BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
Prime Minister Matthew Cooper Wale has expressed his heartfelt gratitude to people across the Solomon Islands for their prayers, kind messages, and overwhelming support as he undergoes medical treatment.
In a statement issued this morning from the Prime Minister’s Office online page, Prime Minister Wale said the prayers and words of encouragement from Solomon Islanders had provided great strength and comfort to him and his family during this time.
He thanked people from villages, communities, towns, and provinces across the country for taking the time to pray for his recovery and wish him well.
The Prime Minister said he was deeply humbled by the kindness, compassion, and continued support shown by the people of Solomon Islands.
He also extended his appreciation to the Leader of the Opposition, Manasseh Sogavare, and members of the Opposition for their prayers, goodwill, and support during his medical treatment.
Prime Minister Wale said the gesture demonstrates the importance of shared humanity and the responsibility to care for one another beyond political differences.
As he continues to focus on his recovery, the Prime Minister has asked the people of Solomon Islands to keep him and his family in their prayers.
He concluded his message by thanking the nation for standing with him during this challenging period and praying for God’s continued blessings and protection over the Solomon Islands.
“Thank you, Solomon Islands, for standing with me,” the Prime Minister said.
Photo credit: Prime Minister’s Office online Facebook page
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Civil society groups and community partners provide feedback on the proposed Mineral Resources Bill 2025 in Honiara. Civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations and community partners have been given an opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed Mineral Resources Bill 2025, as the Government continues efforts to gather views on the legislation. The consultation was held [...]
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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
The Parliamentary Health and Medical Services Committee, inquiry into national maternal healthcare standards has commenced yesterday.
The aim is to review procedures, safety standards, and legal protections surrounding Caesarean sections (C-sections) at the National Referral Hospital (NRH).
Appearing before the committee yesterday, Dr. Gregory Jilini, Acting Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS), emphasised that C-sections remain vital, life-saving procedures when clinically necessary.
Addressing inquiries on surgical thresholds, Dr. Jilini explained that while the World Health Organisation (WHO) previously cited an ideal C-section benchmark of 10 percent to 15 percent, updated 2015 WHO guidance prioritises ensuring that every woman in clinical need receives timely and safe surgical intervention.
“The central question is not whether the rate is high or low, but whether every woman who requires a C-section receives one safely and promptly, while avoiding procedures that are not clinically indicated. As the nation’s sole referral facility, the NRH naturally manages a higher concentration of complex, high-risk cases compared to the general population,” Dr. Jilini said.
Committee member Dr. Paul Bosawai highlighted growing public concern over adverse surgical outcomes.
He told PS Jilini that a key objective of the parliamentary inquiry is to address patient safety and restore public trust in maternal healthcare services.
Dr. Bosawai raised critical questions regarding statutory protections for medical staff and compensation mechanisms for patients affected by surgical complications, asking whether state indemnity covers public sector doctors performing C-sections.
In response, Dr. Jilini acknowledged that individual doctors operating in the public sector do not carry private professional indemnity insurance.
“Instead, practitioner coverage relies on the implicit standard that the government, as the employer—indemnifies its medical personnel while delivering public health services,” he said.
While formal statutory provisions governing state indemnity require further legal clarity, health administrators confirmed that government institutions typically assume clinical liability for medical professionals working within public hospitals.
The committee is expected to hear additional technical testimony from clinical specialists as the inquiry into maternal care standards and legal protection frameworks continues.
Photo credit: National Parliament Facebook page
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BY DOUGLAS VAHIA
The need for stronger cooperation between the media and election authorities to protect voters from misinformation and strengthen public trust in the electoral process was highlighted during a media dialogue in Honiara on Wednesday.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), through the Solomon Islands Democratic Governance and Electoral Assistance Project (SIDGEAP), hosted the one-day Media, Elections and Democratic Governance Dialogue at Heritage Park Hotel on October 28, 2026.
The dialogue focused on strengthening public trust, accountability and civic participation through reliable election information and professional media engagement.
Delivering the keynote address, Chief Electoral Officer and Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC) Commissioner Jasper Highwood Anisi called for a stronger partnership between the Commission and the media to ensure voters receive accurate and timely information throughout the electoral cycle.
Chief Electoral Officer Jasper Highwood Anisi delivering his keynote address at the Media, Elections and Democratic Governance Dialogue. Photo credit-Douglas Vahia
Mr Anisi warned that election information could be undermined by deliberate disinformation, accidental inaccuracies, fabricated notices and gaps in official communication.
He stressed that regular engagement between election authorities and journalists is essential to address these challenges and help the public access reliable information.
He said election authorities should maintain regular media briefings, provide clear contact points and fact sheets, and respond promptly to journalists’ inquiries.
