Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI) welcomes and applauds the Prime Minister Hon. Jeremiah Manele for a number of public announcements that he made to the media 4th November 2025.
Those encouraging and bold decisions of his Executive government includes a dedicated independent budget for the Solomon Islands Independent Commission Against Corruption (SIICAC).
This means SIICAC’s budget will no longer be included in the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s budget allocation.
This is a welcome news and one which showed that here is a Prime Minister that is determined to make bod decisions to serve the interest of Solomon Islands as a nation.
Transparency Solomon Islands calls on the Prime Minister to amend the Anti-Corruption Act and provide for this decision where SIICAC is appropriated its own budget by the Parliament. This will safeguard SIICAC from future changes of leadership in our political government.
Transparency Solomon Islands also calls on the Prime Minister to do the same for the Political Parties Commission budget as this is already provided for in the Political Parties Integrity Act 2014 (Division 2(s9).
The announcement demonstrates the government’s commitment to good governance and transparency, and accountability. The announcements made during the press conference, represent bold determination by the Prime Minister and his Executive Government to address the country’s long and stagnant effort to build an independent and effective anti-corruption institution, and also address chronic issues that stagnate the economic and social development of Solomon Islands for all – corruption.
When Prime Minister Hon J. Manele’s Executive Government came into power, one of its commitments is to review the anti-corruption policy and launch the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (2024-2027) within 100 days after assuming the office. This was achieved and the announcements that he recently made on this shows his determination to walk the talk listening to citizen’s plight.
Corruption remains one of the greatest challenges to a nation’s progress. It erodes public trust, weakens institutions, and diverts resources meant for development and provision of services into the hands of a few.
From misuse of public funds to policy manipulation and bribery, corruption undermines governance, fuels inequality, and limits the ability of institutions to deliver justice and development. Tackling corruption requires strong, independent institutions capable of holding power to account.
The Anti-Corruption Act 2018 established SIICAC as an independent body mandated to investigate, prosecute, and prevent corruption, and hold those responsible or in power accountable. Its creation reflected mounting public pressure for greater transparency and stronger accountability mechanisms to curb and address the abuse of power that many Solomon Islanders have seen time and time again.
Solomon Islands continues to be ranked as a country whose public sector is highly corrupt affecting service delivery, political decisions, economic development and the exploitation of the country’s rich natural resources.
While SIICAC will remain administratively under OPMC, creating a separate budget head lays the foundation for genuine accountability.
Whilst an independent budget will not address all issues needing attention in SIICAC, it is a positive step in the right direction and one much appreciated by citizens on whose advocacy SIICAC came into existence.
Whilst Transparency Solomon Islands lauds the announcements made by the Prime Minister on SIICAC, mining and environment etc., it notes with concern the actions recently taken by the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology.
In an Extra-Ordinary Gazette (No. 136) dated 1st October 2025, it published Legal Notice Nos. 419 and 420. Under Legal Notice No. 419, dated 26th September 2025 the Director of Environment and Conservation Mr Josef Hurutarau declared Sunrise Investment Ltd as an approved person for the purposes of exporting Tubi trees (Xanthostemon) for a period of 12 months.
Under Legal Notice No. 420 also dated 26th September 2025, Minister, Hon Polycarp Paea grants approval to a management programme submitted by Sunrise Investment Limited (SIL). The declaration formally endorses this as an Approved Management Programme under the Act. This was given to an investor who was found guilty by the Magistrates Courts of felling tubi illegally.
To date no one in authority has or charged this investor for felling tubi using a fake gazette. The laid-back attitude of some public officials is a concern that needs dealing with and SIICAC with this announcement needs to pull up its legs and get on with the job.
Thank you Prime Minister Hon Jeremiah Manele for Walking the Talk. The country thanks you for your determination and bold decisions on fighting corruption.
A truly independent SIICAC represents renewed hope for progress and trust in public institutions, giving Solomon Islanders confidence that transparency, accountability, and justice in the use of public resources will finally be upheld.
– TSI
