PRIME Minister Jeremiah Manele has defended the re-designation of the Secretary to the Prime Minister (SPM), Dr Sir Jimmie Rodgers to the newly created post of Secretary to Prime Minister (SPM)- Special Duties, following widespread discussions on social media suggesting that he was removed from the SPM post.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of National Planning and Development Coordination, Dr Melchior Mataki has been appointed as SPM, replacing Sir Dr Jimmie.
Speaking at Honiara International Airport, Sunday, upon his return from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Sunday, PM Manele clarified the decision:
“Let me make it very clear to the media and to everyone in our country that there is nothing sinister about the re-designation of Dr Sir Jimmie Rodgers’ role as SPM Special Duties and the appointment of Dr Melchior Mataki as the new SPM.
“Having both an SPM and an SPM Special Duties is not new. This structure has been used before and given the transformative agenda the GNUT government aims to implement, we need to reactivate this arrangement to enhance the OPMC’s capacity as the government’s coordinating ministry,” he said.
PM Manele emphasised that for more than six years, Sir Dr Jimmie had taken on multiple responsibilities beyond the usual SPM role.
“To put it simply, Sir Dr Jimmie was performing two to three full-time roles during his tenure as SPM without complaint and at no additional cost to the government. While he managed to fulfill these duties, there is no guarantee that a future SPM would be willing to make the same sacrifices.
“It is, therefore, necessary to restore the SPM role to its core responsibilities, while reactivating the SPM Special Duties role to address other critical tasks,” PM Manele added.
PM Manele outlined that some of the additional responsibilities that Sir Dr Jimmie undertook over the past six years included the following:
- Leading the successful hosting of the 2023 Pacific Games;
- Chairing the Solomon Islands National Provident Fund (SINPF) and improving its performance;
- Coordinating the country’s COVID-19 response with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services;
- Assisting in crisis response during the 2021 riots;
- Securing financing for the first-ever joint elections; and
- Mobilising domestic and external funding to support the Ministry of Finance.
PM Manele stated that he had requested Sir Dr Jimmie to remain in government in 2025 due to the busy agenda ahead.
“Dr Sir Jimmie agreed to stay, but requested that a new SPM be appointed to handle the normal responsibilities while he focuses on key priorities outside the SPM’s core role.”
These priorities include:
- Completing the audit process for the 2023 Pacific Games and presenting it to Parliament;
- Securing finances for major international and regional events in 2025, including the Pacific Islands Pageant and the Honiara Summit;
- Coordinating the Pacific Ministers’ regional meeting on Water in August; and
- Co-chairing, alongside PS MFAET, the planning and hosting of the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in September.
PM Manele highlighted that the Pacific Islands Forum Meeting is the most significant event Solomon Islands will host this year and Sir Dr Jimmie’s experience will be invaluable in ensuring its success.
Sir Dr Jimmie will also oversee several special projects, including:
- The construction of institutional houses for the heads of the three arms of government: the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the National Parliament and the Chief Justice;
- The design and construction of the new OPMC headquarters building;
- Continued support for the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of National Planning and Development Coordination in mobilising government resources; and
- Internal government initiatives and inter-ministerial coordination.
PM Manele clarified that the new SPM will serve as the accounting officer for the OPMC, similar to Permanent Secretaries in other ministries.
The SPM Special Duties role will focus on projects outside the SPM’s core responsibilities, ensuring proper coordination and implementation.
“The SPM Special Duties will report directly to me, alongside the SPM, STC (Secretary to Cabinet) and SSPM (Special Secretary to Prime Minister). These four, together with the Chief of Staff, form the senior executive management team at OPMC,” he added.
Sir Dr Jimmie was appointed Secretary to the Prime Minister on 25 June 2018 by then Prime Minister Rick Hou after serving briefly as Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development.
He continued in the role under Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare from April 2019 to April 2024 and remained in the position when Prime Minister Manele took office on 2 May 2024.
Before returning to the Solomon Islands in 2018, Sir Dr Jimmie served as Director General of the Noumea-based Secretariat of the Pacific Community for many years.
In addition to his role as Secretary to the Prime Minister, he also served as Chairman of the National Hosting Authority for the 2023 Pacific Games in Honiara and the Solomon Islands National Provident Fund (SINPF).
By EDDIE OSIFELO
Solomon Star, Honiara