Mr Anisi also emphasised the importance of reaching diverse communities through radio, community networks, local outreach and digital platforms. He said election information should be communicated in plain language, local languages and accessible formats to ensure people can understand the electoral process.
Drawing on United Nations Development Programme guidance, he encouraged election authorities to keep official information up to date, establish relationships with media and community partners early, and develop clear procedures to verify and respond to claims that could influence voters.
“The Commission administers the election. The media inform and scrutinise. Voters make their own decisions. Each role is different, and each is essential to public confidence in the process,” Mr Anisi said.
Meanwhile, Media Association of Solomon Islands (MASI) president Georgina Maka’a highlighted the importance of public-interest journalism and the need to strengthen public trust in the media, particularly during elections.
President of Media Association of Solomon Islands (MASI), Georgina Maka’a speaking at Media, Elections and Democratic Governance Dialogue. Photo credit-Douglas Vahia
Ms Maka’a said voters need accurate and balanced information about candidates, policies and electoral processes to make informed decisions.
She emphasised that a well-informed public is essential for a strong democracy and that the media has an important responsibility to provide reliable information while maintaining their independence and professionalism.
“A strong democracy needs an informed public, and an informed public needs a free, independent and responsible media,” Ms Maka’a said.
Media professionals who were part of the Media, Elections and Democratic Governance Dialogue. Photo credit- Douglas Vahia
The dialogue brought attention to the shared responsibilities of election authorities and the media to support informed public participation, promote accountability and protecte confidence in the democratic process.
The discussions underscored the importance of maintaining open communication between the two institutions so that voters can access credible information and make their own decisions based on facts.
Photo credit: Douglas Vahia
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Leader of the Official Opposition Manasseh Sogavare has wished Prime Minister Matthew Wale well after the prime minister left for medical treatment in Australia, and thanked the National Referral Hospital staff who referred him.
Washington has revealed the first nuclear submarine that will deploy to Australia under the AUKUS agreement, five years after the $386 billion defence pact was signed. The USS Colorado, a 10-year-old Virginia-class submarine, will make its new home at Western Australia’s HMAS Stirling from late 2027, Defence Minister Richard Marles...
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UNDP CONCLUDES MEDIA, ELECTIONS AND DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE DIALOGUE IN HONIARA
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), through the Solomon Islands Democratic Governance and Electoral Assistance Project (SIDGEAP), has concluded a one-day Media, Elections and Democratic Governance Dialogue at Heritage Park Hotel in Honiara.
Held under the theme "Strengthening Public Trust, Accountability and Civic Participation," the dialogue brought together media practitioners, electoral management bodies, civil society representatives, emerging journalists and academia to discuss the media's role in strengthening democratic governance.
Discussions focused on the changing media landscape, audience behaviour, public trust, media ethics, information integrity and editorial independence.
Participants also engaged in dialogue with the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission on voter registration, electoral timelines and strategies to counter election-related misinformation and disinformation.
The programme highlighted the importance of public-interest journalism and inclusive storytelling, including stronger participation by women, young people and persons with disabilities.
The dialogue aimed to strengthen collaboration between the media and electoral stakeholders while promoting responsible journalism, accountability and informed civic participation in Solomon Islands.
ENDS////////
BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
President of the Asia-Pacific Applied Economics Association (APAEA), Professor Paresh Narayan highlighted that success in their partnership is based on the number of policies they are able to influence through research.
Speaking at the 3rd CBSI-ADB-APAEA Joint International Research Conference in Honiara yesterday, he underscored that rigorous research published in academic journals serves little real-world purpose unless it directly informs public governance and central bank decision-making.
“The success of our partnerships is contingent not on the number of conferences we organise or papers we publish, but on the number of policy decisions we are able to influence through our research. That is how we are going to measure our collective success,” Professor Narayan said.
He said the partnership focuses on expanding indigenous research capacity within small island central banks through hands-on econometric training, institutional mentoring, and collaborative research projects.
According to Professor Paresh Narayan, current research initiatives directly target pressing macroeconomic issues facing island nations, including exchange rate dynamics, volatile capital flows, trade imbalances, and government banking operations.
He said that by establishing central banks as regional knowledge hubs, organisers aim to generate vital policy spillovers into local private sectors and key government ministries.
Professor Narayan commended CBSI for its sustained three-year research leadership and stressed that building a robust local knowledge economy empowers Pacific nations to make smoother, more resilient economic decisions during periods of global uncertainty.
Photo credit: John Houanihau
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BY RODRICK DESURI
AUKI
A three-day training workshop for provincial fisheries officers from across Solomon Islands is underway in Auki, Malaita Province.
