The Pacific in an Era of Geopolitical Fluidity Keynote Address by Professor Transform Aqorau, Vice Chancellor of SINU at the PIPSA Convention in Wellington from 20 to 21 February 2025 Introduction – A Personal Reflection on China’s Presence in the Pacific Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa. (Greetings, greetings, greetings to you all,) E…
TSI: On the 11th of February, 2025, Transparency International launched the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) of 180 countries and territories around the world including Solomon Islands. The CPI score measures the perceived levels of public sector corruption (the Machinery of Government perceived corruption levels). The scores reflect the viewers of experts and surveys from businesspeople…
Dear Editor – I am writing to express my concern regarding the article published on January 26, 2025, in the Solomon Star, titled “Med Students Demand Truth from SITESA.” As a third-year MBBS student at the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG), I feel it is necessary to clarify and address certain inaccuracies in the…
Dear Editor – In the years 1979-81, I was a lecturer at the Popondetta Agricultural College, in Papua New Guinea. In those years quite a number of students from the Solomon Islands graduated from the PAC and all eventually returned to Honiara at the completion of their courses. Here is a photo of a female…
Dear Editor, COULD you please allow me a space in your respected paper to share my views concerning the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) which now become alarming to all 50 constituencies of the country. It has come to our attention that CDF is facing immense pleasure from constituents in all 50 constituencies. As professionals, we…
By Peter Forau Honiara SOLOMON Islands, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of approximately 20%, has one of the lowest debt burdens in the Pacific region, as highlighted by the World Bank. This fiscal prudence offers a unique opportunity for the country to leverage its debt capacity to spur economic growth through strategic deficit financing. In this…
Dear Editor – As a Samoan citizen and law student of USP, it is with deep sincere to address the current state of our children’s lives that are greatly endangered by our own hands. I encourage all authorities from village to government levels to consider the current state of our children. Majority of the parents including…
The progress of any nation can only be as swift as its progress in education. In the words of President John F. Kennedy, “Our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in education. The human mind is our fundamental resource.” This profound truth has never been more relevant for the Solomon…
SOLOMON Islands is considering a significant reform to its State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) Act, proposing to consolidate control of SOEs under the Minister of Finance and Treasury. This shift would replace the current system where multiple ministers oversee various SOEs. The proposal has sparked debate, with organizations such as Transparency International voicing concerns. However, this reform…
Dear Editor – I am writing to express my concern regarding the protection rights of young women to access abortion care and options in Solomon Islands. It has become a public concern that abortion does not only affect the well-being of young women but also their health. Abortion is a personal decision, and every young…