and order in the capital.
"We must double our efforts to ensure we protect our people from all sorts of harm. I believe, we will need to enhance our support to our enforcement at the Honiara City level. We must support them so that they enforce public law and order within the City."
The former Deputy Prime Minister stressed that the reforms recognise that effective governance of Honiara is a national priority and reaffirmed that the Ministry of Home Affairs stands ready to embark into these national undertakings.
by Georgina Maka’a & The High Court has frozen the ownership of the MV Avaikimaine, barring its sale, transfer or...
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Home Affairs Minister calls for
improvement to City’s Governance
By TIMOTHY INIFIRI JNR
Solomon Star, Honiara
Minister for Home Affairs Fr Manasseh Maelanga has pleaded for urgent reforms to restore order and improve governance in Honiara, saying the current state of the nation's capital is deeply concerning and requires a coordinated response from all levels of government.
Speaking in parliament, Thursday in response to the Traditional Speech from the Throne, Maelanga said the Government's review of the Honiara City Act presents an opportunity to modernise the city's governance and address the growing challenges facing the capital.
"The review of the Honiara City Act presents an opportunity to modernise the governance arrangements of our national capital so that it reflect the realities of rapid urban growth, increasing service demands and future development," he said.
Maelanga said the conditions residents face every day are unacceptable for the country's capital.
"What the residents of Honiara City are experiencing today is deeply concerning. As the national capital and the face of our country, Honiara should reflect the aspirations, pride and progress of Solomon Islands."
Instead, he said, many residents deal daily with poor sanitation, unmanaged waste, ageing public facilities and deteriorating infrastructure.
"The city is increasingly characterised by poor sanitation, unmanaged waste, deteriorating public infrastructure and ageing public facilities that are struggling to meet the demands of a rapidly growing urban population."
The Minister also highlighted that traffic congestion, poor road conditions, inadequate drainage, poorly maintained public spaces and limited municipal services have failed to keep pace with the city's rapid growth.
"These challenges are not merely aesthetic; they have direct implications for public health, economic productivity, environmental sustainability and public safety," he said.
//end//
‘A Transformative Reform’, Maelanga
Outlines National ID System
By TIMOTHY INIFIRI JNR
Solomon Star, Honiara
The Government is moving ahead with plans to introduce a National Identification Management System, a key reform aimed at providing every Solomon Islander with a secure and legally recognised identity.
Speaking during in response to the Speech from the Throne in Parliament on Thursday, Minister for Home Affairs Fr Manasseh Maelanga said the new system is an important step towards improving the way government serves its people.
He said a national identification system is more than just an ID card. It will make it easier for citizens to access government services and will help strengthen the country's administration.
According to the Minister, the system is expected to improve the delivery of public services, strengthen the integrity of elections, enhance national security, support financial inclusion, improve disaster response, and help the Government make better decisions when planning and delivering services.
"As an administrative convenience, a trusted national identity system is a cornerstone of modern governance," Maelanga told Parliament.
He also added that to support the rollout of yhe National Identification Management System, the Government will also introduce a new Civil Registration Bill.
The proposed legislation will establish a legal framework for the registration of births, deaths and other important life events.
"Together with the National Identification Management System, this legislation will create an integrated civil registration and identity management framework that reflects international best practice while meeting the unique needs of Solomon Islands", he said.
He said having accurate civil registration records is essential for effective government planning and service delivery. It will also help ensure that every citizen has a recognised legal identity from birth.
The Minister said his Ministry will continue working closely with development partners, provincial governments and other key stakeholders to successfully implement the new system.
Maelanga further stressed that the Government wants the National Identification Management System to be inclusive, secure and accessible to all Solomon Islanders, regardless of where they live.
//End//
CaB SMART MSP TEAM Successfully Complete Community-Led Marine Spatial Planning Field Trial
The CaB SMART MSP Project team has completed a field trial of Community-Led Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) approach at Nagotano Community, Central Islands province.
This was an activity under the Climate and Biodiversity Smart Marine Spatial Planning (CaB-Smart MSP) Project which is implemented by the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources and the Ministry of Environment, Climate Ch...ange, Disaster Management and Meteorology, through the CAB SMART MSP Project Management Unit.
The trial involved 44 participants (28 male and 22 female) serving as community representatives.
These representatives comprised customary marine resource owners, community leaders, women, youth, and fishers.
Together, they mapped coastal and marine resources, identified areas of ecological, cultural and economic significance and developed practical management priorities for the community's marine environment and resources.
Spatial maps, illustrating the use of ocean and coastal space, were generated based on the collected spatial information.
Community members and groups participated actively in marine resource mapping, stakeholder discussions, and planning exercises that integrated traditional ecological knowledge with scientific approaches.
This facilitated and collaborative process enabled the community to identify key fishing grounds, coral reefs, mangrove areas, seagrass habitats, spawning and nursery sites, navigation routes, and culturally significant locations that require interventions such as sustainable utilization, management, conservation and protection and even restoration and rehabilitation.
The trial demonstrated that Community-Led Marine Spatial Planning can be an effective and inclusive process that empowers communities to make informed decisions about the sustainable use and conservation of their coastal and marine resources while supporting food security, livelihoods, protecting biodiversity, and building climate resilience.
The CaB-Smart MSP Project recognises customary resource owners as pivotal to marine stewardship in the Solomon Islands.
By placing communities at the center of planning and decision-making, the project recognizes and aims to strengthen local governance systems and promote long-term sustainable management of coastal and marine ecosystems and resources.
The successful completion of the Nagotano Community field activities provides valuable lessons for refining Community-Led Marine Spatial Planning approaches that can be applied to other coastal communities targeted under the Project and in the long term to other communities in the country.
The successful activity highlights the strength and benefits of partnership between communities, government agencies, development partners, and technical organisations in advancing locally led solutions for the sustainable management of Solomon Islands' coastal and marine resources.
The CaB-Smart MSP Project is made possible through funding from the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), reflecting New Zealand's ongoing partnership with the Solomon Islands in promoting sustainable ocean governance, resilient coastal communities, and healthy marine ecosystems.
- Ministry of Environment
//END//
Transparency SI urges tougher action on absenteeism after audit reveals nearly $1 billion lost in public service inefficiency Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI) welcomes the release of the Auditor General’s audit report Solomon Islands Government Attendance Management Policy. TSI as a tax-payer is gravely concerned with the findings of this report. The findings show a public [...]
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Specialized piling machine arrives at Ahanga Wharf, keeping Bellona Island wharf project on track for December 2026 6th August 2026 The contractor, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), for the Ahanga Wharf project on Bellona Island, Rennell Bellona Province, has delivered a specialized machine capable of handling the complex task of foundation piling works. The [...]
The post Ahanga Wharf Project Resumes Progress with Acquisition of Advanced Piling Equipment appeared first on Tavuli News (Solomon Islands) .