The training continues today and will conclude tomorrow Wednesday, October 28, 2026.
The workshop aims to equip fisheries officers with skills in using the Check-in on Status Tool, a key monitoring tool used to assess the progress and effectiveness of Community-Based Resource Management (CBRM) initiatives in local communities.
Senior Research Analyst at WorldFish’s Auki office, Meshach Sukulu, told Island Sun News yesterday that the training aims to build the capacity of fisheries practitioners and improve the monitoring and implementation of CBRM programmes.
Sukulu said the officers attending the workshop were selected based on their active involvement and engagement in CBRM activities within their respective provinces.
He said participants represent provinces across the country, except Rennell and Bellona Province and Central Province.
Sukulu said the workshop was made possible through the Pathways 2 Project, which supports efforts to strengthen community-based fisheries management across Solomon Islands and the wider Pacific region.
He added that participants are expected to develop practical skills in using the Check-in on Status Tool to monitor and assess the progress of CBRM initiatives in their respective provinces.
The three-day training workshop is supported through partnerships between government agencies and development organisations.
Photo credit: Meshach Sukulu
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Munda’s 1,000-kilowatt solar power plant is commissioned, boosting renewable energy and reducing reliance on imported diesel. The Asian Development Bank (ADB), in partnership with the Solomon Islands Government and Solomon Power, celebrated a major milestone on Thursday, 22 October, with the official commissioning of the Munda Solar Power Plant. The facility is the largest installation [...]
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Opposition Leader Manasseh Sogavare questions the government’s drought response as El Niño impacts worsen across Solomon Islands. The Parliamentary Opposition questions the GREAT Government’s preparedness as drought crisis deepens across the country. While acknowledging the Government’s activation of the National Drought Contingency Plan through the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO), leader of the Official Opposition, [...]
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Opposition leader Manasseh Sogavare has raised serious concerns over the Government’s preparedness to manage the escalating drought crisis gripping the nation. Sogavare questioned whether the current response is adequately resourced, funded, and coordinated to meet the compounding pressures on provincial communities. While acknowledging the activation of the National Drought Contingency...
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BY DOUGLAS VAHIA
The Reiloto Community under the Bahomea House of Chiefs has welcomed a new chapter in its traditional leadership following the formal installation of 47-year-old Zimri Launi as its new Paramount Chief.
The ceremony was held at Marava, Tina, Central Guadalcanal, on Saturday, October 24, bringing together traditional leaders, elders, community members and government representatives to witness the occasion.
Chief Launi’s appointment follows the passing of the late Paramount Chief David Tambea several years ago. His installation was conducted in accordance with the Bahomea House of Chiefs Constitution, formally establishing him as the traditional leader representing the Reiloto Community within the Bahomea House of Chiefs in Malango Ward.
Members of the Reiloto community witnessing the historic leadership transition. Photo Credit Douglas Vahia
The occasion was attended by representatives from the Bahomea, Malango, Vulolo, Tandai and Haubata Houses of Chiefs, alongside the Member of the Provincial Assembly for Malango Ward, Alfred Bobby Chenia, and officials from the Ministry of Traditional Governance, Peace and Ecclesiastical Affairs.
The gathering reflected the importance of traditional leadership and the role of the Houses of Chiefs in maintaining customary practices, strengthening community relationships and providing leadership at the local level.
For the Reiloto Community, the occasion marked the formal recognition of a new Paramount Chief who will carry the responsibilities associated with representing his people within the traditional leadership structure.
Speaking after the ceremony, Chief Launi expressed his honour at accepting the position, while acknowledging the significant responsibilities that come with traditional leadership.
Newly installed Paramount Chief Zimri Launi delivering his remarks to the community. Photo Credit Douglas Vahia
He recognised the confidence placed in him by chiefs, elders and community members and thanked all those who contributed to making the ceremony possible.
Chief Launi also stressed the importance of cooperation between traditional leaders and their communities, noting that the responsibilities of leadership must be shared among the people.
His remarks highlighted the collective nature of traditional leadership, in which the chief’s role is closely connected to the participation, support and wellbeing of the community.
As part of the ceremony, chiefs, family members and community representatives presented gifts to the new Paramount Chief as a gesture of respect, recognition and appreciation for the position he has taken up.
The proceedings also included customary practices relating to the sharing of Chupu, with Chief Launi declaring that it would be shared equally in keeping with the occasion’s traditional observances.
The outdoor gathering area in Marava filled with customary food offerings and gifts (Chupu). Photo Credit Douglas Vahia
Grand Paramount Chief Walton Naezon congratulated Chief Launi on his new position and expressed confidence in his ability to carry out the responsibilities of leadership.
Mr Naezon acknowledged that traditional leadership comes with challenges and highlighted several issues affecting communities in Central Guadalcanal, including land disputes, development concerns and challenges facing younger generations.
He emphasised the importance of community support as traditional leaders work to address these matters and contribute to the development of their people.
The Member of the Provincial Assembly for Malango Ward, Alfred Bobby Chenia, also attended the ceremony and delivered remarks.
Newly elecyed Paramount chief, Traditional leaders, elders, and government representative gathering for photos at the installation ceremony in Marava. photo by Douglas Vahia
Meanwhile, Timothy Ngele, Supervising Deputy Director of the Guadalcanal Peace Office under the Ministry of Traditional Governance, Peace and Ecclesiastical Affairs, highlighted the government’s recognition of traditional leaders as important partners in community governance.
Mr Ngele said chiefs play an important role in maintaining peace, resolving disputes and supporting the responsible management of community resources.
He also spoke about the government’s Community Governance and Stewardship Program, known as COMPASS, which aims to strengthen traditional leadership structures and improve cooperation between state law and customary governance.
The program reflects the importance of involving traditional leaders in community decision-making and supporting their contribution to sustainable development and lasting peace.
Installing Zimri Launi as the new Paramount Chief.
The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to working alongside Houses of Chiefs and communities to strengthen traditional governance and help address local challenges.
Chief Launi will represent the Reiloto Community within the Bahomea House of Chiefs in Malango Ward, Central Guadalcanal.
His installation marks an important transition for the community following the loss of its former Paramount Chief and establishes a new chapter in its traditional leadership.
The ceremony also brought together traditional leaders and government representatives, highlighting the continuing relationship between customary institutions and formal governance in supporting communities across Central Guadalcanal.
[Paramount Chief Zimri Launi standing with his wife at the program. Photo Credit Douglas Vahia]
Solomon Islands delegates visit Fiji’s Drawa Forest Project to learn about Indigenous-led conservation and community carbon trading. Solomon Island Government delegates from MECDM’s Climate Change Division and the Green Climate Fund spent a day visiting the well-known Drawa Forest Project on the island of Vanua Levu as part of the in-country gathering in Fiji earlier [...]
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Signs of the deep emotional scars from Bougainville’s history have surfaced in Papua New Guinea’s parliament as it debates whether to approve independence for the autonomous region. The national parliament has the final say on whether to ratify the result of Bougainville’s 2019 non-binding referendum in which 97.7 percent of...
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by Lloyd Loji* Journalists play an important role in every democracy, whether in the Pacific or abroad. They report on government decisions, elections, public spending, development projects and issues affecting ordinary people. They also give communities a voice and help people understand what is happening around them. For small Pacific...
The post Journalist Safety in The Pacific: A Solomon Islands Perspective appeared first on In-depth Solomons .
BY DOUGLAS VAHIA
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade (MFAET), Rick Houenipwela, has reaffirmed the Solomon Islands Government’s commitment to strengthening its labour mobility partnership with Australia.
According to the ministry, Minister Houenipwela made the reaffirmation on Tuesday during an opening reception of the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme Approved Employer Expo at the Coral Sea Resort and Casino, where he welcomed Australian employers and government representatives to Honiara.
He highlighted the critical role of labour mobility in creating local employment opportunities, developing professional skills, and financially supporting families and communities across the Solomon Islands.
He emphasised that the scheme offers mutual benefits, providing Australian businesses with dedicated, capable workers while boosting the local economy.
Minister Houenipwela encouraged Australian employers to use the expo to understand how Solomon Islands workers are prepared, to engage with local partners, and learn from the first-hand experiences of returning workers.
He stated that the government remains fully dedicated to expanding the initiative to ensure lasting benefits for both nations.
The expo is currently being held under the theme, “Partnership in Growing the PALM Scheme in Solomon Islands.”
Photo credit: MFAET
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Solomon Islands has forfeited Chinese vessel MV Wealth under the Immigration Act 2012 following an investigation into illegal entry. The Solomon Islands Government now officially owns the Chinese vessel MV Wealth after it was seized and forfeited under the Immigration Act 2012. The Director of Immigration exercised powers under Section 58(1) of the Immigration Act [...]
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Government has taken ownership of MV Wealth, the Belize-flagged cargo vessel authorities intercepted and detained in June this year for illegally entering the country. A government statement said the action was taken in line with the Immigration Act 2012. “The Director of Immigration exercised powers under Section 58(1) of the...
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Solomon Islands PALM Scheme workers send up to SBD500 million home, supporting families and communities through remittances. By Steven Kamoa Solomon Islands workers participating in the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme contribute an estimated SBD $400 million to $500 million in remittances to local households, supporting families and communities across the country. Prime Minister [...]
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